Zoanthus sp. – Zoanthid Coral

Corals of the genus Zoanthus, often called Zoanthids or simply Zoas, are very popular soft corals in reef aquariums. They form low-lying colonies where small polyps grow as a dense mat on rock surfaces or frag plugs. Each polyp has a mouth in the center surrounded by a colorful ring and short tentacles.

Zoanthus corals are known for their enormous color variation. Polyps can be, for example, green, orange, red, blue, purple, yellow, or multicolored. Often, the center, ring, and outer edge of the polyp are different colors, creating striking patterns. In blue aquarium lighting, many color morphs fluoresce strongly.

Hundreds of different color morphs and trade names are known in the aquarium hobby. Well-known examples include Rasta, Utter Chaos, Scrambled Eggs, Eagle Eye, Armor of God, and Sunny D. Particularly bright and rare variants can be significantly more valuable than common specimens.

In a reef aquarium, Zoanthus usually thrives in the lower or middle sections of the aquarium, but many species also adapt well to stronger lighting. Polyps often grow quickly and can spread across rock surfaces, forming larger coral mats.

Features

• coral mat formed by small polyps
• a vast number of different color morphs
• often strong fluorescence in blue lighting
• can spread rapidly on rock surfaces
• very popular coral in reef aquariums

Care Requirements

Good to know

Zoanthus corals can spread quickly in suitable conditions and form extensive colonies. Some Zoanthus and especially Palythoa species can contain a toxin called palytoxin, so caution should be exercised when handling the coral.

Suitability

• well suited for reef aquariums
• generally compatible with fish and invertebrates
• an excellent choice even for beginners