Yellow Toadstool Leather Care Guide
Sarcophyton glaucum is a well-documented toadstool leather coral, photosynthetic and hardy, with a strong terpenoid chemical defense.
Overview
Sarcophyton glaucum is among the best-documented species of the toadstool leather coral genus Sarcophyton. It forms a stalked, mushroom-shaped colony with a broad cap bearing short polyps, and in aquarium specimens the polyps are commonly yellow-green over a tan-brown stalk. It is a hardy soft coral.
Taxonomy
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Sarcophyton (Lesson, 1834)
- Scientific name: Sarcophyton glaucum
- Authority: (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
Habitat
The genus is native to the Indo-Pacific. Sarcophyton 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
This species is photosynthetic and meets most energy needs through its zooxanthellae. Direct feeding is generally unnecessary and may foul the tissue, leading to secondary infection.
Chemical defense and shedding
Sarcophyton produces the toxic terpene macrolide sarcophytoxide, an antifeedant that also reduces photosynthesis in neighboring corals such as Acropora formosa. The false cowry Ovula ovum preys on Sarcophyton and can probably detoxify sarcophytoxide. The coral periodically retracts its polyps and sheds a waxy mucus coat, which should be removed.
Compatibility
It is reef-safe and compatible with reef fish and shrimp, but because of its chemical defenses it should be given ample space from corals it may irritate or burn on contact.