Care guide
Zoanthus and Palythoa
Group guidance · AI-assisted · Model audited · Revision 2
Give zoanthids moderate light and indirect flow to clear debris between the polyps. Leave room for the mat to spread. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling, and avoid boiling the colony or scrubbing it in a way that creates spray.
Requirements
- Care level
- Beginner
- Temperament
- Allow room for expansion and competition
Placement and environment
- Lighting
- Moderate light is a useful starting point; individual types respond differently to intensity and spectrum.
- Water flow
- Moderate to brisk indirect circulation should prevent detritus collecting between polyps.
- Placement
- Lower to middle rockwork initially. Separate rock if spread needs limiting. Space for an expanding mat.
Feeding
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic; optional fine foods may help. Palythoa often accepts food more readily than smaller Zoanthus.
Acclimation and long-term care
- Warning signs
- Some colonies contain palytoxin; use careful handling. Polyp-eating pests and persistent closure. Debris buildup and spreading mats.
Information gaps
- pH · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- PAR · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Growth · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Calcium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Habitat · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Nitrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Handling · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lifespan · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Salinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Warnings · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Adult size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Clearance · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Magnesium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Phosphate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Predation concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Substrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Alkalinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Reef compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Acclimation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Minimum tank size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Propagation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Temperature · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Social grouping · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Feeding frequency · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
Sources
- Tidal Gardens — Zoanthus and Palythoa · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Tidal Gardens — Coral husbandry troubleshooting · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
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