Elegant leather coral
Sarcophyton elegans
CoralMarine
Sarcophyton elegans is distinguished by its elongated, finger-like lobes, often light beige to pink. The stalk is short and broad. Polyps are small and retractable. It grows slower than other Sarcophyton and can reach 30 cm. It also produces allelopathic toxins. In the aquarium, it prefers moderate lighting and low flow. Asexual reproduction by fragmentation is possible.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–28 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 |
| GH | 8–12 |
| KH | 8–12 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 10 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.1 |
Care
Difficulty2/5
Dietphotosynthetic
Min. tank80 L
Min. group1
Adult size30 cm
Lifespan8 ans
Temperamentpeaceful
Care notes
Parameters similar to S. trocheliophorum: 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.023-1.025. Moderate lighting (PAR 50-80), low to moderate flow. Beware of toxins: space it from other corals. Feed with phytoplankton or liquid foods once a week. A minimum of 80 liters is recommended. Compatible with peaceful fish and shrimp. Avoid coral-eating fish.