What is ZOA coral?

What is ZOA coral?

Zoanthid coral are one of the most well-known and easy to keep corals in the hobby. They are not aggressive, per se, towards other corals, but can be invasive as they can outgrow and eventually overgrow other corals. Zoanthid corals do best in rich nutrient tanks where they can filter feed daily.

What is the difference between palys and ZOAS?

Generally speaking, zoas have smaller, more colorful polyps, palys have larger, duller polyps, and protopalys have polyps on stalks that have more tentacles than the others and they do not grow from a thick mat. However, this is not always true, and the oral discs may be of different sizes in the same colony.

Is Palythoa a coral?

Palythoa Coral Care Zoanthids and Palythoa are a large group of corals in the reef keeping hobby. They come in an incredible range of colors and patterns making them very popular with both beginner hobbyists and rare coral collectors tracking down the uncommon color morphs.

Can coral be poisonous?

Zoanthid corals are soft corals known as colony-forming anemones. Species of Zoanthid coral (e.g. Palythoa species and Zoanthus species) can contain a highly toxic, naturally-occurring and potentially lethal substance known as Palytoxin.

Are ZOA corals easy to keep?

Zoas and Palys are both very hardy soft coral placing them amount the easier to keep corals and making them a excellent choice as corals for beginners. These corals can come in some spectacular colors and color combinations, among the most amazing colors to be found in any soft coral.

Which zoas are toxic?

These decorative ornamental corals are commonly called ‘button polyps’, ‘sun polyps’ or ‘zoas’. Species of Zoanthid coral (e.g. Palythoa species and Zoanthus species) can contain a highly toxic, naturally-occurring and potentially lethal substance known as Palytoxin.

Can I touch Zoanthids?

You should never touch the tissue of a Zoanthid or Palythoa coral, especially Palythoa. Always handle the frag from the frag plug and the colony from the rocks underside. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling them. It is important to wear gloves, a mask, and eye protection when fragging them.