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Zoanthus
Unique piece - "What You See Is What You Get!"
What You See Is What You Get
The Family of Zoanthids (Zoanthids)
Zoanthids and Palythoa are a large group of corals famous in the aquarium hobby. With an incredible range of colors and patterns, they have become very popular for both beginners and collectors of rare corals seeking less common colors and patterns.
In terms of care, both zoanthids and palythoa are quite easy to maintain. They tolerate a wide range of lighting intensities and water conditions. Once established, zoas multiply rapidly.
Identification
There is no scientific consensus on the phylogeny of Zoanthid and Palythoa. In layman's terms, it's not certain where zoanthids end and Palythoa begin. What were once 300 identified species has been reduced to around 50-60 in recent years, depending on the criteria used to differentiate the different morphs. New knowledge about classification has emerged due to the introduction of genetic testing, but for the purposes of Aqauorinoco, focusing on the hobby, we have chosen to arbitrarily group individuals with larger polyps into Palythoa and specimens with smaller polyps into zoanthids.
Handling Care
Some zoanthids and palythoa contain a powerful neurotoxin called palitoxin in their tissue, which can be extremely harmful if it comes into contact with the bloodstream. When we say harmful, we mean lethal. Take special care when handling these polyps for this reason, especially if:
1) you have open cuts on your hands.
2) you cut the corals, irritating them.
We always recommend using gloves and a mask when handling zoanthus under these circumstances.
See below for more care tips for Zoas and Palys.
Location
Found in coral reefs around the world, these polyps are primarily collected in the Indo-Pacific islands, including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. Zoanthids and Palythoa have an incredible variety of colors and patterns that make them one of the most popular corals in the reef aquarium.
Lighting
Zoanthids and Palythoa are not as demanding when it comes to lighting compared to other corals. They can be kept under a wide variety of lighting types and are tolerant of both low and high lighting conditions. However, it's always advisable to acclimate newcomers in areas with low light, as they are much more likely to be damaged by overexposure than to starve due to underexposure.
Low light |
Low light is between 30 - 50 PAR per unit area |
Medium light |
Medium light is between 50 - 150 PAR per unit area |
|
High light |
High light is above 150 PAR per unit area |
Water Flow
Moderate to high water movement is recommended. Zoas and Palys benefit from sufficient flow to prevent debris from accumulating on them.
Feeding
Although zoanthid and palythoa polyps derive much of their energy from their zooxanthellae products, they have the ability to capture prey. Palythoa seem to feed much more readily than their Zoanthid counterparts. We recommend using suspended phytoplankton (eg: Easy Booster) as food for Zoanthids and Palythoa!
