Finger leather
Sinularia
Also known as Finger Leather Coral, Flexible Leather, Sinularia Leather
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Alcyoniidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific reefs
Overview
The finger leather is a hardy leather coral that adds height and structure to a soft coral reef. It is easy to keep, though its chemistry calls for care in a mixed reef with stony corals.
Did you know
Sinularia leathers are among the most studied corals in marine chemistry. Laboratories have screened their potent terpenoid defense compounds for antibacterial, antifungal and even anticancer activity.
Caring for the finger leather
Give the finger leather moderate light of around 75 to 150 PAR and moderate to strong flow. The flow helps it shed its waxy coating and keeps detritus from settling in the folds. Place it low to mid on stable rock in a reef of 20 gal (75 L) or larger, with room to expand.
Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. The finger leather is hardy and easy to keep. Like other leathers, it sheds a waxy mucus film now and then.
The finger leather does not sting its neighbors. It competes with chemicals instead, and its terpenes are strong enough to harm nearby corals, especially Acropora and other SPS. The shed mucus carries these compounds, which can irritate or kill neighboring corals through allelopathy.
Keep SPS and delicate corals at a distance in a mixed reef. It is one of the more chemically potent soft corals, so run activated carbon to strip these compounds from the water. It is fine alongside others of its own kind.
Good to know
Sinularia is a leather coral in the family Alcyoniidae. It stiffens its tissue with tiny calcite spicules called sclerites. It is also sold as flexible leather and Sinularia leather.
In the wild
Sinularia leathers grow on Indo-Pacific reefs, where they form branching, finger-like or ruffled lobes.
Common questions
What size tank does a finger leather need?
A finger leather needs at least 20 gal (75 L).
What temperature and pH does a finger leather need?
A finger leather is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a finger leather get?
An adult finger leather reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
Related species
11.8 in (30 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Cabbage leather coral
Sinularia dura
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11.8 in (30 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Flexible finger leather coral
Sinularia flexibilis
11.8 in (30 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Cauliflower colt coral
Klyxum simplex
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11.8 in (30 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Devil's hand leather coral
Lobophytum
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11.8 in (30 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Toadstool leather
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