Brown zoanthid
Zoanthus pulchellus
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.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–26 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 |
| KH | 8–12 |
| Salinity | 1.023–1.025 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 10 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.1 |
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.