Why is my Finger Leather Coral shiny and completely closed up?

This is a natural process known as shedding. The coral secretes a waxy mucous layer to clear itself of detritus and algae. Given enough water flow, it will shed this layer after a few days and the polyps will reopen.

Can I keep a Finger Leather Coral in a tank with SPS corals?

Yes, but with caution. Sinularia corals release chemical compounds (terpenes) into the water that can inhibit the growth of sensitive SPS corals. Running activated carbon and providing adequate spacing can help mitigate this.

How do I frag my Finger Leather Coral?

You can carefully cut a branch off the parent colony using a sharp, clean scalpel or scissors. Attach the cutting to a piece of rubble or a frag plug using a rubber band or reef-safe mesh until it attaches naturally.

Does my Finger Leather Coral need direct feeding?

No, they are primarily photosynthetic and get most of their energy from your aquarium lighting. However, they will absorb dissolved nutrients and benefit from occasional feedings of marine snow or phytoplankton.

Why is my leather coral slumping over?

Slumping can occur if the coral is resting, preparing for a shed, or reacting to a sudden change in lighting or flow. If it persists for over a week, check your water parameters and ensure it is receiving moderate to strong, varied flow.

MarineCoralsBeginner

Finger Leather Coral

Sinularia spp.

The Finger Leather Coral is a highly resilient and fast-growing soft coral, making it a perfect foundational piece for beginner reef aquarists.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 15 – 40 cm
Recommended for stable parameters and growth space: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 50 years
Diet: Photosynthetic
Water flow: Moderate to high
Preferred setup: Established reef aquarium with ample live rock for attachment

About the Finger Leather Coral

Belonging to the diverse genus Sinularia, Finger Leather Corals are iconic soft corals celebrated for their tree-like structure and digitiform (finger-like) branches. They are incredibly hardy and adaptable, securing their place as a staple in both novice and advanced marine setups. Although they lack the hard calcareous skeleton of stony corals, their tissue contains microscopic sclerites that grant them a tough, leathery texture and structural support.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Finger Leather Coral against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Finger Leather Coral comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef

Countries / regions

Australia, Indonesia, Fiji, Philippines

Habitat

Shallow reef flats, lagoons, and upper reef slopes with strong tidal currents.

Widely distributed across tropical coral reef environments.

Similar species

Toadstool Leather Coral
Sarcophyton spp.
Devil's Hand Leather Coral
Lobophytum spp.
Colt Coral
Cladiella spp.

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Clownfish often accept large Finger Leather Corals as a surrogate host if no anemone is present.
Great
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Herbivorous tangs help keep the aquarium free of nuisance algae that could otherwise smother the coral.
Great
Acropora Corals
Acropora spp.
Sinularia release toxic terpenes into the water which can stunt the growth of sensitive Small Polyp Stony (SPS) corals like Acropora.
Compatible with caution
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunula
Many butterflyfish are obligate or opportunistic corallivores and will actively graze on the polyps of soft corals.
Not recommended
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
While generally reef safe, hungry peppermint shrimp have been known to pick at soft coral tissue.
Compatible with caution

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