Finger leather coral (Sinularia flexibilis) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Flexible leather coral, Sinularia
Family
Alcyoniidae (leather corals)
Origin
Indo-West Pacific reefs
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
with_caution
Lighting
Moderate to high
Flow
Medium to strong

Care

Sinularia flexibilis is a finger leather coral, a soft coral with long, flexible, tentacle-like branches that sway in the current, usually brown, cream or green with white or gold polyps. It is one of the easiest soft corals and grows larger with age. LiveAquaria's Sinularia finger leather listing (Sinularia sp.) is the source for the care below. Placement: low to middle of the rockwork, in moderate to high light and medium to strong flow. It will shed a waxy film from time to time; good flow helps it clear this. Water: about 22–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, dKH 8–12. Iodine, strontium and trace elements support it. Growth is fairly fast. Soft corals are not CITES-listed. Maricultured and aquacultured pieces are common. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/sinularia-finger-leather-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic: zooxanthellae provide most of its nutrition. It also takes micro-plankton, baby brine shrimp or filter-feeder foods.

Breeding

Easy. Cut off a branch with a sharp scalpel or scissors and attach it to rock or a plug with a rubber band, thread or a toothpick until it attaches (glue holds poorly on soft tissue), or simply lay it in rubble. It also drops branches naturally.

Compatibility and tank mates

Relatively peaceful in contact, but like other leathers it releases chemicals (terpenes) that can harm stony corals, so keep space around it and run activated carbon in a mixed reef. Some angelfish and butterflyfish nip leathers.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.