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.
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.