Cynarina

Cynarina lacrymalis

Care Level	Easy to moderate
Lighting	Low
Water Flow	Low
Placement	Sand bed
Aggression	Peaceful (short feeders at night)
Coloration	Red, green, translucent "button/tooth" morphs

Overview

Cynarina (the “Button,” “Meat,” or “Tooth” Coral) is a single, large free-living polyp that inflates translucent, bubble-like tissue over a toothy skeleton by day, often glowing with color. A striking, jewel-like collector’s LPS, similar in care to Scolymia.

Care & Placement

Place directly on the SAND BED under LOW light and LOW flow — like Scolymia it comes from calmer, deeper water and dislikes strong light or current. Give it space; its tissue inflates well beyond the skeleton edges.

Feeding

Photosynthetic with a big central mouth — feed meaty foods (mysis, chopped seafood) once or twice a week in the evening, when short feeder tentacles emerge. It grows visibly on food.

Propagation

Not typically fragged — a single polyp; buy whole specimens.

Cautions

Sensitive to too much light or flow (a common failure cause) — keep both low and acclimate slowly. The inflated tissue is delicate; protect it from aggressive neighbors and never handle it directly.