ECC Sour Apple Branching Hammer

Quick facts

Handling caution: Sweeper tentacles deliver a strong sting; can irritate skin on contact

Identity

Also known as

Branching Hammer Coral; Anchor Coral; Branching Anchor Coral

Synonyms

Fimbriaphyllia paraancora

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Sheltered reef slopes and lagoons with moderate current, typically in depths down to around 130 feet

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Aggressive

Growth form

Branching

Adult size

2 – 12 in (5.1 – 30 cm)

Spread

36 in (91 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Low, Middle

Water

Temperature

75 – 81 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.025 SG

PAR

80 – 150 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

6 in (15 cm)

Colors

Green, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Brown, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Frozen, Zooplankton, Coral food, Target-fed

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Polyps sway on long, hammer-tipped tentacles that extend and retract with lighting and flow, giving constant movement across the colony. Each head grows on its own skeletal branch, so a single tree-like frag can be cut apart without disturbing neighboring polyps. Position with generous clearance, as nocturnal sweeper tentacles reach well beyond the visible tissue.

Care

This branching hammer grows as separate heads on individual skeletal tubes, so damage or disease affecting one polyp rarely spreads to the rest of the colony. It tolerates a fairly wide range of tank conditions once established, but does best under moderate lighting and gentle to moderate flow that lets the tentacles sway without tattering. Because each head can be cut free from the branch point, this form is considerably easier to manage and propagate than the wall-growing hammer.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate to lighting gradually since a sudden move to high PAR can cause bleaching or recession, and start new arrivals lower in the tank before moving them to their permanent spot. Mount individual heads or small frags directly onto rockwork or a frag plug using coral glue or epoxy, placing them low to middle in the tank with clearance on all sides for tentacle extension.

Feeding

Most of its energy comes from zooxanthellae, so daily feeding is not required, but occasional target feeding of mysis, brine shrimp, or other meaty foods supports faster growth and fuller extension. Feed sparingly and only after the coral has settled into the tank and is showing regular polyp extension. Overfeeding can foul water quality without adding much benefit once the coral is established.

Neighbors

Sweeper tentacles can extend several inches at night and deliver a strong sting, so leave at least six inches of clearance from corals outside its own genus. It generally coexists peacefully with other Euphyllia species such as frogspawn and torch corals, which share a similar nematocyst tolerance, though direct contact should still be avoided. Give it plenty of open space on the rockwork away from faster-growing or more aggressive neighbors.

Fragging

Fragging is straightforward since each head sits on its own skeletal branch; a bone saw or shears can separate a head at the branch point without harming the rest of the colony. Allow cut tissue to heal in low flow and stable water quality before returning the frag to display lighting.

Pests & problems

Recession or tissue loss usually points to elevated nitrate, unstable calcium/alkalinity, or excessive flow tearing the polyps. Brown jelly infection can take hold quickly if tissue is damaged, so any injured heads should be isolated and treated promptly. Flatworms and Euphyllia-specific pests are occasional problems and warrant a dip when introducing new frags.

Sources

1. Branching hammer coral care: tank size and tank mates · TankBud
2. Hammer Coral Care Guide: Tank Setup, Feeding & Fragging Tips
3. Hammer Coral, Branching: Saltwater Aquarium Corals for Marine Reef Aquariums
4. Branching & Wall Hammers | Corals.com

Varieties in the catalog

ECC Aurelia Branching HammerECC Dark Storm Branching Hammer

More Hammer corals

Crafted Hammer CoralECC Blue Gusher Branching HammerORA Marshall Island Hammer CoralToxic Branching Hammer