Leather corals are workhorses of the soft-coral reef. Genera: Sarcophyton (toadstool, mushroom-shape), Sinularia (finger leather, branching), Lobophytum (stalked, thick-stemmed), Cladiella (colt coral - delicate fingers). Difficulty: beginner. Lighting: low to medium PAR (50-150). Flow: medium - they "shed" excess slime in low flow. Gentle current keeps them clean. Feeding: photosynthetic primarily; some target feed coral foods or amino acid weekly. Growth: aggressive - a 2-inch frag becomes a 12-inch toadstool in 1-2 years. Caveat: some species (especially toadstool Sarcophyton) release allelopathic toxins ("terpenes") that suppress SPS coral growth. Run carbon + heavy water flow to mitigate. Coloration: tan, green, "neon green," yellow morphs - higher-end colors $80-300 per frag.
Reviewed by the Fast Aquatics husbandry team · Updated May 2026
Leather corals (Sarcophyton, Sinularia, Lobophytum) are soft corals with rubbery flesh. Hardy beginner corals that tolerate fluctuating water + lower light. Leather corals are workhorses of the soft-coral reef. Genera: Sarcophyton (toadstool, mushroom-shape), Sinularia (finger leather, branching), Lobophytum (stalked, thick-stemmed), Cladiella (colt coral - delicate fingers). Difficulty: beginner. Lighting: low to medium PAR (50-150). Flow: medium - they "shed" excess slime in low flow.
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