COTM:Sinularia

nm reef

Active Member
At one time we had a series of threads titled COTW...they are still back there in the files and provided a lot of pictures and information about some very nice corals. We haven't had a regular featured coral series for a while so I thought I'd revive the concept. This time we'll make it a "coral of the month" format. To keep things as simple as possible for future searchs I think a few basic rules should be followed.
COTM Guidelines:
1...The format/design of each COTM thread will be the same...thread title will be COTM: “specific name of coral”. This will allow for easy use of the search feature to locate past COTM threads.
2...Pictures of each coral will be posted and general information will be provided.
3...Members are encouraged to provide additional pics and information as well as hands on experience with the selected coral.
4...Please keep responses specific to the intent of the COTM threads. That would be to provide pictures and experience/information in regard to the selected coral.Questions in regard to the selected coral are encouraged but any responses that are out of context or deter the intent of the COTM threads may be edited and/or deleted.
5...In order to provide a monthly feature that provides specific information on selected corals I’d prefer members avoid posting COTM threads without prior approval. On occassion members will be solicited for COTM threads but I’d prefer they be done by request only.
Please keep in mind that my intention is to revive the concept of the COTW threads. Hopefully we will be able to generate a series of threads that can provide specific information on selected corals. As the threads accumulate we should have a library of sorts that members can easily search for future reference.
To start the COTM's off I decided to pick one of the first corals I purchased...Sinularia sp & Sinularia dura ... both hardy and very adaptable types of leather corals.Common names include finger leather & cabbage leathers. Both are easy corals to establish and can do well in a wide range of lighting systems. Unlike many other corals leathers in general can adapt to less than perfect water chemistry and require no elevated levels of calcium like stony type corals do. Both types can easily adapt to various lighting/water chemistry/circulation situations but may prefer intense lighting and a moderate to high current. From time to time each will shed or expel its outer skin and reports indicate they can be toxic to LPS & SPS type corals. I have serious concerns about keeping them in my display especially as I continue to add assorted SPS type corals. To date I have never had a problem with either of the ones I keep.
My Sinularia dura
is over 3 years old and has been fragged numerous times. I currently have a small 3"-4" frag in my system awaiting a new home. The pic below is from just over a year ago.
 

nm reef

Active Member
This is the same coral as it looks today. If allowed to grow unchecked it would be huge! I think I'd prefer it to be kept smaller...and I'd be even more concerned about potential toxins if it were larger.
 

nm reef

Active Member
I also keep a Sinularia sp ...origionally this was purchased as a very large finger leather. Not long after purchaseing this coral it began to deterioate and sort of "melt" away. All I managed to save was a small 3" piece. It has grown into a 5"-6" piece over the past three years and is starting to do real well. So far it hasen't shed near as muchas the Sinular dura does...but reports do indicate that they can also release toxins that can affect stony type corals.
 

nm reef

Active Member
An attempted close up of the same coral...one day I hope to get a better camera (or maybe learn to take better pics with what I have)
 

attml

Active Member
Here is my bright neon Yellow Sinularia that is now in my 55gal Soft & LPS tank I am not sure but believe this is fairly rare. I have never seen one quite this color before. I got this from a friend who broke down his tank recently and is getting out of the hobby for a little while. It has been this bright yellow color for well over a year so I am positive it isn't dyed.
Mark
 

nm reef

Active Member
Very nice! I've seen numerous types...but never one that yellow...except in pictures. I do know there are some very interesting types out there. No doubt other members keep them too...
...go ahead add your pics and comments...even questions...ya'all don't be shy.
 

saltynewbie

Member
... and my sinularia dura... only had this one for about 2 weeks.... looks great so far! much better than in the LFS's tank!
 

nm reef

Active Member
Great examples of both! Thanks for contributing. My sinularia sp was about the size of yours (maybe larger) when I purchased it...but it quickly melted away. I feared I'd loose the whole piece but got lucky and managed to save a little piece of it. Now it is thriving and may eventually be larger than the origional.:thinking:
 

saltynewbie

Member
no clues at all at what caused it to melt? thats weird... this has been one of the hardiest corals i have had to date. that particular specimen is about 6-7" tall. it was only about 1/3 that size when i got it. not as fast of a grower as some other leathers such as my kenya tree, but it has grown over the past 6-8 mos!
 

rgaines

Member
I have seen the term frag use through out this post and I don't know what it means. Can someone help me out.
:notsure:
 

attml

Active Member
A frag is a fragment or piece of a coral colony. A piece of a coral (a frag) that is cut off of a colony will eventually grow in it's own colony.
 

squidd

Active Member
This is cool...Sinularia (and Dura) were my first two corals...
Easy to keep alive (even through "newbie" misteps and tank changes) ...:D
I've had them under both PC and MH, low flow and high flow conditions and they never missed a beat...
They seem to "fade" slowly and recover quickly, making it easy to tell if they're happy or not...
Cabbage...
 

squidd

Active Member
Here's my Sinularia...
As I went for a quick pic I noticed something to mention...
For the Sinularia, and other "Long Fingered" corals (like Birds nest and others)...
In the right hand corner a bit of Hair Algae has decided to attach to a branch on the coral....
You can see in the pic the discoloration and retracted polyps...
This "seems" to be more from a "physical contact/ touching "
irritation rather than an injury or infection...
I'll pick the Hair off and tommorrow that branch will be full again...
 
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