Sinularia Coral Care Guide (Finger & Cabbage Leather)
Sinularia — known as finger leather or cabbage leather coral — is one of the hardiest and most beginner-friendly soft corals in the reef hobby. It grows into fingers, folds, or ruffled cabbage-like lobes that sway beautifully in the current, and popular varieties like green Sinularia glow under blue light. Sinularia are tough, fast-growing, and tolerant of a wide range of conditions, making them a perfect starter soft coral. This guide covers lighting, flow, placement, parameters, feeding, shedding, aggression, and acclimation.
Care Level: Excellent for Beginners
Sinularia are extremely hardy and forgiving. They handle stronger flow than most softies, grow quickly, and tolerate beginner mistakes. Like other leathers, they periodically shed a waxy film (normal) and wage mild chemical warfare (easily managed with carbon).
Quick-Reference Care Parameters
| Coral type | Soft coral |
| Care level | Beginner |
| Lighting | Low–Moderate · PAR 50–150 |
| Flow | Moderate–Strong, random |
| Placement | Mid rockwork; secure well |
| Temperature | 76–82°F (ideal ~78°F) |
| Salinity | 1.024–1.026 (~35 ppt) |
| Alkalinity | 8–11 dKH |
| Calcium | 400–450 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1250–1350 ppm |
| Nitrate | 2–10 ppm |
| Phosphate | 0.03–0.10 ppm |
| Feeding | Rarely needed · mostly photosynthetic |
| Aggression | Chemical (allelopathy) · run carbon in mixed reefs |
Lighting
Sinularia are adaptable and do well under low-to-moderate light (PAR 50–150). They don’t need intense output; green varieties color up nicely under a blue-heavy spectrum. Acclimate gradually to brighter lighting to avoid bleaching.
Water Flow
Sinularia appreciate moderate-to-strong, random flow — more than most soft corals tolerate. Good flow keeps the coral clean, helps it shed, and makes the fingers and lobes sway attractively. In stronger flow the polyps still extend well; if flow is too weak, detritus can settle on the surface.
Placement
Place Sinularia on mid rockwork and secure it well — it can grow large and, like other leathers, may pressure nearby stony corals chemically. Give it open space to expand and keep sensitive SPS at a distance.
Water Parameters
Sinularia use sclerites rather than a solid skeleton, so they’re undemanding on calcium and alkalinity — but stability still matters. Keep temperature and salinity steady and maintain normal reef parameters. They tolerate (and often prefer) a little nutrient in the water and look best in tanks that aren’t kept ultra-sterile.
Feeding
Sinularia are primarily photosynthetic and rarely need feeding. Under good light they thrive on their symbiotic algae alone. Feeding is optional and not necessary for health.
Shedding & Aggression
Like other leathers, Sinularia periodically pull in their polyps, take on a dull waxy look, and slough off a film to clean themselves — this shedding is normal and passes in a day or two. They also release mild chemical compounds that can irritate nearby stony corals, so in a mixed reef run activated carbon, keep up regular water changes, and give them space from SPS.
Common Problems
- Staying closed for more than a couple of days: if it’s not simply shedding, check for a parameter swing or irritation from a neighbor.
- Not attaching: secure a new frag with glue or a rubber band to the rock/plug until it anchors.
- Detritus buildup: increase flow slightly and blow the coral off gently with a turkey baster.
How to Acclimate Your New Sinularia
- Temperature match (15–20 min): Float the sealed bag with lights dimmed to equalize temperature.
- Drip acclimate (20–40 min): Open into a clean container and drip tank water in slowly until the volume roughly doubles.
- Coral dip: A quick reef-safe dip removes hitchhikers; rinse in clean saltwater afterward.
- Placement: Secure the frag to rock in moderate flow and moderate light. Don’t be alarmed if it looks deflated at first.
- Let it settle: A new Sinularia may stay closed or shed within the first week — both are normal. Give it time to open and anchor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sinularia good for beginners?
Yes — it’s one of the hardiest, fastest-growing soft corals and very forgiving of beginner conditions.
Why does my Sinularia look shriveled and waxy?
It’s almost certainly shedding — a normal self-cleaning cycle. It re-opens within a day or two, usually looking brighter.
How much flow does Sinularia want?
More than most softies — moderate to strong, random flow keeps it clean and its polyps extended.
What is WYSIWYG coral?
WYSIWYG means “What You See Is What You Get” — the exact coral pictured is the one shipped to you.
Shop WYSIWYG Sinularia & Care Guides
Browse our live coral for sale for this week’s hand-selected WYSIWYG Sinularia. See more in our library, including the Leather Coral (Sarcophyton) Care Guide, the Zoanthid Care Guide, and the Clove Polyp Care Guide.
