Classification: Caryophylliidae
Coral Type : LPS Corals
Common Name: Hammer
Alt Common Name: Anchor Coral, Euphyllia, Euphyllia Hammer Coral, Hammer Coral
Distribution: Indo-Pacific
Lighting Requirements : This coral require at least moderate lighting. Power compact lighting should work if the wattage per gallon is high and the coral is placed closer to the surface.
Aggression: Quite aggressive for a coral. At night long tentacles extend from the coral and sting everything in their reach.
Hardiness: Can be a difficult coral to keep. If kept in a stable system with moderate lighting and flow it does well.
Growth Pattern : Grows quickly in a cluster. Many report metal halide lighting greatly increases growth rate.
Nutrition: Feed weekly with micro-plankton or brine shrimp.
Supplements Required: This coral benefits from the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.
Care Difficulty: 5/10
Very Easy |
Moderate |
Very Difficult |
Water Flow Requirements :
None |
Low |
Moderate |
High |
Temperature Range: 72°F - 80°F
74 |
76 |
78 |
80 |
82 |
84 |
Additional Information : The Hammer Coral, Branched is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral and often referred to as Euphyllia Hammer Coral or Anchor Coral. Its common names are derived from the appearance of its hammer-, or anchor-shaped tentacles. Its polyps are visible throughout the day and night and hide its skeletal base. It may be green, tan, or brown in color, with lime green or yellow tips on the ends of its tentacles that glow under actinic lighting. Some varieties may be branched which makes them look similar to a Torch Coral (E. glabrescens).
Propagation Information : The recommended method from fragging this coral is to stretch a rubber band around the polyps you want to frag. After a few days, the soft tissue will recede and you can cut the hard skeleton with a dremel tool.
Toxicity Information : This species is toxic and has toxic tentacles that emrge at night.
