Finger Leather Coral Sinularia Care: Branching Soft Coral

Finger leather looks like a pale hand raised from the reef, each digit tipped with tiny white polyps that give it a fuzzy silhouette under blue light. Hardy and photogenic, Sinularia flexibilis is the cousin of the folded cabbage leather and carries the same beginner-friendly reputation. This finger leather coral sinularia care guide from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park walks Singapore hobbyists through the entire life cycle, from selection to propagation, and explains the chemical warfare that lets one colony dominate an entire soft-coral reef.

Quick Facts

• Scientific name: Sinularia flexibilis and related branching species
• Care level: easy, tolerates parameter swings
• Lighting: PAR 100-180, low to moderate
• Flow: moderate, turbulent, back-and-forth
• Temperature: 24-26 C, salinity 1.024-1.026
• Growth: 1-2 cm of new tip per month
• Typical Singapore price: $30-70 for a 8-12 cm colony

Species Identification

Finger Sinularia produces slender, flexible branches 5-15 cm long, varying from cream to grey-green. At night, the colony retracts polyps and looks shrunken. During the day, it expands by absorbing water and inflating internal sclerites. Check for these calcium spicules under a loupe if you need to distinguish it from the similar Cladiella (colt coral).

Tank Setup

Any tank from 60 litres upward is suitable. The coral will outgrow a nano within a year, so plan placement near a freestanding rock where you can prune freely. Finger leathers look most natural when mounted vertically at mid-height, with flow sweeping the branches.

Water Parameters

Keep alkalinity 7-9 dKH, calcium 400-440 ppm, magnesium 1300 ppm, salinity 1.025. Nitrate 5-10 ppm and phosphate 0.05-0.1 ppm keep polyps extended. Iodine supplementation at micro-doses helps regenerative growth after fragging, but skip it if you have a clean-up crew sensitive to halogens.

Lighting

Moderate light suits finger leathers best. Under high-output reef LEDs, place the colony in the lower third of the rockwork. Over-lit colonies contract permanently and lose branching structure. Target 100-180 PAR at the top of the coral and a 9-hour photoperiod in Singapore tanks, which are generally warmer than temperate reef rooms.

Flow

Variable, turbulent flow prevents detritus buildup in the basal stalk, which can rot and topple the colony. A gyre pump pulsing every 3-5 seconds mimics the natural rocking motion. Avoid laminar flow from a fixed powerhead pointed directly at the colony.

Allelopathy Management

Finger Sinularia releases sinularin and related terpenes. Mixed-reef keepers must plan carefully:

• Run activated carbon continuously, replacing monthly
• Skim wet to export terpenes
• Change 10% of water weekly with a stable salt mix
• Keep 20 cm of clearance from SPS and sensitive LPS such as torch and elegance

A dedicated soft-coral garden, where this coral becomes a feature rather than a problem, is often the more rewarding long-term setup.

Shedding and Contraction

Like other leathers, finger Sinularia sheds a waxy film every 2-4 weeks. It will appear closed and dull for a day or two, then slough. This is normal; do not dose anything reactive. Blow off the film and let the skimmer pull it from the water.

Feeding

Primarily photosynthetic. Optional weekly reef roids, phytoplankton, or dissolved amino acids improve growth rate. Target feeding is unnecessary; the polyps are too small to capture meaty foods.

Propagation

Finger leather coral is among the easiest reef inhabitants to frag. Cut a 3-5 cm tip, skewer it on a toothpick into a frag plug, and return to low flow. Within a week the tip attaches and the toothpick can be removed. Singapore fraggers often swap pieces at monthly meet-ups and on Carousell for $10-20.

Common Issues

The most frequent problem is a rotting basal stalk, usually from detritus trapping. If you see brown slime at the attachment, remove the colony, cut above the affected tissue, and reglue a healthy segment. Avoid handling with bare hands because Sinularia toxins can irritate skin and are dangerous if you have open cuts.

Related Reading

Deepen your soft-coral expertise with these Gensou Aquascaping Singapore guides:

• Cabbage Leather Coral Sinularia Care
• Toadstool Leather Coral Sarcophyton Care
• Kenya Tree Coral Care Guide
• Best Soft Corals for Beginners Ranked
• Aquascape Soft Coral Garden Reef