Let's talk rare soft corals

[rja]

Hey R2R,
I am newly interested in rare(ish) soft corals after having interest in Zoanthids, Euph, and many of the other commonly favorable coral species. My interest peaked when I was searching for higher light/flow corals that I could populate the upper part of my tank with. I wanted to avoid acros at all costs and the easier SPS never has interested me. So, I turned to Sinularia and Sarcophyton. After getting a very large Toadstool and Kenya Tree colony, I began searching for individuals with more color to glow better under my predominantly blue spectrum. So, I sought out a neon green sinularia and some form of Japanese Long Polyp Toadstool.

Although none of this is rare by any means, I am simply curious as to what is truly out there in terms of unobtainable soft corals. My LFS has what appears to be a true OG Weeping Willow with the 5-inch tentacles. This coral is NFS and has been so for as long as I can remember. I saw a YouTube video showcasing a yellow leather before, apparently those are very rare as well. Much of what I see on the internet as far as rare leather corals are fake weeping willows or very old forum posts about neon colored toadstools and sinularias which appear to actually be dyed. Apparently dyeing corals used to be a thing-- But that is a topic within itself.

Regardless; can anyone provide me with some photos or names of some truly rare soft corals? There just seems to be no real hype surrounding them the way rare acros, torches, zoanthids, and mushrooms have.

Yes, mushrooms and zoanthids are soft corals which are part of the rare hype-train. May we leave these two types of coral out? Unless we are talking about some really insane ones like the Doughboy shroom, etc.

Thank you all!

 

[i cant think]

Hey R2R,
I am newly interested in rare(ish) soft corals after having interest in Zoanthids, Euph, and many of the other commonly favorable coral species. My interest peaked when I was searching for higher light/flow corals that I could populate the upper part of my tank with. I wanted to avoid acros at all costs and the easier SPS never has interested me. So, I turned to Sinularia and Sarcophyton. After getting a very large Toadstool and Kenya Tree colony, I began searching for individuals with more color to glow better under my predominantly blue spectrum. So, I sought out a neon green sinularia and some form of Japanese Long Polyp Toadstool.

Although none of this is rare by any means, I am simply curious as to what is truly out there in terms of unobtainable soft corals. My LFS has what appears to be a true OG Weeping Willow with the 5-inch tentacles. This coral is NFS and has been so for as long as I can remember. I saw a YouTube video showcasing a yellow leather before, apparently those are very rare as well. Much of what I see on the internet as far as rare leather corals are fake weeping willows or very old forum posts about neon colored toadstools and sinularias which appear to actually be dyed. Apparently dyeing corals used to be a thing-- But that is a topic within itself.

Regardless; can anyone provide me with some photos or names of some truly rare soft corals? There just seems to be no real hype surrounding them the way rare acros, torches, zoanthids, and mushrooms have.

Yes, mushrooms and zoanthids are soft corals which are part of the rare hype-train. May we leave these two types of coral out? Unless we are talking about some really insane ones like the Doughboy shroom, etc.

Thank you all!

The Leathers we get aren’t really named like SPS and LPS are. There are some that just glow under blues, my green Kenya colonies definitely glow. And before my Neon Green Lobophytum (I used to call him ‘Green on Green’ as his polyps were neon green as well as his flesh).
Another coral, I know you said to leave them out but mine really glow. It’s the orange Yuma Ricordeas. And under perfect conditions they bubble up like no tomorrow.

And it’s not a coral but Mini Maxi Carpet Anemones really glow too and add stunning colours.

 

[dennis romano]

Try the site for Marinefarmers. He sells a few unique softies.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I had a beautiful yellow toadstool that I found at petco. It grew to an amazing size and even split into four heads. Then it got overrun by my less beautiful palys, and just couldn’t compete…
While certainly not the rarest, I’d certainly say they’re worth looking for and add a sense of uniqueness to the tank.

 

[Acroporaguy]

OG Japanese Willow (it weeps) https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmDJAORDN_P/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

RRC Japanese Blue Nepthea



RRC Yellow Willow https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnwyQNXqboD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Real Weeping Willow from Asia. From RRC as well



Seemingly now rare Yellow Fiji Leather





Just take a look at my IG

 

[rja]

OG Japanese Willow (it weeps) https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmDJAORDN_P/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

RRC Japanese Blue Nepthea



RRC Yellow Willow https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnwyQNXqboD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Real Weeping Willow from Asia. From RRC as well



Seemingly now rare Yellow Fiji Leather





Just take a look at my IG

i need to know where you got that yellow weeping willow and that pink koosh ball. please. im dying.

 

[Kasrift]

Agree with the Fiji Yellow leathers. Here would be what I consider rarer softies.

