Leather Coral

About

Found on the reefs surrounding the Fiji Islands, Sarcophyton alexanderi is a soft coral belonging to the leather coral group. A family well known for being some of the more accommodating corals available to reef keepers. Like other sarcophytons, it has a distinctive mushroom-like or toadstool shape, with a thick fleshy stalk topped by a capitulum that bears numerous small polyps when fully extended. The surface has a characteristic leathery texture, and coloration tends toward creamy tans and browns, sometimes with a greenish or yellowish cast depending on zooxanthellae density and lighting conditions. Periodically, leather corals like this one will close up their polyps and develop a waxy film over the surface. This is completely normal shedding behavior and not a sign of poor health. Rinsing with tank water and maintaining good flow usually helps the process along. It is considered reef safe and poses minimal risk to neighboring corals, though like all sarcophytons it does release compounds into the water that can irritate more sensitive neighbors over time, so running activated carbon is a sensible precaution. This is a solid choice for someone new to keeping soft corals in a reef system.