Cabbage Leather Coral (Sinularia dura) Care Guide
Sinularia dura is a hardy lobed leather coral with cabbage-like flat lobes, suited to medium light and flow in a stable reef aquarium.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sinularia dura is a lobed leather coral with flat, cabbage-like lobes. It is a hardy, beginner-friendly soft coral that grows encrusting colonies over time. WoRMS treats Sinularia dura as a junior synonym of Sinularia brassica; the name is retained here as supplied by the knowledge base.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Sinularia
- Scientific name: Sinularia dura
- WoRMS revision: junior synonym of Sinularia brassica May, 1898
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
Sinularia dura is passive and reef-safe with fish and shrimp. As with all leather corals it can shed a waxy surface film during periodic self-cleaning, so good water movement and filtration help maintain water quality.
Sinularia dura: Fragging and Propagation
Overview
Sinularia dura is the cabbage leather coral, a soft coral of the family Alcyoniidae (genus Sinularia, the only reef-building soft coral) that forms flat, cabbage-like lobes. Under brighter light and stronger flow it can take on the look of an encrusting stony coral. Unlike Sarcophyton its small polyps sit on the surface of the tissue without prominent dimorphism, and it is supported by sclerites and symbiotic zooxanthellae.
Reproductive Mode
In aquaria the coral is multiplied asexually by fragging the lobes, which heal and develop into new colonies. Sinularia can also build a solid encrusting base and spread outward over rock. Sexual spawning occurs in the wild but is not a home method.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
A clean, sharp blade is used to cut a lobe or a piece of an existing lobe. 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 may be glued more securely. An iodine dip and seawater rinse after cutting help disinfect the wound and remove slime.
Conditions for Propagation
- Lighting: 75-200 PAR (medium); tolerates brighter light well
- Flow: moderate to fairly strong
- 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 into the water during broadcast spawning; fertilised eggs develop into planula larvae that drift, settle on hard substrate and bud into new colonies. This natural pathway is not used for home propagation.
Common Challenges
Cabbage leathers grow slowly and, when stressed, can close and stay contracted for a long time, often shedding a waxy film once flow is adequate. Sinularia produces abundant terpene-based secondary metabolites and toxic, allelopathic compounds that can inhibit competitors, so the slime expelled during fragging must be kept out of the main system.