Zoanthus sp. – Zoanthid Coral

Corals of the genus Zoanthus, often referred to as 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 a rock surface or frag plug. 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. Under blue aquarium lighting, many color morphs fluoresce intensely.

In the aquarium hobby, hundreds of different color morphs and trade names are known. Famous 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 individuals.

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

Features

coral mat formed by small polyps

enormous variety of color morphs

often strong fluorescence under blue lighting

can spread quickly on rock surfaces

very popular coral in reef aquariums

Care Requirements

Feature Recommendation

Difficulty easy

Lighting low – moderate

Flow low – moderate

Placement in aquarium bottom – middle

Growth rate fast

Good to know

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

Suitability

very suitable for reef aquariums

generally compatible with fish and invertebrates

an excellent choice for beginners too