Leather Coral

About

Found on tropical reefs off New Caledonia in the Western Central Pacific, Sarcophyton portentosum is a sessile soft coral belonging to the leather coral group. A family well known in reef keeping circles for their relative hardiness and adaptable nature. Documentation on this particular species is sparse, with most references tracing back to a regional checklist of New Caledonian soft corals compiled in the mid-2000s, so much of what applies here is drawn from what we know about the Sarcophyton genus more broadly. Like its better-documented relatives, it likely takes the form of a mushroom or toadstool-shaped colony, with a leathery cap bearing polyps that extend during feeding. Sarcophyton corals are generally considered forgiving choices for reef keepers who are still building their skills, tolerating moderate lighting and flow without the fussiness of many stony corals. One thing worth keeping in mind with leathers as a group is that they periodically shed a waxy outer coating and temporarily retract their polyps. A normal process that can alarm newcomers who mistake it for a decline. Give it space from neighboring corals, as Sarcophyton species can release allelopathic compounds that irritate nearby tankmates.