Brassica Cabbage Leather Coral (Sinularia brassica) Care Guide
Sinularia brassica is a cabbage-like leather coral with broad fleshy lobes that forms large colonies over time, kept under medium light and flow.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sinularia brassica is a cabbage-like leather coral with broad, fleshy lobes that develops large encrusting colonies over time. WoRMS lists Sinularia brassica (May, 1898) as the accepted name and considers several names, including Sinularia dura, to be its junior synonyms.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Sinularia
- Scientific name: Sinularia brassica
- Authority: May, 1898 (accepted name in WoRMS; family Sinulariidae)
Habitat
Sinularia is a genus of soft coral in the family Alcyoniidae, native to the tropical shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific. Like all soft corals it lacks a calcium carbonate exoskeleton, supported instead by an internal skeleton of sclerites. Colonies host symbiotic zooxanthellae that provide energy through photosynthesis, with colony colour depending on algal density. The World Register of Marine Species has reclassified many Sinularia species into the genus Sclerophytum (family Sinulariidae, order Malacalcyonacea); the knowledge-base name is retained in this guide.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- dKH (alkalinity): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Nitrate: below 15 ppm
- Phosphate: below 0.1 ppm
- Lighting: ~75-200 PAR (medium)
- Water flow: medium
- Minimum tank age: 3 months
Diet
The coral is photosynthetic, relying on its zooxanthellae for energy, and does not require direct feeding. Maintaining stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium supports tissue and sclerite health, while supplemental amino acids may aid growth.
Compatibility
The coral is passive and reef-safe with fish and shrimp. Leather corals periodically shed a surface film during self-cleaning, so steady water movement and good filtration help maintain water quality.
Sinularia brassica: Fragging and Propagation
Overview
Sinularia brassica is a cabbage-like leather coral of the family Alcyoniidae with broad, fleshy lobes that can build large colonies over time. As a Sinularia it carries small surface polyps without prominent dimorphism, is supported by sclerites, and relies mainly on symbiotic zooxanthellae for energy.
Reproductive Mode
Aquarium increase is asexual by fragging lobes, which heal into new colonies; the base can also encrust and spread over rock. Sexual broadcast spawning occurs in the wild but is not a home method.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
A clean, sharp blade is used to cut a fleshy lobe or part of one. Because the slimy tissue resists glue, the frag is banded, held in mesh or an onion bag, or set on rubble in low flow until it attaches; once anchored it can be glued. An iodine dip followed by a seawater rinse after cutting helps disinfect the wound and clear slime.
Conditions for Propagation
- Lighting: 75-200 PAR (medium)
- Flow: moderate, increased after attachment
- Temperature: 24-26 C
- Mature tank: at least about 3 months old
- Keep released slime out of the system
Sexual Reproduction
Gonochoric octocoral colonies release eggs or sperm during broadcast spawning; fertilised eggs become planula larvae that drift, settle on hard substrate and bud into colonies. This natural pathway is not used for home propagation.
Common Challenges
Cabbage-form leathers periodically close and form a shiny waxy film that is shed within a few days before the polyps reopen. Sinularia produces abundant terpene-based metabolites and toxic, allelopathic compounds that can inhibit competitors, so the slime released during fragging must be removed from the main system.