Brown zoanthid
Zoanthus pulchellus
Family : Zoanthidae
Zoanthus pulchellus is a colonial soft coral of the family Zoanthidae, common in Caribbean reefs. It forms mats of brown to green polyps and is popular in reef aquariums for its ease of care.
Description
Polyps of Zoanthus pulchellus are about 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter and are typically brown, sometimes with green or gray hues. The colony forms an encrusting mat on the substrate, with short, fleshy polyps. They have retractable tentacles that extend at night to capture particles. There is no visible sexual dimorphism. In aquariums, they can reproduce quickly by budding.
Habitat
Region :
Zoanthus pulchellus is found in shallow reef waters of the Caribbean, often on rocky substrates or coral rubble. It forms encrusting colonies in well-lit areas with moderate water flow.
Distribution :
Recommended parameters
Care
Care notes
A tank of at least 40 liters is recommended to maintain a stable colony. Water parameters should be stable: temperature 24-26°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.023-1.025, calcium 400-450 mg/L, magnesium 1200-1350 mg/L, dKH 8-12, nitrates <10 mg/L, phosphates <0.1 mg/L. Moderate lighting and low to moderate flow are suitable. They are photosynthetic but can benefit from target feeding with microplankton. Beware of stinging tentacles that can damage neighboring corals.
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