WYSIWYG Green Branching Hammer Coral: Full 5-Head Colony - 006

Green Branching Hammer Coral: Full 5-Head Colony

The Green Branching Hammer Coral (Fimbriaphyllia paraancora, commonly sold as Euphyllia paraancora) is a stunning Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral prized for its vibrant green coloration, flowing movement, and distinctive hammer-shaped tentacle tips. Hammer corals are among the most recognizable LPS corals in the reef hobby, combining intense coloration with the natural movement of their large, fleshy polyps.

This WYSIWYG specimen is a full colony featuring 5 heads, providing considerably more size, movement, and visual impact than a typical single-head frag. When fully extended, the five heads form a dense display of flowing green polyps that sway with the surrounding current. Under blue-spectrum reef lighting, the green coloration can become especially vivid and create an impressive fluorescent appearance.

Unlike wall-forming hammer corals, F. paraancora develops a branching calcium carbonate skeleton, with individual coral heads growing from separate branches. As the coral matures, established heads can divide and produce additional branches, allowing a healthy specimen to gradually develop into a larger colony.

The Green Branching Hammer is photosynthetic and receives much of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae living within its tissue. However, it is also capable of capturing food from the water column. Occasional supplemental feeding can support tissue development and growth, although heavy feeding is unnecessary.

Hammer corals generally thrive when provided with stable reef parameters, moderate lighting, and moderate indirect flow. Their fleshy polyps should gently sway rather than being blasted by a direct current. Because the expanded tissue can extend well beyond the hard skeleton, the colony should also be positioned where its polyps will not continuously rub against sharp rockwork.

WYSIWYG: The full 5-head colony pictured is the exact coral you will receive.

Diet & Compatibility:

• Diet: Mixotroph. Primarily Photosynthetic, receiving much of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae, while also capable of capturing small meaty foods from the water column.
• Feeding: Supplemental target feeding can support healthy growth and tissue development. Small portions of mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped marine foods, or quality coral foods can be offered approximately 1–2 times per week. Avoid excessively large pieces of food or overfeeding.
• Reef Compatibility: Reef Safe but Semi-Aggressive. Hammer corals can extend sweeper tentacles beyond their normal daytime appearance and sting neighboring corals.
• Spacing: Allow several inches of clearance between the colony and unrelated neighboring corals. Remember to account for the coral's fully expanded size and future colony growth when choosing its location.
• Temperament: Peaceful toward reef-safe fish and most mobile invertebrates but territorial toward neighboring corals.
• Placement: Best suited for lower-to-middle rockwork. Secure the branching skeleton while leaving enough open space for all five heads to expand fully without contacting surrounding rocks or corals.
• Water Flow: Moderate, indirect flow is preferred. The polyps should move gently and naturally in the current. Strong, direct flow can prevent full extension and potentially damage the fleshy tissue.
• Lighting: Moderate reef lighting is generally ideal. New specimens should be acclimated gradually to stronger lighting rather than immediately being placed under maximum intensity.
• Water Requirements: Requires stable reef parameters. Maintain approximately Alkalinity 8.0–9.5 dKH, Calcium 400–450 ppm, and Magnesium 1250–1400 ppm. Stability is more important than constantly attempting to adjust parameters to exact numbers.

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Fimbriaphyllia paraancora (commonly sold as Euphyllia paraancora)
• Primary Common Name: Green Branching Hammer Coral
• Other Common Names: Green Hammer Coral, Branching Hammer Coral, Anchor Coral
• Coral Type: LPS (Large Polyp Stony)
• Colony Size: Full 5-Head Colony
• Growth Form: Branching
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Temperament: Semi-Aggressive toward neighboring corals
• Diet: Photosynthetic / Carnivorous
• Feeding: Supplemental target feeding beneficial
• Placement: Lower to Middle Rockwork
• Water Flow: Moderate, indirect
• Lighting: Moderate
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
• Reef Compatibility: Yes, with adequate spacing
• Care Level: Moderate
• WYSIWYG: Yes — the pictured 5-head colony is the exact specimen you will receive