Waving Hand Anthelia

Macroalgae Farms

Waving Hand Anthelia

$12.99

Key Features:
⭐ Long feathery 8-tentacle polyps that wave continuously in reef current — one of the most dynamic motions in the hobby
• Colonial encrusting growth — small frag will spread into a growing colony of waving polyps
• Beginner-friendly soft coral in cream, white, tan, light pink, purple, or green tints
• Waves continuously (unlike Xenia which pulses) — consider isolated rock placement to control spread

Size: 5-10 Polyps
In stock

This product will be available for sale in 2 weeks, but you can pre-order now to receive 10% discount!

Estimated delivery between September 26 and September 28.

Waving Hand Anthelia

$12.99

$12.99

Choose option
Size: 5-10 Polyps
  • 5-10 Polyps

About this item

Waving Hand Anthelia Soft Coral

The Waving Hand Anthelia Soft Coral (Anthelia sp.) is one of the most graceful, mesmerizing, and endlessly captivating soft corals in the entire saltwater hobby. Long feathery polyps with eight pinnate tentacles each wave continuously in reef current, opening and closing gracefully like living hands waving hello — creating one of the most dynamic and hypnotic movement patterns of any coral in the reef trade, with soft cream, white, tan, light pink, purple, and green-tinted expressions that add real motion-driven aesthetic to any mixed reef display — creating one of the most instantly recognizable and captivating soft coral silhouettes in the entire reef trade. Unlike Xenia (which pulses rhythmically with an open/close motion), Anthelia waves continuously in the current — this distinctive waving motion is where the common name Waving Hand originates and delivers a completely different type of coral movement unlike any other reef coral.

What makes the Waving Hand Anthelia one of the most rewarding beginner soft corals is the combination of continuous mesmerizing movement, easy hardy care, and colonial expansion that gradually builds a small frag into a growing colony over time. Anthelia grows through encrusting colonial expansion, with new polyps budding from the base mat and spreading across the rockwork to build a growing colony of continuously waving feathery polyps that transform any placement into a dynamic living display feature — the kind of coral that anchors a soft coral display with continuous motion no static coral can match. Peaceful, hardy, and one of the easier soft corals to keep in the hobby, the Waving Hand Anthelia is one of the best all-around movement-driven soft coral choices for reefers building their first soft coral collection or seeking continuous flowing motion in the display.

Available Options

1 Waving Hand Anthelia Soft Coral Frag — 5 to 10 Polyps

  • One healthy Waving Hand Anthelia Soft Coral frag (Anthelia sp.) — color selected from current availability
  • Approximately 5 to 10 individual polyps on encrusting mat base
  • Long feathery polyps with 8 pinnate tentacles that wave continuously in reef current
  • Colors may include cream, white, tan, light pink, purple, or green-tinted expressions

Care Information

💡 Lighting
Low to Moderate (PAR 50–150)		 🌊 Water Flow
Low to Moderate — gentle to medium current drives waving motion
📍 Placement
Mid to lower rockwork — isolated rock recommended to control spread		 ⚙️ Care Level
Easy — beginner-friendly soft coral
🐠 Temperament
Peaceful — reef-safe, can spread and encrust rockwork over time		 🍽️ Feeding
Photosynthetic — occasional phyto or fine coral foods 1-2x per week beneficial

Special Considerations

Waving Hand Anthelia grows through aggressive colonial expansion and can spread rapidly across adjacent rockwork under good conditions — for buyers who want to control spread, placement on an isolated rock structure (island rock separated from the main aquascape by open sandbed) is strongly recommended to prevent the coral from overgrowing other corals or valuable rockwork. Anthelia is one of the most beginner-friendly soft corals in the hobby and thrives across a wide range of reef parameters, including moderate nutrient levels that many stony corals cannot tolerate. Provide gentle to moderate water flow to drive the continuous waving motion of the polyps — too little flow prevents the signature waving action, while too much flow can cause the polyps to remain closed. Feed occasionally with phytoplankton, marine snow, or fine coral foods 1 to 2 times per week to accelerate growth and colony expansion, though supplemental feeding is not required for long-term survival. Anthelia is completely peaceful with tankmates and safe with all fish and invertebrates — it has no sweeper tentacles and will not sting neighbors, but its aggressive encrusting spread means it can physically overgrow slower-growing corals over time if placed too close. Waving Hand Anthelia should not be confused with Xenia (a related Xeniid coral) — Anthelia waves continuously while Xenia pulses rhythmically, and each has different growth patterns and behaviors in the display.

🔍 Aquarium Insights

The Waving Hand Anthelia Soft Coral is one of the most graceful and beginner-friendly motion-driven soft corals available to reef keepers:

  • Long feathery 8-tentacle polyps that wave continuously in reef current — one of the most dynamic movement patterns of any coral in the hobby
  • Colonial encrusting growth — small frag will spread into a growing colony of continuously waving polyps
  • A hardy, peaceful, beginner-friendly soft coral with continuous mesmerizing motion — one of the best introductory soft corals for reefers seeking dynamic movement no static coral can match

Learn More

For detailed species information, compatibility, and care tips, visit our Species Library.

Livestock Disclaimer

Due to natural variation, the Waving Hand Anthelia frag you receive will contain approximately 5 to 10 polyps hand-selected from current availability and may range across the color spectrum available in this species — including cream, white, tan, light pink, purple, or green-tinted expressions. Exact polyp count may vary slightly (typically within 5 to 10 polyps but occasionally more or less based on frag structure) and specific color cannot be guaranteed and are determined at packing time.

Photographs are representative examples. Individual specimens may vary in polyp count, size, and color expression.

Anthelia can spread aggressively in favorable conditions — consider placement on an isolated rock structure to control spread. As with all live animals, proper acclimation and a suitable, established environment are essential for best results.

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