About Rough Leather Coral
Classic toadstool leather coral — large, mushroom-shaped, and effortlessly hardy. Sheds a waxy outer layer periodically (looks alarming but is normal). Releases mild chemical warfare; don't pack other corals tight against it.
Sarcophyton glaucum, also known as toadstool leather coral or rough leather coral, is a common species of soft coral found from the Red Sea to western Pacific Ocean. Sarcophyton glaucum belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, the class Anthozoa, and the family Alcyoniidae.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Classic "toadstool" leather coral — a large mushroom-shaped polyp colony with a flared cap on a thick stalk. Color is typically cream, tan, or pale green. Polyps emerge from the cap when extended, retract when the coral sheds.
In your tank. Among the hardiest soft corals in the hobby. Periodically sheds a waxy outer layer that looks alarming (the coral appears slimy or coated in mucus) — normal and clears within 24–48 hours. Releases mild chemical warfare; keep other corals at least 6 inches away.
Placement and care. Low-to-moderate light, moderate flow. Tolerant of suboptimal parameters and a forgiving choice for new systems. Place on rockwork where the stalk can grow upward.
Sourcing and feeding. Captive-propagated frags universally available and inexpensive ($15–40). Photosynthetic with no target feeding needed.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related corals
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 209621).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).