Encrusting Leather Coral

About

Soft coral (Alcyonium coralloides) is a colonial octocoral native to the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding European marine waters, where it grows on rocky substrates in moderately lit, well-circulated conditions. Sometimes called encrusting leather coral or false red coral, it forms fleshy, lobed colonies that can range from pale orange to deep red, bearing a superficial resemblance to the precious red coral of jewelry fame. Hence one of its nicknames. Each colony is studded with tiny polyps that extend to feed when conditions are right, giving the surface a soft, textured appearance. In the aquarium this species is considered approachable for beginners relative to many other corals, partly because it does not depend on zooxanthellae in the same way tropical photosynthetic corals do, and partly because it tolerates a range of conditions reasonably well. That said, it is genuinely a cold-water species, so success depends on keeping temperatures in check. It is not a candidate for a standard tropical reef setup. Moderate flow and moderate lighting suit it well in the right system. Its European origins make it a genuine oddity in the hobby, and reef keepers interested in biotope setups or cold-water marine tanks will find it a rewarding and uncommon choice.