Soft coral
Waving hand coral
Anthelia spp.
- Type
- Soft coral
- Care level
- Beginner to intermediate (retailers disagree)
- Light
- 75 to 200 PAR (medium)
- Flow
- Medium
- With neighbours
- Peaceful
Safety: handling waving hand coral
Low hazard
How do you care for waving hand coral?
Placement
Mid rock
Flow
Medium to strong
Feeding
Not needed
Growth
Moderate to fast
Water quality
Moderate
How much light does it need?
Sources put it at about 75 to 200 PAR, measured where the coral sits. No figure was published for this coral itself, so this is the usual range for its group. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.
One listing asks for moderate to high light and medium to strong flow. typical, check
Which neighbours are safe?
Low; polyps do not retract, so they are easily damaged by fish, crabs, snails and stinging neighbours typical, check
Keep away from stinging corals
Fish
Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.
Take care (4)
- Coral beautyCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Flame angelfishFlame angelfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Foxface rabbitfishFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Moorish idolMoorish idol may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
Other corals
Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.
Take care (10)
- Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
- Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.
Take care (3)
- Emerald crabSome emerald crabs nip corals when hungry.
- Peppermint shrimpSome peppermint shrimps nip corals when hungry.
- Camel shrimpSome camel shrimps nip corals when hungry.
These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.
Pests, dips and quarantine
Few
Gentle dip
No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.
Where sources disagree
| Topic | What sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty |
| Sources differ here, so we give the range and the reasons rather than one number. |
Sources
Last checked . How we check
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- Care
- Beginner
- Light
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- Flow
- Medium
- Neighbours
- Spreads or stings mildly
Photo Kazvorpal, CC BY-SA 3.0
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- Care
- Beginner
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- Flow
- Medium
- Neighbours
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- Beginner
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- Flow
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Hairy mushroom
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- Care
- Beginner
- Light
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- Flow
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- Neighbours
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