Hammer Coral
Euphyllia ancora
Also known as Anchor Coral, Hammerhead Coral, Euphyllia 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
A moderately aggressive LPS that will chemically burn non-Euphyllia neighbors with its sweeper tentacles, so give it at least 6 inches of clearance from other corals. It generally tolerates being kept close to other Euphyllia such as torch and frogspawn. It is photosynthetic and can be target fed once or twice a week to boost growth, though feeding is optional. Fragging is the usual way to propagate it.
In the wild
Hammer corals come from reef slopes and lagoons across the Indo-Pacific, where the fleshy tentacles tipped with a hammer or anchor shape sway in gentle current. In the aquarium they want moderate light around 80 to 150 PAR and low to moderate indirect flow, enough to make the tentacles sway without blasting them back into the skeleton. Place them from the sandbed to the lower and middle rockwork depending on how strong your lighting is. Temperature 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 suit them, and they need stable, mature water more than a large volume.
Good to know
Euphyllia ancora is a large polyp stony coral in the family Euphylliidae, identified by the hammer or anchor shaped tips on its tentacles. It carries stinging sweeper tentacles loaded with nematocysts that can extend several inches, mainly after lights out. It gets most of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae but will also capture meaty foods.
Did you know
Even though hammer corals sting most other corals with their sweepers, they usually get along fine placed right next to other Euphyllia like torch and frogspawn.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Saltwaterfish.com Marine fish, corals and inverts shipped overnight
- AlgaeBarn Copepods, macroalgae and captive-bred marine livestock
- Biota Captive-bred marine fish, corals and clams shipped direct
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Hammer Coral?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Frogspawn Coral
Euphyllia divisa7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Torch Coral
Euphyllia glabrescens7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Elegance Coral
Catalaphyllia jardinei11.8 in (30 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Galaxy Coral
Galaxea11.8 in (30 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Acan Coral
Acanthastrea echinata7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Candy Cane Coral
Caulastraea furcata7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)