Fiji Yellow Sarcophyton Leather
Weeping Willow toadstool leather of any color
Koji Wada Nepthea
Pulsing Sinularia

 

[Thuan]

Agree with the Fiji Yellow leathers. Here would be what I consider rarer softies.

Fiji Yellow Sarcophyton Leather
Weeping Willow toadstool leather of any color
Koji Wada Nepthea
Pulsing Sinularia

I have 3 huge colonies of pink pulsing sinularia and 1 huge Japanese Christmas tree

 

[bacc2bacc]

Here is what I consider a rare softie. Although jawbreakers have become abundant over the years due to very successful aquaculture, I still find the ones with a lot of red, green and purple to be very desirable amongst collectors. This shroom is what starting my reefing escapade 10+ years ago.

This is a pic of one of my mother shrooms. Estimated to be maybe 7-8 years old

 

[Acroporaguy]

i need to know where you got that yellow weeping willow and that pink koosh ball. please. im dying.

The people who I got them from are no longer in the hobby. Plus i'm in Canada.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Try the site for Marinefarmers. He sells a few unique softies.

What a great tip! I just checked that site out and it’s so exciting to find some fun and different softies!

 

[Kasrift]

I have 3 huge colonies of pink pulsing sinularia and 1 huge Japanese Christmas tree

I forgot about Japanese Christmas trees, those are very uncommon. Pink is also a rarer color for leathers, very nice @Thuan

 

[Thuan]

I forgot about Japanese Christmas trees, those are very uncommon. Pink is also a rarer color for leathers, very nice @Thuan

I don't know if it's rare, but I also have a red xenia

 

[rja]

The people who I got them from are no longer in the hobby. Plus i'm in Canada.

if you’re near michigan id definitely cross boarders to buy a frag

 

[Reeflix]

The Leathers we get aren’t really named like SPS and LPS are. There are some that just glow under blues, my green Kenya colonies definitely glow. And before my Neon Green Lobophytum (I used to call him ‘Green on Green’ as his polyps were neon green as well as his flesh).
Another coral, I know you said to leave them out but mine really glow. It’s the orange Yuma Ricordeas. And under perfect conditions they bubble up like no tomorrow.

i have the exact same leather! see my avatar for it

 

[Reeflix]

um oops i did something wrong

 

[Reeflix]

ok so i have that same leather. see my avatar for it

 

[Sailaway]

Hey R2R,
I am newly interested in rare(ish) soft corals after having interest in Zoanthids, Euph, and many of the other commonly favorable coral species. My interest peaked when I was searching for higher light/flow corals that I could populate the upper part of my tank with. I wanted to avoid acros at all costs and the easier SPS never has interested me. So, I turned to Sinularia and Sarcophyton. After getting a very large Toadstool and Kenya Tree colony, I began searching for individuals with more color to glow better under my predominantly blue spectrum. So, I sought out a neon green sinularia and some form of Japanese Long Polyp Toadstool.

Although none of this is rare by any means, I am simply curious as to what is truly out there in terms of unobtainable soft corals. My LFS has what appears to be a true OG Weeping Willow with the 5-inch tentacles. This coral is NFS and has been so for as long as I can remember. I saw a YouTube video showcasing a yellow leather before, apparently those are very rare as well. Much of what I see on the internet as far as rare leather corals are fake weeping willows or very old forum posts about neon colored toadstools and sinularias which appear to actually be dyed. Apparently dyeing corals used to be a thing-- But that is a topic within itself.

Regardless; can anyone provide me with some photos or names of some truly rare soft corals? There just seems to be no real hype surrounding them the way rare acros, torches, zoanthids, and mushrooms have.

Yes, mushrooms and zoanthids are soft corals which are part of the rare hype-train. May we leave these two types of coral out? Unless we are talking about some really insane ones like the Doughboy shroom, etc.

Thank you all!

I’ve got a purple with green polyps Sinularia that I like quite a bit. It’s a unique looking coral.

 

[Grsfish]

Some that are not as common now that have taken me years to get are the yellow Fiji leather
Pulsing sinularia
I have a few different types of long polyp toadstool leathers that are pretty nice and not as easy to find
Neon green capnella is pretty nice
Ruby red Xenia is also nice and not as common
Here are some pics so you can see what they look like

 

[Kasrift]

Some that are not as common now that have taken me years to get are the yellow Fiji leather
Pulsing sinularia
I have a few different types of long polyp toadstool leathers that are pretty nice and not as easy to find
Neon green capnella is pretty nice
Ruby red Xenia is also nice and not as common
Here are some pics so you can see what they look like

That Fiji Yellow is beautiful. What lighting are you keeping it under to maintain that yellow? I have one that is smaller and has retained a bit of yellow but not nearly that bright!