Cynarina corals — often called button, meat, or doughnut corals — are among the most rewarding large-polyp stony (LPS) corals you can keep. They're vibrant, forgiving enough for newer reefers, and put on a dramatic show as their fleshy tissue inflates. This guide covers everything you need to keep one thriving: lighting, flow, placement, feeding, and water parameters.
What Is a Cynarina Coral?
Cynarina lacrymalis is a solitary LPS coral made up of a single large polyp with a prominent central mouth. Its translucent, blistered tissue inflates during the day to reveal glowing color and the ridged skeleton beneath, and it's sold under several common names: button coral, meat coral, doughnut coral, cat's eye coral, and tooth coral. Because a single polyp can display multiple colors — bright greens, reds, oranges, and purples — standout specimens like the “Joker” are prized centerpiece corals.
Are Cynarina Corals Good for Beginners?
Yes — Cynarina is widely considered one of the more beginner-friendly LPS corals. It doesn't demand intense light or high flow, it's hardy once settled, and it clearly “tells” you when it's happy by inflating fully. As long as your tank is cycled and your parameters are stable, a Cynarina is a great first showpiece coral.
Lighting
Cynarina prefer low to moderate light. In the wild they're often found on shaded reef slopes, so blasting them with high-PAR light can cause bleaching and tissue recession. Aim for a modest PAR range and place the coral lower in the tank rather than up on the rockwork. Blue-heavy lighting brings out the strongest fluorescence and color. If you're adding one to a brightly lit tank, start it low and shaded, then adjust gradually.
Water Flow
Keep flow low to moderate and indirect. Cynarina inflate a lot of soft tissue, and too much current prevents them from opening fully — or worse, pushes the delicate tissue against their own sharp skeleton, which can tear it. You want just enough gentle, intermittent movement to keep detritus from settling on the polyp without blowing it around.
Placement
The sandbed or a flat, low spot on the rockwork is ideal. A few pointers:
- Give it room. A Cynarina's footprint grows dramatically when inflated, so leave a few inches of clearance from neighboring corals.
- Mind the skeleton. The skeleton is sharp; handle the coral gently and let it deflate before moving it to avoid cutting the tissue.
- Watch at night. Like many LPS, it can extend feeder tentacles after dark, so don't place it right against corals it could reach.
Feeding
Cynarina get much of their energy from light through their symbiotic zooxanthellae, but they respond extremely well to target feeding. Offer meaty foods — mysis shrimp, chopped seafood, or a quality coral/LPS food — one to three times a week. Feed in the evening when tentacles emerge, or whenever the coral shows a feeding response, by gently placing food near the central mouth. Regular feeding noticeably improves growth and color.
Water Parameters
Cynarina thrive in the same stable reef conditions as most LPS corals:
| Temperature | 76–78°F |
| Salinity | 1.025 (35 ppt) |
| Alkalinity | 8–11 dKH |
| Calcium | 400–450 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1,250–1,350 ppm |
| Nitrate / Phosphate | Low but not zero — a little nutrient supports LPS color |
Stability beats perfection. LPS corals care more about steady parameters than hitting an exact number. Consistent alkalinity is especially important, which is why many reefers automate dosing and monitoring as their tanks grow.
Why Buy a WYSIWYG Cynarina?
Color and pattern vary enormously from one Cynarina to the next, so this is a coral you want to see before you buy. WYSIWYG — “what you see is what you get” — means the exact colony in the photo is the one shipped to you, with no surprises in color, size, or health. At Marine Concept Supply, our WYSIWYG live coral is photographed as-is and shipped with care, backed by a live arrival guarantee. Because standout pieces move quickly, the selection is always rotating.
Cynarina Coral Care — Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Cynarina coral hard to keep?
No. Cynarina is considered one of the more beginner-friendly LPS corals. It needs only low-to-moderate light and gentle flow, and it's hardy once acclimated to stable water parameters.
How much light does a Cynarina need?
Low to moderate light. They're naturally found in shaded areas, so high-intensity lighting can bleach them. Place them lower in the tank and use blue-heavy light for the best color.
How much flow does a Cynarina coral want?
Low to moderate, indirect flow. Too much current stops the tissue from inflating fully and can tear it against the coral's sharp skeleton.
Where should I place a Cynarina coral?
On the sandbed or a flat, low spot on the rock, with a few inches of space from neighbors since the tissue expands significantly when inflated.
Do I need to feed my Cynarina coral?
It's not strictly required, but feeding meaty foods like mysis one to three times a week noticeably boosts growth and color. Feed near the central mouth when tentacles are out.
What does WYSIWYG coral mean?
WYSIWYG stands for “what you see is what you get.” The exact coral colony shown in the listing photo is the one you receive, so color, size, and health are guaranteed to match.
Add a Living Centerpiece to Your Reef
Browse our rotating selection of WYSIWYG live coral — each piece photographed as-is and shipped with a live arrival guarantee. Order online or visit our shop in Wheeling, IL to pick yours in person. Shop WYSIWYG Live Coral, or explore controllers and flow pumps to keep your parameters rock-steady.
