Care guide
Wall hammer coral
Species guidance · AI-assisted · Model audited · Revision 2
Give a wall hammer low to moderate light and changing, indirect flow. Secure the continuous skeleton and leave room for the polyps to open without rubbing on rock. Keep torches out of reach.
The wall hammer forms connected skeletal valleys with broad, bent tentacle tips. Older aquarium and museum records use the name Euphyllia ancora.
Requirements
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Allow generous clearance from neighboring livestock
Placement and environment
- Lighting
- Low to moderate light often works well; increase exposure slowly after a move.
- Water flow
- Aim for a gentle, changing sway with no persistent pressure against the skeleton.
- Placement
- Secure the skeleton low to midway up the rockwork. Leave space for the polyps and sweepers without putting pressure on living tissue.
- Clearance
- Allow space around expanded tissue and keep it out of reach of neighboring sweepers.
- Habitat
- Sheltered marine reefs and reef slopes.
Feeding
- Feeding
- Light supplies much of its nutrition. Offer small meaty foods or coral pellets when the polyps are receptive.
Acclimation and long-term care
- Warning signs
- Watch for receding tissue or brown jelly-like material. Handle wall hammers gently and keep them out of direct pump flow.
Information gaps
- pH · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- PAR · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Growth · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Calcium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Nitrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Handling · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lifespan · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Salinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Warnings · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Adult size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Magnesium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Phosphate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Predation concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Substrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Alkalinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Reef compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Acclimation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Minimum tank size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Propagation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Temperature · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Social grouping · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Feeding frequency · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
Sources
- World Register of Marine Species — Fimbriaphyllia ancora · Accepted marine species and synonym records · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Hammer coral · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Tidal Gardens — Coral husbandry troubleshooting · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Western Australian Museum — Anchor coral · Morphology, Behaviour and Habitat · Retrieved 2026-11-10
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