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    Soft coral (leather)

    Toadstool leather

    Sarcophyton spp.

    Also sold as Mushroom leather

    Toadstool leather (Sarcophyton spp.)
    Photo: Alexander Vasenin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Type
    Soft coral (leather)
    Care level
    Beginner
    Light
    50 to 150 PAR (low)
    Flow
    Medium
    With neighbours
    Spreads or stings mildly

    Safety: handling toadstool leather

    Low hazard; wash hands after fragging

    How do you care for toadstool leather?

    Placement

    Low to mid rock, room to grow wide

    Flow

    Moderate to strong enough to clear its shed film typical, check

    Feeding

    Not needed

    Growth

    Moderate to fast

    Water quality

    Hardy. Sheds a waxy film for 1 to 5 days as normal; investigate if it lasts more than about a week typical, check

    How much light does it need?

    Sources put it at about 50 to 150 PAR, measured where the coral sits. No figure was published for this coral itself, so this is the usual range for its group. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.

    Soft coral band.

    Which neighbours are safe?

    Chemical warfare: releases terpenes that harm nearby corals, especially SPS. One guide suggests tanks under about 200 litres are most affected (unverified) typical, check

    Generous; run activated carbon, replaced regularly typical, check

    Fish

    Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.

    Take care (4)

    • Coral beautyCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Flame angelfishFlame angelfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Foxface rabbitfishFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Moorish idolMoorish idol may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.

    Other corals

    Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.

    Take care (17)

    • Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Montipora capricornisToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the montipora capricornis; run activated carbon.
    • Montipora digitataToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the montipora digitata; run activated carbon.
    • AcroporaToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the acropora; run activated carbon.
    • Acropora milleporaToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the acropora millepora; run activated carbon.
    • PocilloporaToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the pocillopora; run activated carbon.
    • StylophoraToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the stylophora; run activated carbon.
    • Birdsnest coralToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the birdsnest coral; run activated carbon.
    • Horn coralToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the horn coral; run activated carbon. Horn coral stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Toadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the fire coral (not Acropora millepora); run activated carbon. Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
    • Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.

    Invertebrates

    Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.

    Take care (3)

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Pests, dips and quarantine

    Few

    General dip

    No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.

    Sources

    1. Gensou leather coral guideRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.
    2. Nano-Reef leather toxins threadRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.
    3. Charterhouse Aquatics (UK) lighting guide, 1 Jun 2026Read 21 October 2026, read in full.

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    Zoanthids

    Zoanthus spp.

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Medium
    Neighbours
    Spreads or stings mildly

    Photo Kazvorpal, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Palythoa

    Palythoa spp.

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Medium
    Neighbours
    Spreads or stings mildly

    Photo Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Mushroom coral

    Discosoma spp. (corallimorph)

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Low
    Neighbours
    Peaceful

    Photo Kevmin, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Hairy mushroom

    Rhodactis spp.

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Low
    Neighbours
    Spreads or stings mildly

    Photo Haplochromis, Public domain