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    Zoanthid (soft, colonial)

    Palythoa

    Palythoa spp.

    Also sold as Palys, Button polyps, Sun polyps (P. grandis)

    Palythoa (Palythoa spp.)
    Photo: Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Type
    Zoanthid (soft, colonial)
    Care level
    Beginner (hazardous)
    Light
    50 to 150 PAR (low)
    Flow
    Medium
    With neighbours
    Spreads or stings mildly

    Safety: handling palythoa

    How do you care for palythoa?

    Placement

    Lower to middle rock

    Flow

    Medium

    Feeding

    Accepts fine meaty foods; larger polyps than Zoanthus

    Growth

    Fast in many tanks; can become a nuisance

    Water quality

    Hardy

    How much light does it need?

    Sources put it at about 50 to 150 PAR, measured where the coral sits. No figure was published for this coral itself, so this is the usual range for its group. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.

    As zoanthids.

    Which neighbours are safe?

    Overgrows neighbours

    Isolate on its own rock so it can be removed without scraping

    Fish

    Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.

    Take care (4)

    • Coral beautyCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Flame angelfishFlame angelfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Foxface rabbitfishFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Moorish idolMoorish idol may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.

    Other corals

    Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.

    Take care (10)

    • Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.

    Invertebrates

    Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.

    Take care (3)

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Pests, dips and quarantine

    As zoanthids typical, check

    As zoanthids. Dip and fragging water may contain toxin: dispose of it, do not reuse (consistent with brs-qt advice on dip water).

    No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.

    Sources

    1. PLoS ONE 2011, palytoxin in Palythoa sold in the aquarium trade (US FDA and University of the Ryukyus)Read 21 October 2026, read in full.
    2. CDC MMWR, suspected palytoxin inhalation exposures, Alaska 2012 to 2014, Aug 2015Read 21 October 2026, read in full.
    3. Practical Fishkeeping (UK) news: family hospitalised after boiling zoanthids (date not shown)Read 21 October 2026, read in full.
    4. UK press, Shropshire family hospitalised, Aug 2019Read 21 October 2026, search summary only.
    5. Respiratory Medicine Case Reports 2016, palytoxin-induced respiratory failureRead 21 October 2026, read in full.
    6. Toxicon 2016 (Italy): activated carbon removed 99.7% of palytoxins from seawaterRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.
    7. Wikipedia PalythoaRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.

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    Zoanthids

    Zoanthus spp.

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Medium
    Neighbours
    Spreads or stings mildly

    Photo Kazvorpal, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Mushroom coral

    Discosoma spp. (corallimorph)

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Low
    Neighbours
    Peaceful

    Photo Kevmin, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Hairy mushroom

    Rhodactis spp.

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Low
    Neighbours
    Spreads or stings mildly

    Photo Haplochromis, Public domain

    Florida ricordea

    Ricordea florida

    Care
    Beginner
    Light
    Low
    Flow
    Low
    Neighbours
    Peaceful

    Photo Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0