Mollis Sinularia Leather Coral Care Guide
Sinularia mollis is a soft, thinner-stalked leather coral, typically light tan with cream polyps, kept under medium light and flow in a stable reef.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sinularia mollis is a soft leather coral with a thinner stalk than most congeners, typically light tan with cream-coloured polyps. It is a hardy, beginner-friendly soft coral. As with related species, WoRMS has moved many Sinularia into the genus Sclerophytum; the knowledge-base name is retained here.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Sinularia
- Scientific name: Sinularia mollis
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 mollis is passive and reef-safe with fish and shrimp. Leather corals periodically shed a surface film as they self-clean, so steady flow helps prevent debris from settling on the colony.
Sinularia mollis: Fragging and Propagation
Overview
Sinularia mollis is a soft, thinner-stalked leather coral of the family Alcyoniidae. Like other Sinularia its small polyps sit on the surface of the lobes without prominent dimorphism, the tissue is supported by sclerites, and the colony depends mainly on symbiotic zooxanthellae for energy.
Reproductive Mode
Home propagation is asexual: lobes are fragged and heal into new colonies, and the base can encrust and spread across rock. Sexual spawning occurs in the wild but is not the route used by hobbyists.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Cut a lobe or a piece of one with a clean, sharp blade. Because the slick body resists glue, frags are banded, set in mesh or an onion bag, or laid on rubble in low flow until they attach; gluing can follow once anchored. A short iodine dip and a seawater rinse after cutting reduce infection 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
- Net out shed mucus that can irritate neighbours
Sexual Reproduction
Gonochoric octocoral colonies broadcast eggs or sperm; fertilised eggs develop into planula larvae that drift, settle and bud into new colonies. This natural pathway is not used for home propagation.
Common Challenges
These leathers periodically close and form a shiny waxy film that is shed within a few days as the polyps reopen. Sinularia produces diverse terpene-based secondary metabolites and toxic, allelopathic compounds that can inhibit competitors, so slime expelled during fragging should be removed from the system.