Green Finger Leather

Green Finger Leather (often Sinularia or Cladiella) is a hardy, fast-growing soft coral with bright green, elongated finger-like branches. It’s one of the easiest leathers to keep, very tolerant of nutrient swings, and perfect for mixed reefs, beginners, and coral farms needing reliable repeat growers.

Lighting

Moderate light, around 80 to 150 PAR. Finger leathers hold their green tone best under balanced mid-range lighting. Too much intensity can make the tissue look tough and washed, while too little light leads to darker, muted green.

Flow

Moderate to strong, rolling flow. These leathers expand fully when they feel steady movement across their surface. Flow also helps them shed their periodic waxy coat. Low flow causes them to look droopy, gather film, or stay closed after shedding.

Placement

Mid to low rockwork works great. They prefer open areas where their finger-like branches can sway freely without rubbing on rock edges. They grow outward and upward, so leave space for the colony to bush out.

Water parameters

Very tolerant, but they reward stability with faster growth and better color.

Calcium 400 to 420.
Alkalinity 8 to 9.
Magnesium 1300 to 1350.
Nitrate 5 to 20.
Phosphate 0.05 to 0.15.

Finger leathers do not like ultra-low nutrient systems. Mild nutrients keep them plump and bright.

Feeding

Primarily photosynthetic. They absorb dissolved organics from the water column and don’t require direct feeding. Occasional amino acids can encourage fuller polyp extension, but not necessary.

Growth behavior

Fast. They produce thick, soft branches that fork repeatedly. They shed a waxy coat periodically and may stay closed for a day before reopening brighter. They also self-frag occasionally, dropping small pieces that form new colonies.

Sensitivities

Very rugged coral. Only a few things bother it:
• Low flow leading to film buildup.
• Direct contact with aggressive LPS sweepers.
• Sudden changes in salinity or alkalinity.
• Chemical warfare if crowded among many other leathers (carbon helps).

Compatibility

Peaceful, no stingers, and mixes well with zoas, mushrooms, LPS, and SPS. It can irritate neighbors if physically touching, but otherwise it’s one of the easiest and most forgiving soft corals in the hobby.