Finger leather coral

Care at a glance

The finger leather coral forms thick, leathery lobes that stand up like fingers, with small polyps covering the surface. It is one of the easiest corals for beginners: it forgives a lot, grows steadily and needs no intense lighting.

It does wage chemical warfare, though: it releases compounds that can inhibit neighbouring stony corals, so provide good skimming and activated carbon in a mixed tank. Now and then it withdraws its polyps for days and sheds a thin film; that is normal and no cause for concern.

Related species

• Clove polypsClavularia sp.
• Kenya tree coralCapnella sp.
• PalythoaPalythoa sp.
• Ricordea mushroomRicordea florida
• Yellow polypsParazoanthus spp.
• PoritesPorites sp.