Tree Colt Leather Soft Coral

Colt corals belong to the same broad octocoral family as the toadstools and finger leathers, but they branch upward in a genuinely tree-like structure instead of forming a single capitate head, closer in shape to a shrub than a mushroom. Like other alcyoniids it periodically sheds a thin film of tissue to clear off algae and detritus buildup, which looks alarming for about a day and then resolves on its own. Fast-growing and about as forgiving as soft corals get, making it a solid low-stakes way to add height and motion to a reef.

Care level: Easy · Light/Flow/Placement: Moderate light, moderate flow, bottom-to-mid tank · Max size: 8"+ tall, moderate-fast growth · Diet: Photosynthetic, no target feeding required