Branching hammer coral (Euphyllia parancora) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Fimbriaphyllia paraancora, Euphyllia paraancora, Branching anchor coral, Green hammer coral
Family
Euphylliidae
Origin
Indo-West Pacific, especially Indonesia and Australia; sheltered reef slopes
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
with_caution
Lighting
Moderate; about PAR 80–150 (Top Shelf Aquatics). Blue-heavy light helps colour
Flow
Low to moderate, indirect

Care

A large-polyp stony coral with fleshy tentacles ending in hammer or anchor shapes, growing from separate branching stems rather than one solid wall. Common colours are green, tan or gold, often with lime or cream tips; Australian and aquacultured forms are popular. Naming: the species was moved to Fimbriaphyllia in 2017 (spelt paraancora), but it is still sold as Euphyllia parancora. Placement: bottom to middle of the rockwork on a stable base, with plenty of room. Keep the skeleton off abrasive sand. Light and flow: moderate light and gentle to moderate indirect flow that moves the tentacles without tearing them. Water: Keep calcium around 400–450 ppm, alkalinity at dKH 8–12 and magnesium around 1250–1350 ppm, and keep them steady; regular dosing of calcium, alkalinity and trace elements (or a calcium reactor in a busy reef) is needed as the coral grows. Change parameters slowly; swings can cause tissue recession. Growth: moderate; new heads form as the branches split. Selling: this is a CITES Appendix II coral. Frags grown in the UK can be sold freely; wild-collected or imported pieces must have been legally imported with CITES paperwork. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/hammer-coral-1); Top Shelf Aquatics (topshelfaquatics.com/pages/corals/green-hammer-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly photosynthetic (zooxanthellae). Small meaty foods such as mysis, enriched brine shrimp or chopped seafood once or twice a week, offered while the tentacles are out, help growth.

Breeding

One of the easiest Euphyllia to frag because it branches: cut through the skeleton between heads with bone cutters or a saw, never through the tissue, then glue the branch to a plug. Dip frags in iodine and keep them in lower light and gentle flow for a week while they heal.

Compatibility and tank mates

Aggressive: at night it puts out sweeper tentacles that LiveAquaria says can reach about 15 cm. Give it 15–20 cm from other corals. It can usually touch other Euphyllia (hammer, frogspawn, torch) safely. Angelfish may nip it, and clownfish hosting in it can irritate it.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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