Zoanthid button polyps
Zoanthus
Also known as Zoas, Button Polyps, Sea Mat
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Zoanthidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs
Overview
Zoanthid button polyps are a peaceful colonial coral that covers the rock of a reef tank in small polyps. They are easy to keep and make a good first coral.
Caring for the zoanthid button polyps
Give zoanthid button polyps moderate light, roughly 50 to 150 PAR, and low to moderate indirect flow. The flow should keep detritus off the mat without holding the polyps closed. Place them on the mid to lower rockwork, in a tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). A new colony opens up more easily if you start it in a slightly shaded spot and move it higher over a few weeks.
Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Zoanthids get most of their energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae, but they also capture fine particulate food.
They are passive and low-sting, and they will not chemically attack their neighbors. They spread by budding new polyps, and a mat can slowly overgrow slower corals and creep across nearby rock, so give them room. Keep them away from aggressive stingers such as Euphyllia, which would keep them retracted.
Some Zoanthus carry palytoxin, as does the closely related Palythoa. Wear gloves when you handle frags, and keep the mucus out of cuts and eyes.
Good to know
Zoanthid button polyps belong to Zoanthus, a colonial soft coral in the order Zoantharia and the family Zoanthidae. The polyps are joined by a shared tissue mat called a coenenchyme. They lack a hard skeleton and stiffen themselves by taking in sand and debris.
In the wild
Zoanthids form encrusting mats across live rock in shallow, brightly lit zones of Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs.
Common questions
What size tank do zoanthid button polyps need?
Zoanthid button polyps need at least 11 gal (40 L).
What temperature and pH do zoanthid button polyps need?
Zoanthid button polyps are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What do zoanthid button polyps eat?
Zoanthid button polyps get most of their energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae. They also capture fine particulate food.
How big do zoanthid button polyps get?
Zoanthid button polyps reach about 5.9 in (15 cm).
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