Hammer Coral
LPSFimbriaphyllia ancora / F. paraancora
Euphyllia ancora is the older name for Fimbriaphyllia ancora. Branching hammers are commonly F. paraancora. The trade name covers more than one species.
Family: Euphylliidae
Hammer describes the shape of the tentacle tips. The skeleton tells you whether the colony is a wall or branching form.
Care
Moderate
Lighting
Medium
Flow
Medium
How to recognise it
Look for flattened crescent or anchor-shaped ends. Separate skeletal branches suggest a branching hammer; a continuous winding ridge suggests a wall hammer. Do not force a species name from tip shape alone.
Similar corals
- Torch Coral
- Long tentacles with one rounded end.
- Frogspawn
- Divided tentacles with several rounded ends.
In the tank
Placement & flow
Choose indirect movement that lets the polyps sway. Leave space around the expanded colony and acclimate to changes in light.
Feeding
Mostly photosynthetic. Small coral foods may be accepted; do not keep adding food to force a response.
Space & neighbours
Keep clear of torch sweeper tentacles. Hammers can also sting neighbours; apparent compatibility today does not guarantee room as colonies grow.
What to watch for
Wall forms can be less forgiving of tissue damage than branching forms. Recession, prolonged closure or brown tissue breakdown warrant checking conditions and nearby aggression.
Morphs
Known variants linked to this species.
Compare morph prices
See the local asking-price benchmark, recent movement, and current listings for a specific morph.
Choose a morph above to compare its current asking prices. You can add your location after choosing one.
Available from stores
Current in-stock Hammer Coral listings in United Kingdom.
Green tipped hammer coral (UK Grown)
Frag Trade
£19.99 GBP
Gold hammer coral (UK Grown)
Frag Trade
£29.99 GBP
WYSIWYG Green tipped hammer coral (UK Grown)
Frag Trade
£31.99 GBP
Green Tip Branching Hammer Frag
Delta Aquarium
£30.00 GBP
Rainbow Gold Branching Hammer - 2 Heads
Bees & Corals
£28.00 GBP
Hammer Garden Coral WYSIWYG (2)
Royal Reef
£139.95 GBP
Teal Branching Hammer - 1
Royal Reef
£34.95 GBP
Buzz Lightyear Walling Hammer (6) WYSIWYG
Royal Reef
£159.95 GBP
Green Branching Hammer - Single Head
Royal Reef
£34.95 GBP
Pink/Rose Branching Hammer - 1
Royal Reef
£34.95 GBP
Reverse Branching Hammer Green Purple
Royal Reef
£29.95 GBP
Hybrid Splatter Branching Hammer
Royal Reef
£34.95 GBP
Sources
- Tidal Gardens — Hammer care
- Tidal Gardens — Hammer, torch and frogspawn troubleshooting
- WoRMS — Fimbriaphyllia names
- NOAA — Coral aquarium parameters, Table 6 (2013) (PDF)
Sources checked 14 October 2026.