Newbie Question About Zoanthids

[fuzzybub]

Hi,
I am looking at purchasing some zoo's for the first time and am getting into corals for the first time. I am very confused about what the average diameter of polyps roughly are. I look at them online and they can look fairly large like the diameter of a dime(assuming they are extreme closeups) but then I can look at them in the LFS and they look like they are about the size of a pencil eraser. What is the common size of these polyps and how large can they normally grow in diameter. I am sure it varies but what would be an expected average? I just don't want to be selling myself short paying $$ for polyps that are small when I could be paying the same amount for the larger polyps of the same name. Thanks!

 

[ct_vol]

Diameter will depend upon a lot of things...

1) Type of zoanthid or palythoa
2) Lighting
3) Flow
4) Placement in tank
5) Water quality and chemistry

The list can go on and on... I have some about the size of a quarter, and others that are smaller than the size of an eraser... The thing that will cost you the most is a Zoa/Paly's name... There are a lot of more colorfull zoanthids that cost less than some rarer ugly zoas with a fancy name... Bottom line is that they're worth what you're willing to pay for them... Starting out, I wouldn't pay much... If you're in the East TN area, feel free to look me up... If not, check out your local club, zoas are easy to frag, and I'm sure someone can help you get started more cheap than going the LFS route... And theres always the sales and trading forums on here... Hope this helps!!!!!!!