TankBud

Palythoa

Also known as Palys, Palythoas, Sea Mat

SaltwaterCoral

Palythoa (Palythoa)
Nhobgood Nick Hobgood · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
7.1 in
18 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Sphenopidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs

Overview

Palythoa is a sessile, mat-forming coral, and it is reef safe. It is easy to keep and a good first coral.

Did you know

Palythoa is behind several documented cases of palytoxin poisoning in hobbyists, from boiling or scrubbing its rock indoors. Both aerosolize the toxin, which can cause serious respiratory illness.

Caring for the Palythoa

Give Palythoa moderate light, around 50 to 150 PAR, and moderate flow that keeps debris from settling between the polyps. Place colonies low to mid on the rockwork, where their spread can be managed. A tank of at least 11 gal (40 L) is enough.

Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Palythoa reproduces by budding and can overgrow rock quickly. It does not sting its neighbors aggressively, but it competes for space by encrusting. Keep it on its own rock, or leave a clear border between it and slower corals.

Palytoxin can be released when a colony is cut, scrubbed or boiled. Wear gloves and eye protection, and work with good ventilation when fragging. Avoid hot water treatment of Palythoa rock.

Good to know

Palythoa is a colonial zoanthid in the family Sphenopidae, and its polyps run larger than those of other zoanthids. The polyps share a thick common tissue and often bind large amounts of sediment into their bodies for support. It is the genus most associated with palytoxin, one of the most potent marine toxins known.

In the wild

Palythoa forms fleshy mats on rock across the reefs of the Indo-Pacific and the Caribbean. It often grows in areas with brighter light and some current.

Common questions

What size tank does a Palythoa need?

A Palythoa needs at least 11 gal (40 L).

What temperature and pH does a Palythoa need?

A Palythoa is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

How big does a Palythoa get?

An adult Palythoa reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).

How does a Palythoa breed?

Palythoa reproduces by budding, and a colony can overgrow rock rapidly.

Related species