Branching Hammer Coral
Fimbriaphyllia paraancora
Also known as Euphyllia paraancora, Branching Hammer
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal (75 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific
- Family
- Euphylliidae
Overview
Keep it under moderate light around 80 to 150 PAR with low to moderate indirect flow, low on the rockwork or on the sand. Sweeper tentacles can reach several inches at night, so allow about 6 inches of clearance from corals outside the hammer, frogspawn and torch group. The branching form is more forgiving than the wall form, and fragging is straightforward because single heads can be cut free at the branch.
In the wild
The branching hammer comes from sheltered Indo-Pacific reef slopes and lagoons, where colonies form clusters of separate heads, each on its own tube of skeleton. The tentacles carry the same hammer or anchor shaped tips as the wall hammer, swaying in gentle current. Because every head is independent, a colony can lose one polyp to damage without the problem spreading.
Good to know
Fimbriaphyllia paraancora is a large polyp stony coral in the family Euphylliidae, described by Veron in 1990 and formerly known as Euphyllia paraancora. It differs from the wall hammer mainly in skeleton growth form, branching rather than growing as a continuous ridge. Symbiotic zooxanthellae provide most of its nutrition, supplemented by capturing meaty foods.
Did you know
Most hammer corals in shops today are the branching species, largely because a colony can be split one head at a time without risking the rest.
Common questions
What size tank does a Branching Hammer Coral need?
A Branching Hammer Coral needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Branching Hammer Coral need?
Branching Hammer Coral are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big do Branching Hammer Coral get?
An adult Branching Hammer Coral reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
Where to buy
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Related species
Frogspawn Coral
Fimbriaphyllia divisaSaltwater7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Hammer Coral
Fimbriaphyllia ancoraSaltwater7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Octospawn Coral
Fimbriaphyllia yaeyamaensisSaltwater7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Branching Frogspawn Coral
Fimbriaphyllia paradivisaSaltwater7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Torch Coral
Euphyllia glabrescensSaltwater7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Elegance Coral
Catalaphyllia jardineiSaltwater11.8 in (30 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)