The Anchor Coral Euphyllia ancora is a reef keepers favorite large polyp stony (LPS) coral. It is colorful and quite attractive with its long tentacles topped with bean-like tips gently swaying in the current. It resembles its close relative, the Hammer coral Euphyllia fimbriata, but the Hammer Coral is not found around Australia. At times the Anchor Coral is inaccurately called the Hammer coral, or even the Frogspawn Coral E. divisa, but with a close look, you can correctly identify it.
The Anchor Coral and the Hammer Coral are very similar except the polyps of the Hammer coral have hammer or “T” shaped tips. The Anchor corals lack the “T” shape, rather they have semi-circular or sausage shaped tips. There is also a very nice branching form of the Anchor Coral, known as the Branching Anchor Coral Euphyllia parancora.
Common colors of the Anchor Coral are pale brown, green, blue-gray, and orange tentacles. These are topped with bright green, pale cream, green or tan tips that curve, looking like an elongated “C” from the top. Both the E. ancora and E. parancora can also come in shades of blue.
The Anchor Coral is yet another variation of a beautiful genus of LPS that is moderately easy to keep and a great addition to any display. Like others of its genus, it will be the first to warn you that the water quality in the tank is less than acceptable. Providing it with sufficient lighting, a moderate but turbid water flow, and the availability of passing food will contribute to their success.
The E. ancora has been propagated in captivity. These corals are not hermatypic, which means they do not contribute to reef structures. Yet in the wild it takes 2 years for a colony to repopulate, and there is concern about over collecting these corals. In some countries they have been outlawed for collection. Propagating these corals is very important in preserving the wild colonies.
Yet another reason to go EUPHYLLIA!!!! Not only will all the different species of Euphyllia get along, even touching each other, they will host willing clownfish! This gives the beauty of a symbiotic relationship right in your tank with the durability of a coral that looks like an anemone during the day! Feed daily with pieces of minced raw marine flesh and keep large softy populations that are noxious out of the tank, and you will be fragging your Euphyllia in no time!
Scientific name
Family: Euphyllidae
Species: Euphyllia ancora
The family Euphyllidae, “… is a very large family of zooxanthellate scleractinans, that were previously grouped in the family Caryophylliidae (Mather, 1994). It includes such genera as Euphyllia, Catalyphyllia, Nemenzophyllia, Plerogyra, and Physogyra.” Source: Tropical Marine Biology II, Classification of Scleractinian (Stony) Corals, by Pierre Madl, University of Vienna, 2001, Revised in Nov. 2002
Distribution / Background
Euphyllia Coral Information: The Anchor Coral Euphyllia ancora was described by Vernon and Pichon in 1980. Other names this coral is known for are Sausage Coral, Hammer Coral, Ridge Anchor Coral, and Wall Coral.
Where Euphyllia Corals Are Found: E. ancora are found in the Indo-West Pacific in Japan and Maldives to and around Australia including the Great Barrier Reef, the Elizabeth Reef, and the North West Cape.
Euphyllia Coral Habitat: The E. ancora live in colonies in waters that are turbid, yet gentle, and inhabit both reef slopes and reef bottoms. They are found at depths down to 131 feet (40 m) and enjoy indirect bright light. They have stinging cells to help capture small prey and to defend themselves against predators.
Status
The E. ancora is not on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
Description
What do Euphyllia Corals look like: The Anchor Coral E. ancora has a meandering wall like structure with the polyps forming along the top, they also form “valleys” throughout the surface. They develop large colonies with polyps that retract into the skeleton, though not completely. The polyps extend during the day and only partially at night, but the skeleton is obscured unless the tentacles are contracted.
The tentacles of the Anchor Coral have tips that are a sausage or “C” shape. It is similar to the Hammer Coral E. fimbriata, but the Hammer Coral has a straighter and flatter tip. The Branching Anchor Coral E. parancora is the branching form of the Anchor Coral. It has a similar size and shape as the Frogspawn Coral E. divisa, but differs in that the E. divisa has a denser skeletal structure.
The colors of the tentacles can be pale brown, green, blue-gray, and orange with bright green, pale cream, green or tan tips. Both the E. ancora and E. parancora can also come in shades of blue. When feeding, the individual tentacles can elongate 2 to 3 times their normal state. Some colonies can reach over 3 feet (1 m). Lifespan is unknown.
Difficulty of Care
Euphyllia Coral Care: The E. ancora can be moderate to easy to care for. Provide sufficient lighting and good turbid water flow, that is neither too strong or too weak. The availability of passing food will also contribute to their success. Using trial and error, by placing coral specimens in different areas of the tank, will eventually result in locating a favorite spot. This will be evident by full polyp expansion and feeding.
Due to collection procedures, they are often broken from parent colonies in the wild. A specimen may have soft tissue damage, especially if the skeleton has splintered into the fleshy polyp area. When purchasing your coral, make sure it has been in the store for a week or so and doing well before bringing it home. This will help you avoid a potentially sick coral, since they may take a few days after shipping to show ailments.
Foods / Feeding
Euphyllia Coral Feeding: The Euphyllia corals, like other large polyp stony (LPS) corals, have developed several feeding strategies. Through a symbiotic relationship with a marine algae, known as zooxanthellae, they receive many of their nutrients. They also capture planktonic organisms, food particles from the water column, and can absorb dissolved organic matter.
In captivity, mysis, krill, brine shrimp and other smaller items can be fed. These corals can eat surprisingly much larger chunks of food as well. Chop up or dice whole fish or shrimp and feed the entire organism to the coral. Since different parts of the animal have varying nutritional qualities, this practice of feeding your Euphyllia in such a way will yield good results. These corals are hungry all the time, so feeding as needed with various foods is helpful.
