Encrusting Devil's Hand Care Guide
Lobophytum pauciflorum is an encrusting Indo-Pacific leather coral forming flat pads with finger-like lobes. It is photosynthetic and beginner friendly.
Overview
Lobophytum pauciflorum is a soft leather coral of the family Alcyoniidae from the tropical Indo-Pacific. As an encrusting member of the devil's hand group it forms low, flat pads bearing finger-like lobes that make good cover over rockwork. Colonies consist of tiny polyps in a shared leathery tissue and the coral is hardy enough for beginning aquarists.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Lobophytum
- Scientific name: Lobophytum pauciflorum
- Authority: (Ehrenberg, 1834) (WoRMS, order Malacalcyonacea)
Habitat
The genus is found in shallow water across a wide area of the tropical Indo-Pacific, on reef crests, lagoons and slopes. Like other leather corals it hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae that supply much of its nutrition through photosynthesis.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024–1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8–11
- Calcium: 380–450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280–1350 ppm
- Nitrate: below ~15 ppm; phosphate below ~0.1 ppm
- Lighting: medium, about 75–200 PAR
- Flow: medium
- Minimum tank age: about 3 months
Place the colony on rock under moderate light and flow, where its encrusting form can spread across the surface. Like other leathers it periodically develops and sheds a surface film over a few days to remove algae.
Diet
Lobophytum pauciflorum is photosynthetic and obtains most of its energy from zooxanthellae, supplementing this by absorbing nutrients from the water column. Active target feeding is not required, though occasional amino acids or microplankton can aid growth.
Compatibility
It is reef, fish and shrimp safe and peaceful in temperament, but as a leather coral it can chemically suppress nearby corals, so allow ample spacing.