Cladiella

Cladiella, commonly known as colt corals or finger leathers, are bushy soft corals with thick, finger-like branches that create an attractive, full-bodied colony shape. They are among the hardiest and fastest-growing soft corals available, making them excellent beginner choices. Place them in the mid-section of your tank under moderate PAR (75–200 PAR) with moderate flow. Standard reef parameters suit them well: alkalinity 7.5–9 dKH, calcium 400–440 ppm, and temperature 25–27°C. Cladiella are very tolerant of imperfect conditions and adapt to most positions in a typical reef tank.

A distinctive behaviour of Cladiella is their periodic shedding of a waxy coating, during which the coral appears shrunken and the polyps remain retracted. This is completely normal and part of their natural growth cycle — the film will peel away within a few days, revealing fresh tissue. Moderate flow helps the shedding process. Between shedding cycles, Cladiella display attractive bushy polyp extension that gives the colony a soft, fluffy appearance. They release some terpenes like other leather corals, so running activated carbon is advisable in mixed reef systems.

Fragging Cladiella is extremely easy — simply cut branches with scissors or a scalpel and secure to frag plugs with rubber bands. Frags heal rapidly and begin growing within days. Growth is fast, and a small frag can develop into a substantial colony within months. Colt corals are widely available from Australian coral retailers at very affordable prices and are staple offerings at local frag swaps. Their forgiving nature, rapid growth, and attractive bushy form make them one of the most reliable soft corals for new and experienced Aussie reefers alike.