Sinularia dura: Fragging and Propagation
Propagating the cabbage leather coral Sinularia dura by cutting its flat lobes and reattaching frags, with notes on its slow growth, terpene chemistry and wild spawning.
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.