Torch Suddenly Getting Longer

[sen5241b]

My torch's tentacles have been the same for a year or more. After I glued him atop a tripod shaped piece of old rock and put him above the sand, his tentacles started growing longer and longer. Is there a connection?

 

[Jmck]

sen, isnt that a hammer?

Hammers tenticles get get extremely long for no reason, thats just how they are. They are probably sweeping for food .

 

[bjohanson1234]

how close is it to those acans to the right of it? Could have moved it within what it considers its territory.

 

[Bifferwine]

I'm sorry, but can you post a larger picture? I can't quite see what you are talking about. :mrgreen:

Brian is right -- those are sweeping/stinging tentacles. It senses another coral it doesn't like, and it's trying to sting it.

 

[sen5241b]

I'm sorry, but can you post a larger picture? I can't quite see what you are talking about. :mrgreen:

Brian is right -- those are sweeping/stinging tentacles. It senses another coral it doesn't like, and it's trying to sting it.

Good call. I'll try to get a bigger pic. :D

Seriously how can it sense a coral it can't touch? I never heard that.

 

[Bifferwine]

I don't know. But one of my hammers developed stinging tentacles like that and goes after some nearby acans relentlessly.

 

[Wildheart]

Hammers are simply awesome! They're truely my fav corals!
Yours looks very happy.:mrgreen:

 

[sen5241b]

You guys are right --that is a hammer. I thought it was a torch.

 

[Dana42078]

They can sense other corals, +1 biff....its part of their warfare sense. Id move it before it stings the shyt outa your acans.

When i moved my chalice the first time i had it by my acans, the sweeper tenticals on my chalice grew at least 5 inches and was just about to sting it. Needless to say i moved the chalice.

 

[Nanna]

Kinda off topic here, sorry, anyway I read hammer corals can have a toxin in them that is harmful to humans. Has anyone every had problems or do you just always wear gloves when you handle them?

 

[Dana42078]

Never heard about that nana. Ive never used a glove for handling stuff in my tank. Both my hammers tenticals stick to my skin when I make contact with them tho.

 

[Nanna]

I was researching hammers (gonna be my next coral) and one of the sites had that as a caution. Only saw it though on one site.

 

[Bifferwine]

I've never heard that about hammers either.

 

[Wildheart]

My mum got stung by it once.It was the same thing as with stinging nettles.No symptoms other than an itchy finger.

 

[Jmck]

I can imagine them being able to sting and hurt, they are one of the strongest corals you can get. I had an anemone that was stung to death by my hammer... poor thing.

But they are not toxic, Also, handling things in your tank isnt an issue except with zoas.

 

[jzaso]

Much like a bee sting if you are allergic, all euphyllia & caryophllia are top tier stingers and very aggressive they smell" other corals and will go after competitors
seem to have a thing for favites, never under estimate there reach! a large anchor/hammer can extend sweepers out over 10" that goes for all the family-frogspawn/torch/elegance ect.

 

[NanoReefer]

nanna, actually i have recently ahd a experience with being stung by a hammer. i fragged it off the mothercolont, and went to put it between a rock, and got stung. i was in great pain and my hand swelled up, and i vomited for about 4 days haha

 

[Ulta]

+1 Jzaso, although I think that was a quote he pulled from somewhere XD