XL Zoanthid Colony
Easy to keep in established well stocked tanks
Zoanthids, Zoanthids, Button Polyps, and Colonial Anemones: Zoanthids have polyps that are about ¼” in size and are sold in colonies. They are often multicolored and come in a wide variety of color patterns. Zoanthids are a popular coral and you will find them at nearly all coral shops, frag swaps, or wherever coral is displayed or sold. If grown near other zoanthids of different colors, polyps with a blend of colors may emerge.
Feeding: They eat detritus and dissolved organics from the water and for this reason; they thrive in established aquaria with lots of fish.
Lighting: In nature, zoanthids grow near the surface of the water and for this reason, they like bright, daylight colored (6,500 to 10,000 k) light. If you are using T5s, keep them near the top of your tank.
Water Flow: Zoanthids are tolerant of rough, turbulent water as the surf would normally wash over them.
Placement: Place them in well light high flow areas of the aquarium. They can also be attached to things you want to cover up, as they are a flexible carpet of polyps. They take the shape of whatever they are placed on.
Propagation: Zoanthids reproduce by budding and are easy to frag.
Aggression: Zoanthids compete for space using chemical warfare. They may cause other corals growth to slow as they approach each other. They can even have an effect on other zoanthids colonies although it is common to growth them together to make pretty colorful bouquets of different colors.
Cover Photo: The main image was taken under actinic only lighting, which is designed to enhance the colors of corals. To see these colors this way you will need to have a period of actinic only lighting each day.
Above: The colony under daylights.
*****Warning**** Some zoanthids contain Palytoxin, a chemical that can cause serious illness or death if you get trace quantities on your lips, or in a cut. Hawaiians used to use this toxin as a weapon of war. Be sure to wash hands after touching them. Dry your wet hands on a paper towel before heading to the sink and dispose of that paper towel immediately. *****Warning****
