Cynarina Care Guide
Cynarina (Cynarina lacrymalis) is a LPS coral. Care covers 50-150 PAR, low flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Cynarina (Cynarina lacrymalis) is a LPS coral in the family Lobophylliidae. Solitary LPS with translucent inflated vesicles. Hardy, slow-growing; striking translucent rim and dark mouth.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lobophylliidae
- Genus: Cynarina
- Scientific name: Cynarina lacrymalis
- Common synonyms: Tooth Coral, Button Coral, Cat's Eye Coral
Habitat
In the wild, Cynarina lacrymalis is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a massive growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 50-150 PAR
- Water flow: low
Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.
Feeding
Cynarina lacrymalis hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Supplemental target feeding accelerates growth and supports colouration; commonly accepted items include mysis, reef-roids, amino-acids. Feed once or twice per week after lights-out, when polyps are extended.
Compatibility
This coral is moderately aggressive toward neighbours. It extends sweeper tentacles capable of stinging adjacent corals, so leave generous spacing (10-20 cm) between colonies. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: intermediate. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.1-0.3 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for massive colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.
Aussie Pink Cynarina Propagation Guide
Overview
The Aussie Pink Cynarina is an Australian colour form of Cynarina lacrymalis (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848), a stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae and the type species of Cynarina (Brüggemann, 1877) according to the World Register of Marine Species. The bright pink flesh is simply pigmentation: the animal remains a solitary cat's-eye coral, a single polyp with translucent vesicles around one mouth, not a colony.
Reproductive Mode
Being a single-polyp Cynarina, the Aussie Pink form cannot be multiplied by dividing a shared-wall colony, as a meandering brain coral can. Under aquarium care it increases only through slow natural budding and tissue regeneration on its single skeleton, while wild populations are renewed by sexual reproduction.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Reef Builders places single-polyp corals such as Scolymia, meat corals and Fungia among those that do not respond to ordinary fragging, since separate polyps share no skeletal wall to cut along. Sectioning a solitary Aussie Pink would mean cutting through its one polyp and risking a high-value specimen, so it is normally kept whole and allowed to bud naturally rather than being sawn.
Conditions for Propagation
Where tissue is cut or divides naturally, healing depends on gentle, stable conditions. Reef Builders advises basting mucus off the coral carefully and keeping flow low while tissue recovers; the thin translucent vesicles are easily torn by strong current. Clean, steady water lets the polyp re-cover any exposed skeleton and protect the prized colour.
Sexual Reproduction
Like other members of the Lobophylliidae, Cynarina reproduces sexually by broadcasting gametes into the water, where fertilisation forms planula larvae that drift, settle and grow into new solitary polyps. Colour forms are not reliably passed on through this route, which is the natural means of producing new corals rather than fragmentation.
Common Challenges
The inflated translucent vesicles are fragile and, in a single-polyp coral, any tear endangers the whole specimen. The tissue swells and deflates strongly, so handling must be gentle, and exposed skeleton or receding flesh can deteriorate quickly in poor water. Keep the soft tissue clear of sharp rock and strong flow and limit handling.
Cynarina lacrymalis Propagation Guide
Overview
Cynarina lacrymalis (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848) is a stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae, the type species of the genus Cynarina (Brüggemann, 1877) per the World Register of Marine Species. It is known in the aquarium trade as the button, tooth or cat's-eye coral. Unlike the meandering brain corals, it is a solitary animal: a single large polyp with inflated translucent vesicles surrounding one central mouth.
Reproductive Mode
Because Cynarina is a single-polyp coral, it does not spread by repeatedly dividing into shared-wall corallites the way a colonial brain coral does. In captivity it increases only through slow natural budding and tissue regeneration around its one skeleton, while reproduction across reef populations proceeds sexually.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Reef Builders groups single-polyp corals such as Scolymia, meat corals and Fungia among those that resist conventional fragging, because there is no shared wall between distinct polyps to cut along. A solitary Cynarina would have to be sectioned straight through its one polyp, an unreliable approach that risks the whole animal, so it is usually left intact to bud on its own rather than being sawn.
Conditions for Propagation
If tissue is ever divided, recovery depends on calm, stable conditions. Reef Builders recommends gently basting mucus from the coral and keeping flow gentle while tissue knits over the skeleton; the translucent vesicles are thin-walled and tear easily under strong current. Clean, steady water gives the polyp the best chance to re-skin exposed bare skeleton.
Sexual Reproduction
As with other Lobophylliidae, Cynarina reproduces sexually by releasing gametes into the water, where fertilisation produces planula larvae that disperse, settle on hard substrate and develop into new solitary polyps. This broadcast route, not fragmentation, is the natural mechanism that generates new individuals on the reef.
Common Challenges
The large translucent vesicles inflate dramatically and are very delicate; in a single-polyp coral any tear threatens the entire specimen. The animal can swell and deflate quickly, so handling must be careful, and exposed skeleton or receding tissue can progress fast in poor water. Protect the soft tissue from sharp rock and excess flow and minimise handling.