Purple Tip Branching Hammer

Purple Tip Branching Hammer is a branching hammer-type LPS coral sold here as Fimbriaphyllia paraancora. Many reef keepers still use the older Euphyllia name for this group; the current accepted genus for this coral is Fimbriaphyllia.

Expect classic hammer coral movement from a branching skeleton: individual heads expand, sway, and grow upward from a shared base. Keep it in a stable reef aquarium with low-to-moderate light, indirect variable flow, and enough space that the fleshy tentacles do not rub neighboring corals.

Why Reef Keepers Choose It

• Classic hammer coral movement with purple-tipped tentacles
• Branching LPS growth that adds shape without becoming a flat wall colony
• Good lower-to-mid reef placement option for established mixed reefs
• Strong beginner-to-intermediate LPS choice when water chemistry is stable
• Useful coral for learning LPS spacing, flow, and feeding discipline

Care Guidance

Start Purple Tip Branching Hammer in a low-to-mid position with low-to-moderate lighting. It does not need the intense light expected by many SPS corals, and sudden jumps into high light can cause retraction or stress. If you move it brighter, do it gradually and watch for steady expansion.

Flow should be moderate and indirect. The tentacles should sway and lift naturally without being pinned in one direction or whipped hard against the skeleton. Too little flow can allow debris to settle around the heads, while direct pump blast can keep the coral closed and damage soft tissue.

Place the coral on stable lower rockwork or a secure frag area where the branching skeleton cannot tip into sand or nearby corals. Avoid wedge-tight placements that press tissue against rock. As the heads inflate, give the coral room to expand around the full colony, not just around the plug.

Spacing And Compatibility

Hammer corals should be treated as aggressive LPS. Their tentacles can sting nearby corals, and contact with rough rock or another coral can damage the tissue. Leave open space around the colony, especially down-current, and avoid placing it where torches, chalices, favias, or other aggressive LPS can reach it.

Some reef keepers build hammer and frogspawn gardens, but compatibility is never automatic. Keep new pieces separated at first, watch how they expand after lights change, and do not let skeletons or inflated tissue press together. Torches are best given extra room from hammers, even though older hobby language often grouped them together.

Feeding And Stability

Purple Tip Branching Hammer is photosynthetic, but it may accept occasional small target feedings once settled. Feed only when the coral shows a feeding response, use small portions such as LPS Coral Pellets, and avoid heavy feeding that pollutes the water.

Stable salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, temperature, and nutrients matter more than chasing fast growth. Keep changes gradual, inspect new coral carefully, and consider a coral dip such as Reef Primer as part of your acclimation routine.

Browse more LPS Corals or the full Livestock collection if you are planning a mixed reef. For livestock delivery details, review our Shipping page and Arrive Alive Guarantee.

Quick Care Snapshot

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Lighting: Low to moderate; acclimate gradually
• Water flow: Moderate, indirect, and not blasting the tissue
• Temperament: Aggressive LPS; leave space from neighboring corals
• Placement: Low to mid reef on stable rockwork or a secure frag area
• Feeding: Photosynthetic; optional small target feeding after it settles
• Scientific ID: sold as Fimbriaphyllia paraancora; formerly sold under Euphyllia paraancora