Polydactyla Sinularia Leather Coral Care Guide
Sinularia polydactyla is a highly branched finger-leather coral, often metallic green, that spreads quickly under good conditions and needs space.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sinularia polydactyla is a highly branched finger-leather coral, often metallic green, that spreads quickly under good conditions. WoRMS lists it as accepted as Sclerophytum polydactylum (Ehrenberg, 1834); the knowledge-base name is retained here.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Sinularia
- Scientific name: Sinularia polydactyla
- WoRMS revision: accepted as Sclerophytum polydactylum (Ehrenberg, 1834)
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
Like other branching Sinularia, this coral can produce terpenoid compounds that suppress neighbouring corals through allelopathy, so it should be given ample space from other colonies. It is otherwise reef-safe with fish and shrimp, and good water movement plus carbon filtration help dilute released compounds.
Sinularia polydactyla: Fragging and Propagation
Overview
Sinularia polydactyla is a highly branched finger leather coral of the family Alcyoniidae that can spread quickly under good conditions. As a Sinularia it carries small polyps on the surface of its branches, the colony is reinforced by sclerites, and it relies mainly on symbiotic zooxanthellae for energy.
Reproductive Mode
Home propagation is asexual by fragging the many branches, which regenerate into new colonies; the base can encrust and the colony spreads over rock. Sexual broadcast spawning occurs in the wild but is not a practical home method.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Cut one or more branch tips with a clean, sharp blade. Because the slick tissue does not hold glue well, frags are banded, held in mesh or an onion bag, or rested on rubble in low flow until they attach; once anchored they may be glued. An iodine dip followed by a seawater rinse after cutting cleans the wound and clears 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
- Give space from other corals due to allelopathy
Sexual Reproduction
Gonochoric octocoral colonies broadcast eggs or sperm; fertilised eggs become planula larvae that drift, settle and bud into colonies. This route is natural but is not used to multiply the species at home.
Common Challenges
Branching leathers periodically close and form a shiny waxy film that is shed within a few days before the polyps reopen. Sinularia is notably toxic among soft corals, exuding terpene-based allelopathic compounds that can inhibit nearby corals, so a fast-spreading species like this should be given room and the slime released during fragging removed from the system.