Thick-stem Toadstool (Sarcophyton crassocaule) Care Guide
Sarcophyton crassocaule is a thick-stalked toadstool leather coral, photosynthetic and robust, tolerating a wide parameter range.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sarcophyton crassocaule is a thick-stalked toadstool leather coral of the genus Sarcophyton. Like its relatives it forms a stalked, mushroom-shaped colony with a broad capitulum bearing short polyps, and it is a robust, hardy soft coral that tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Taxonomy
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Sarcophyton (Lesson, 1834)
- Scientific name: Sarcophyton crassocaule
- Authority: Moser, 1919
Habitat
The genus is native to the Indo-Pacific. These corals are photosynthetic, deriving most of their energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae, and are commonly kept in reef aquaria.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH (alkalinity): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Lighting: medium to high, around 75-200 PAR
- Flow: medium to high, ideally strong and randomized
Diet
Leather corals are photosynthetic and meet most of their energy needs through their zooxanthellae. Direct feeding is generally unnecessary and may foul the tissue, causing secondary infection.
Chemical defense and shedding
Sarcophyton produces the toxic terpene sarcophytoxide, which deters predators and provides an allelopathic advantage over neighboring corals. The coral periodically retracts its polyps and forms a waxy mucus coat that it sheds; remove any shed material to maintain water quality.
Compatibility
It is reef-safe and compatible with reef fish and shrimp, but because of its chemical defenses it should be given space from other corals it may irritate on contact.
Sarcophyton crassocaule: Fragging and Propagation
Overview
Sarcophyton crassocaule is a thick-stalked toadstool leather coral of the family Alcyoniidae, with a stout stem supporting the mushroom-shaped capitulum. Being an octocoral it has eight-tentacled, dimorphic polyps and draws most of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae through photosynthesis.
Reproductive Mode
Home increase is asexual. The robust tissue regenerates well, so cap cuttings grow into new colonies while the parent recovers. Sexual broadcast spawning takes place in the wild but is not how hobbyists multiply these corals.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Trim a section from the capitulum margin with a sterile sharp blade and cut it into frags. Each is banded, set in mesh, or rested on rubble in gentle flow until it grips, since the slick body will not bond reliably with glue alone. An iodine dip and a seawater rinse after cutting reduce infection risk and wash off slime.
Conditions for Propagation
- Lighting: 75-200 PAR (medium)
- Flow: moderate, raised after the frag anchors
- Temperature: 24-26 C
- Mature tank: at least about 3 months old
- Remove shed mucus that can irritate neighbours
Sexual Reproduction
Gonochoric octocoral colonies broadcast eggs or sperm into the water; fertilised eggs become planula larvae that disperse, settle and bud into colonies. This is a natural process rather than a home technique.
Common Challenges
Recovering frags routinely retract and form a shiny waxy cuticle for a few days before sloughing it and reopening. Sarcophyton produces defensive terpenes (for example sarcophytoxide) that deter predators and can suppress neighbouring corals, so the slime released during cutting should be siphoned out.