Leather Coral

Environment

Minimum volume 200 liters. Requires medium to high lighting (150-250 PAR) for photosynthesis. Low to moderate flow, no direct violent current that would damage the tissue. Stable parameters: temperature 24-27°C, salinity 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, KH 7-10, calcium 400-450 mg/l, magnesium 1250-1350 mg/l. Place on stable support (rock), leaving space around (30-40 cm) as it can secrete toxic substances for other corals (chemical warfare). Good general circulation to remove the mucus it produces regularly.

Feeding

Derives most of its energy from zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae) through light. Supplemental feeding optional but beneficial: feeding 1-2 times per week with phytoplankton, zooplankton, or liquid foods for soft corals (at night, polyps open). Filters suspended particles. No excessive feeding that would pollute the water.

Health & common diseases

Leather coral is sensitive to sudden parameter fluctuations, especially salinity and temperature, which can cause prolonged polyp retraction. Main diseases include bacterial infections (brown necrotic areas), parasites such as nudibranchs and flatworms, and fungal infections. Monitor any color changes, texture changes, or excessive mucus production that may indicate stress. Prevention relies on stable water quality (low nitrates, good circulation), appropriate lighting, and regular supplementation with iodine and trace elements to promote shedding and regeneration.

Tips & tankmates

Compatible with most reef fish and invertebrates. Watch for space: Sarcophyton can smother or poison neighboring corals through allelopathy. Sheds regularly (loses a mucus layer): normal process, do not handle, remove mucus debris if necessary. Goes through retraction phases (polyps closed) for several days: no need to worry if parameters are stable. Easy to frag: cut a piece of the cap, attach to rock. Monitor pests (flatworms, filamentous algae on the stalk). Hardy species, excellent choice for starting a reef tank.

Sources

• Reef2Reef - Leather Coral Care Guide
• CoralPedia - Sarcophyton species
• Advanced Aquarist - Soft Coral Husbandry