Aquarium Care
Typical water changes of 20% a month, 10% biweekly, or 5% weekly are needed. It has been noted that 5% weekly water changes replenish many of the needed additives and it is ultimately cheaper than purchasing additives for the water. With higher concentrations of coral with calcareous skeletons though, there may be a need put in additional additives to maintain proper levels for good growth.
The following water supplements are suggested for Euphyllia species:
- Calcium: 400 to 450 ppm. If a large poly stony (LPS) coral does not have enough calcium, it will not grow. (Seachem makes a calcium additive that states 385 as sufficient)
- Alkalinity: 3.5 TO 4.8 MEQ/L (8 to 11 dKh, 10 is recommended)
- Phosphates: 0, zero. Phosphates are the worst of all and all corals hate them.
- Magnesium: 1200 – 1350. Magnesium makes calcium available, so if your calcium is low, check your magnesium levels before adding any more calcium.
- Strontium: 8 – 10
Aquarium Parameters
A well-feed live rock/reef environment is what is needed for your Anchor Coral, along with some fish for organic matter production. A mature tank is recommended.
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Be sure to have proper water movement. Water flow that is too strong can cause the polyps to not extend properly thus inhabiting their ability to capture food. Provide sufficient lighting, they enjoy indirect bright light. Do not place directly under metal halides or its polyps can be damaged, which can lead to rapid tissue necrosis or RTN. Make sure that no other corals can come in contact with your Euphyllia. This coral can be aggressive, especially when hungry, then their sweeper tentacles can reach over 10″ (25 cm). Feeding them regularly will help alleviate this problem.
- Minimum Tank Size / Length:50 gallons (190 L) or larger
- Marine Lighting: Moderate to strong, yet diffused light, but no direct metal halides.
- Temperature: 74° – 83° F (23° – 28° C)
- Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 – 1.025
- Water Movement: Moderate / turbulent.
- Water Region: All areas of the aquarium, depending on light and water movement.
Compatibility and Social Behaviors
Euphyllia corals can be aggressive if touching other corals and should be positioned away from all other corals. The Anchor Coral is peaceful to its own genus, but will attack other genera within its family. The E. ancora’s tentacles can co-mingle with E. divisa (Frogspawn) without any tissue damage.
The E. ancora tend to be sensitive to aquariums that have large collections of soft corals, specifically, some Sinularia species. When hungry, their sweeper tentacles can reach over 10″ (25 cm) in large colonies, which poses a threat to nearby corals due to their strong sting. Feeding them regularly will help alleviate this problem.
Sex – Sexual differences
Breeding and Reproduction
The large polyp stony (LPS) corals are male and female and can reproduce both sexually and asexually. In the wild they reproduce sexually by releasing eggs and sperm at the same time, resulting in a fertilized egg which then forms into a free-swimming planula larva.Eventually the planula larvae settles onto the substrate, becoming plankters. This then forms a tiny polyp which begins to excrete calcium carbonate and develops into a coral. Planula larvae are extremely vulnerable to predation, and very few survive.
Euphyllia genus reproduce asexually as well. In captivity, the E. ancora will bud off small groups of polyps with little skeletons attached. They will also pinch off their own tentacles, which then floats off, and being sticky, will reattach and start a new colony.
To propagate you first you need to choose a healthy coral that is not showing any signs of distress. Propagation should be done with an electric saw at least 1 1/2″ to 2″ away from the top. Do not use a bone crusher or scissors, since they will splinter the skeleton and harm the polyp. Glue the frag to a plug or rock. You can use the 2-part epoxy or underwater putties.The slime that the coral will exude should not come in contact with any other corals and gloves are suggested. Give the frag ample water flow.
Potential Problems
The Euphyllia spp. are fairly hardy, but are susceptible to a few maladies. The E. ancora is susceptible to brown jelly or protozoan infections, collection problems, and intense lighting.
- Brown Jelly
Brown jelly or protozoan infections can infect the rest of the colony if not treated. This brown jelly looks exactly like it sounds, and can be caused by poor water quality and/or tissue damage. To treat, remove the coral to a container with water from the main display, then brush or siphon off any visible brown jelly. Give the coral a freshwater dip in water with the same pH and temperature as the main tank for several minutes to kill a lot of the microorganisms.
Use an antibiotic paste on the infect areas and/or a Lugol’s dip. Cyanobacteria and brown jelly infections can be treated with Neomycin sulphite, Kanamycin and other broad-spectrum antibiotics. The pill can be pulverized into a fine powder, mixed with sea water to make a paste, and then applied to the wound, or affected site of the coral with a simple artists brush.
Try to treat the coral with the least stressful method first. Place in a quarantine tank until coral recovers. - Metal Halides
Do not place directly under Metal Halide, or the E. ancora’s polyps can be damaged and can lead to rapid tissue necrosis or RTN. - New Specimens
Collections from the wild may have soft tissue damage, especially if the skeleton has splintered into the fleshy polyp area. When purchasing your coral, make sure it has been in the store for a week or so, since they may take a few days after shipping to show ailments.
Availability
Euphyllia Corals for Sale: The Anchor Coral E. ancora is very easy to find at pet shops and on line. Online they can run about $39.00 USD or more depending on size and/or color.
References
- Animal-World References: Marine and Reef
- Eric Borneman, Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History , TFH Publications, 2001
- Anthony Calfo, Book of Coral Propagation, Volume 1 Edition 2: Reef Gardening for Aquarists, Reading Trees; 2nd edition, 2007
- Ronald L. Shimek, Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species, Microcosm, 2005
- Saltwater Aquarium Supplements, FishLore.com Tropical Fish Information, Copyright 2007
- Bob Goemans, Hammer / Anchor Coral, Euphyllia ancora, Animal Library, Saltwatercorner.com
Featured Image Credit: Ethan Daniels, Shutterstock