Care guide
Branching hammer coral
Species guidance · AI-assisted · Model audited · Revision 2
Start a branching hammer in low to moderate light with changing, indirect flow that lets the polyps sway. Secure the branch base and leave room for the heads to expand. Keep torches out of reach.
Branching hammer corals have distinct heads on separate branches and broad hammer-shaped tentacle tips.
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 branch base while leaving room for heads to open without touching sharp rock or neighboring corals.
Feeding
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic; small supplemental meaty foods or coral pellets can support growth when the coral accepts them.
Acclimation and long-term care
- Warning signs
- Watch for receding tissue, brown jelly-like material, or injury from a fall, handling, or 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.
- Habitat · 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.
- Clearance · 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 paraancora · 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
- Tidal Gardens — Hammer Coral Care · Varieties, Lighting, Water Flow and Aggression · Retrieved 2026-11-10
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