Cynarina: Button, Cat's Eye or Doughnut Coral

Cynarina lacrymalis is another one of the so called "meaty" corals. The reasoning behind this is the fact that they are a large coral with the ability to expand its tissue with water to become 2-3 larger than if not inflated. This type of coral has a single corallite, and is characterized as a single- polyped stony coral. They do contain large primary septa with smaller septa in between them. The coenosarc tissue for the most part is translucent though it can portray a pastel coloration.

The coloration of cynarina corals are mainly brown to green in color, with some that may be pink, blue, or bright red though these are more rare to find and command a higher price tag. Often times the polyps of this coral can be either a mottled, dull appearance or a glossy one. The oral disk can show some contrasting coloration as well as a translucent appearance showing the calcareous skeleton below. One unique feature regarding this coral is its ability to show a chameleon-like ability, enabling it to change color and appearance due to changing environmental or ambient water conditions.

The size attainable by this coral can be impressive. The coral is able to expand itself to make it look larger as mentioned previously. The tissue expands in a doughnut shape around the oral disk and tentacles can be evident during the nighttime or when food is offered.

Cynarina coral will accept larger food items such as cyclops, daphnia, rotifers, and other zooplankton plus brine shrimp as well as receiving nutrients through the water column such as phosphates and nitrates and dissolved organic matter. If you plan to administer feeding, target feeding may be you best bet to ensure that the water quality isn't quickly altered by adding too much food to your water.

For the most part, cynarina coral is found under overhangs or on live rock in reef slope areas as well as some being visible in the substrate or in muddy , shallow water biotopes as free- living solitary individuals.

Care must be administered when deciding to purchase one of these stony corals to ensure that it is placed in the tank suitable for its safety and overall health. Because this coral can expand itself becoming larger and heavier, proper placement of the coral is essential to make sure that the coral doesn't injure itself by tearing its tissue away from its calcareous skeletal base due to intense water flow or ripping from a neighboring piece of live rock or coral. It the coral falls, you run the risk if tearing the tissue or injuring one or both of the corals that come in contact with each other through the force of the fall or toxic chemical compounds found in the corals.

This coral is a very hardy species. It is another coral that will indicate whether your water is ideal or not based on its look. This coral is also susceptible to many of the other maladies that pertain to stony corals such as tissue recession which will bring on disease, micro algae growth, parasites and death as well. Cynarina coral doesn't require very intense light but subdued lighting at the least is required as the coral is symbiotic, containing zooxanthellae to carry out photosynthesis, so some light is necessary for its survival. The extent to which the coral expands its tentacles is a good bio-indicator as to your tanks overall water parameter level. If the polyps extend during the day for the most part and extend fully, then your water is close to ideal for the most part.

Cynarina corals are also susceptible to irritation brought on by many soft corals(Octocorals) such as corallimorpharians, Sinularia and Sarcophyton. The allelopathic compounds produced by these corals prove unfavorable to this particular type of coral and will normally not open up fully because of these soft corals, so the placement away from these aggressive corals and/or the addition of carbon must be employed to help alleviate this problem from generating.

Overall, cynarina lacrymalis is a hardy coral. Its ability to withstand various water parameter and lighting issues is a plus for the novice aquarist especially. Their unmistakable water filled lobes and translucent tissue marked with contrasting centers and plethora of coloration patterns affords this coral a place in ones reef replication, I assure you.