Yellow Fiji Leather?

[nickman]

I can say that the Tonga yellow leathers can get very close, if not just as yellow as their the Fiji counterparts. That is, before they sit under blue LEDs and turn green/brown.
There is a hypothesis that they need more green light (as found in halides) to keep/re-develope that true "canary yellow" which I hope to attempt soon on the recent import pictured below. Definitely looks like a Sarcophyton elegans to me!

I used a yellow Orphek filter and have edited to represent the best approximation of its true appearance.

 

[nickman]

I should add that the other colony from this shipment was actually more yellow and past colonies were also very yellow.

 

[Aaron Soliz]

Now that it has settled for the past two weeks…. The polyps just started sprouting recently. I don’t think it’s a true yellow Fiji :/ but it is a nice coral and gets fairly big during the day.

 

[DIYreefer]

Now that it has settled for the past two weeks…. The polyps just started sprouting recently. I don’t think it’s a true yellow Fiji :/ but it is a nice coral and gets fairly big during the day.

I think you're right, but it's nice just the same. Enjoy it!

 

[nickman]

Now that it has settled for the past two weeks…. The polyps just started sprouting recently. I don’t think it’s a true yellow Fiji :/ but it is a nice coral and gets fairly big during the day.

That certainly looks like it had some potential to color up even more and that morphology is reminiscent of S. elegans so just give it some time. Any idea what kind of PAR numbers its getting?
IME leathers with take as much light and flow as you can give them (acclimate over time, obviously) and their colors tend to improve in higher light/flow. I've got some colonies that have gone from tan/brown with stubby closed polyps to green/yellow/purplish with outstanding polyp extension with a modest bump in flow and light.

 

[FUNGI]

Now that it has settled for the past two weeks…. The polyps just started sprouting recently. I don’t think it’s a true yellow Fiji :/ but it is a nice coral and gets fairly big during the day.

It is a nice coral....and agree not true (unfortunately).....I was ready for a frag LOL.......

 

[Aaron Soliz]

Now that’s a legit Fiji. Store just got them in yesterday.

 

[FUNGI]

Now that’s a legit Fiji. Store just got them in yesterday.

NICE!!!!! How much and from where if I may ask....

 

[Aaron Soliz]

NICE!!!!! How much and from where if I may ask....

I picked it up from a local fish store in Houston. It’s about 3-4 inches. 100 bucks

 

[FUNGI]

I picked it up from a local fish store in Houston. It’s about 3-4 inches. 100 bucks

Not a bad price......enjoy!

 

[Asagi]

I picked it up from a local fish store in Houston. It’s about 3-4 inches. 100 bucks

Are they displaying them under full spectrum? I’ve found a lot of stores just aren’t set up for that anymore. Good price bro

 

[Tcook]

I’m going to pester my lfs.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Now that’s a legit Fiji. Store just got them in yesterday.

That’s great to see. Beautiful coral. Good luck

 

[Ernie Mccracken]

Now that’s a legit Fiji. Store just got them in yesterday.

Would love to see it under some white light. Looks great.

 

[grimreefr]

I’ve had my YFL for about a year. It’s finally starting to take the traditional “form” and has a nice color that is yellow in a whiter light and a bit lime green color in bluer light.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Anyone good yellow leathers available recently? I see vivid aquarium lists them, but no wysiwyg.

 

[Maize & Blue]

Hello Friends! Happy New Years!

I wanted some confirmation on this leather I picked up for 40 bucks a week ago. I felt like it was a discolored yellow Fiji leather so i took the chance and spent the 40 bucks on it.

What do you guys think? Am I right or is it some other type of leather.

Thanks!

Very nice!

 

[DIYreefer]

Anyone good yellow leathers available recently? I see vivid aquarium lists them, but no wysiwyg.

I have some, but they aren't quite ready to go just yet. Maybe another week or so. My frags are descendants of my main colony, which I've had for well over a decade now. I'd love to send you a frag for free. Consider it a thank you for all that you contribute to the hobby.

If you're interested, please message me. I tried to message you, but I don't see an option to do so.

This is my colony.

 

[areefer01]

Anyone good yellow leathers available recently? I see vivid aquarium lists them, but no wysiwyg.

I've not looked for Fiji recently although I came across a few while diving there this past December. That isn't helping you any though.

Related I picked up my Yellow Leather from Marine Farmers. It is from Tonga, not Fiji. It came in on the green side and was a slow grower compared to other leathers I've kept. A few times I thought it was dead but it very well could have been upset due to water conditions. Hard to say. I run a higher nutrient system than what is advocated but it kept on going. By high nutrients I mean phosphate of 1.7 ppm.

About 4 years of growth between them. I do not know how fast they grow but I will say Pablo (Marine Farmers) gave me a warning that it would grow slow. In my care it did just as he described. Also that the color will take some time to come in. Again, he was correct.

If you are looking specifically for a coral from Fiji then ignore this.

Here is a crummy photo of it as a frag (5/7/2021):

Here it is in a photo I took in March of this year (2025):

 

[Tcook]

They are starting to show up again. My lfs has received several from Fiji recently. I put one in my sump. Color was brighter in the store almost as yellow as the one I posted on the first page. Will have to play around with light intensity. The large one I had in 2000 was under 500 watts MH and 440 watts VHO.