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The Gold Hammer Coral (Euphyllia paraancora or Euphyllia ancora), often referred to as a Toxic or Splatter Gold Hammer, is a highly prized large polyp stony (LPS) coral featuring hammer- or anchor-shaped tentacle tips that glow with a brilliant metallic gold, bronze, or orange hue under actinic reef lighting. Popular for adding hypnotic, flowing movement and an upscale splash of color to a reef tank, it is a hardy and robust coral well-suited for intermediate hobbyists and ambitious beginners.
Tank Requirements
Lighting: Moderate (30–150 PAR); mid-level, indirect light is ideal to keep its metallic gold pigments vibrant and prevent them from fading or bleaching.
Water Flow: Moderate and indirect; requires a gentle, swaying current to keep tentacles waving fluidly without violently pinning them against its sharp calcified skeleton.
Temperature: 72°F – 78°F (22°C – 26°C).
Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.023 – 1.025.
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.4.
Care and Feeding
Placement: Middle sections of the aquarium, securely anchored into the rockwork structure where its large fleshy polyps have ample room to expand safely.
Diet: Photosynthetic via zooxanthellae, but benefits greatly from weekly target feeding of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or specialized powdered coral foods.
Temperament: Semi-aggressive; it develops long, stinging sweeper tentacles at night and must be kept several inches away from non-Euphyllia corals, though it can usually be placed close to other hammer and frogspawn corals without issue.
The Gold Hammer Coral (Euphyllia paraancora or Euphyllia ancora), often referred to as a Toxic or Splatter Gold Hammer, is a highly prized large polyp stony (LPS) coral featuring hammer- or anchor-shaped tentacle tips that glow with a brilliant metallic gold, bronze, or orange hue under actinic reef lighting. Popular for adding hypnotic, flowing movement and an upscale splash of color to a reef tank, it is a hardy and robust coral well-suited for intermediate hobbyists and ambitious beginners.
Tank Requirements
Lighting: Moderate (30–150 PAR); mid-level, indirect light is ideal to keep its metallic gold pigments vibrant and prevent them from fading or bleaching.
Water Flow: Moderate and indirect; requires a gentle, swaying current to keep tentacles waving fluidly without violently pinning them against its sharp calcified skeleton.
Temperature: 72°F – 78°F (22°C – 26°C).
Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.023 – 1.025.
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.4.
Care and Feeding
Placement: Middle sections of the aquarium, securely anchored into the rockwork structure where its large fleshy polyps have ample room to expand safely.
Diet: Photosynthetic via zooxanthellae, but benefits greatly from weekly target feeding of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or specialized powdered coral foods.
Temperament: Semi-aggressive; it develops long, stinging sweeper tentacles at night and must be kept several inches away from non-Euphyllia corals, though it can usually be placed close to other hammer and frogspawn corals without issue.