Cladiella (Colt Coral)

Names & Synonyms

• CommonCladiella (Colt Coral)
• Commonクレナクティス（クラディエラ）
• SynonymLobularia
• SynonymMicrospicularia
• SynonymSphaerella

Overview

Cladiella (family Alcyoniidae) is an octocoral (soft coral) widely distributed across shallow Indo-Pacific reefs, known as cauliflower or finger leather coral. Small polyps cover soft, finger-like branching colonies, giving a muted look of brown polyps over a white to cream body; when the polyps retract the surface appears smooth. It is very easy to keep, tolerating low to moderate light and moderate flow as a hardy beginner soft coral. It periodically sheds a waxy surface film to self-clean, closing its polyps during the process, which is normal. It grows quickly and frags easily. Because it can release terpenoid compounds that compete with nearby corals, running activated carbon and allowing spacing is advisable.

Care Specifications

Care Points

• Lighting—Low to medium light sufficient
• Flow—Medium flow
• Propagation—Cut and attach to rock. Takes ~2 weeks to attach
• Notes—Occasionally closes polyps — this is normal behavior

Regulatory & Conservation

Notes:

八放サンゴ(Cladiella, Cladiellidae)。ソフトコーラル=CITES 非掲載。

Sources

• AlgaeBarn: SPS/LPS/soft care(careSpec)
• AlgaeBarn: Water Parameters 101(careSpec)
• DOC NZ / CITES-listed corals(掲載科に Cladiellidae 含まず)(regulatory)
• Wikipedia(detail)

Related corals of the same type

Antheliaアンセリア（ウェービングハンド）softBeginnerA soft coral whose feathery polyps sway in flow. Similar to Xenia but with larger, always-open polyps; very hardy.Leather CoralウミキノコsoftBeginnerSoft coral with large mushroom-shaped cap. Hardy and fast-growing. Periodically sheds mucus to remove old tissue.Sinularia (Finger Leather Coral)ウミキノコモドキsoftBeginnerFinger-shaped branching soft coral. Related to leather corals and equally hardy. Cream, green, brown color varieties. Similar to Toadstool but with branching form.Toadstool CoralカタトサカsoftBeginnerBranching soft coral that is hardy with diverse color variations. Easy to frag and propagate.Pulsing Xeniaキサンゴ（パルスコーラル）softBeginnerUnique soft coral with pulsing polyps that rhythmically open and close. Mesmerizing movement. Hardy and proliferates quickly.Green Star PolypグリーンスターポリプsoftBeginnerA hardy soft coral with green star-shaped polyps on a mat. Beautiful fluorescent green.

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External Databases

• WoRMS
• GBIF