Neon Magic Mushrooms

WYSIWYG — the coral pictured is the exact specimen you receive, not a stock photo. Quantity one.

A lobed green finger leather — five upright lobes off a broad flared base, every surface of it packed with small fluorescent green polyps right down to the foot.

At a glance

• Species: Sinularia sp. — finger / cabbage leather
• Colony: 1
• Frag size: 4.5" across (estimated — not measured against the reference grid)
• Placement: Middle rock, with room to spread
• Mounted on: rock base

Care

Leather corals are among the easier soft corals to keep. Every few weeks a Sinularia will close its polyps and shed a waxy surface film — this is normal, not a sign of trouble, and enough flow to carry the film away keeps it brief. Like other leathers it releases mild chemical compounds into the water, so run carbon in a mixed reef and leave a gap between it and any stony neighbours.

Acclimation

Float the sealed bag for 15 minutes to equalise temperature, then drip acclimate for 30–45 minutes before placing. Start the coral low in the tank and move it up over a week or two if it wants more light. A freshwater or iodine dip before it goes in is cheap insurance against hitchhikers.

Photographed under blue/actinic aquarium lighting, which is how most reef tanks are viewed. Colours will look different under white light.