Hammer Corals for Sale
Hammer corals are popular LPS corals known for their flowing tentacles, distinctive hammer-shaped tips and brilliant coloration. At Lucky Corals, we offer a changing selection of hammer corals for sale, ranging from affordable branching hammers to large colonies and rare collector varieties. Our selection regularly includes green, gold, orange, holy grail, rainbow, and multicolor hammer corals, as well as unique splatter and bicolor varieties.
Many of our hammer corals are individually photographed so you can choose a coral based on its actual size, coloration and growth pattern. Our inventory changes frequently as individual corals sell and new specimens become available.
Branching vs. Wall Hammer Corals
Hammer corals occur in two primary growth forms: branching hammer corals and wall hammer corals.
Branching hammers grow individual heads on separate branches of skeleton. As a colony grows, the heads divide and form additional branches. This growth pattern also makes branching hammers relatively easy to propagate and allows individual damaged branches to be separated from an otherwise healthy colony.
Wall hammers form their fleshy polyps along a continuous, wall-shaped skeleton. They can develop into impressive showpiece corals but are generally considered more sensitive than branching varieties. For many reef keepers, particularly those purchasing their first hammer coral, a healthy branching hammer is an excellent choice.
Lucky Corals frequently offers tank-grown branching hammer corals in addition to larger colonies and unusual color varieties.
Hammer Coral Colors and Varieties
One of the biggest attractions of hammer corals is the variety of colors available. Neon green hammers remain a classic, while gold, orange, teal, purple and multicolor varieties can provide dramatic contrast in a reef aquarium.
Rainbow hammer corals and other multicolor varieties are especially sought after because individual tentacles can display several contrasting colors. Splatter hammers can develop irregular patterns of color across their tentacles, giving individual colonies a distinctive appearance.
Coloration can look different under different aquarium lighting, particularly under the blue-heavy spectrum commonly used in reef aquariums.
Hammer Coral Care
Hammer corals generally do well with low to moderate lighting and low to moderate, indirect water flow. The tentacles should gently sway with the current rather than being continuously pushed in one direction. Excessively strong direct flow can prevent the coral from fully expanding and may damage its fleshy tissue.
Hammer corals are photosynthetic and do not require direct feeding. Healthy specimens may capture small foods from the water column, but maintaining stable aquarium conditions is more important than target feeding.
As stony corals, hammers use calcium and alkalinity to build their skeletons. Maintaining reasonably stable alkalinity, calcium, salinity and temperature is therefore important for long-term health and growth. Branching hammers are generally more forgiving of changing aquarium conditions than wall hammers.
Hammer Coral Placement and Compatibility
Hammer corals can extend well beyond their skeleton when fully open, so give them enough room to expand without constantly contacting neighboring corals. They can also produce sweeper tentacles capable of stinging nearby corals.
Hammers can often be kept relatively close to other compatible hammer corals, but extra care should be taken around unrelated species. Torch corals in particular should be given adequate separation because their long tentacles can be aggressive toward neighboring corals.
A location with moderate light, gentle indirect flow and sufficient space for expansion is usually a good starting point when introducing a new hammer coral.
Buying Hammer Corals Online
When choosing a hammer coral, consider its color, size and growth form as well as the conditions in your aquarium. A small branching hammer can develop into a substantial colony over time, while a larger specimen can provide an immediate centerpiece for an established reef.
Browse our current selection above to find hammer corals for sale, including branching hammers, tank-grown hammers, rainbow hammers, orange hammers, gold hammers, splatter hammers and other unusual color varieties. Our selection changes regularly as corals sell and new specimens become available.
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