Zoanthids????
- Thread starter Enigma445
- Start date
Welcome to RC and the Zoanthid forum Enigma445.
Zoanthid are extremely hardy non skeletal, non calcifying soft bodied corals which unfold like a rose in the morning. Often referred to say Sea mats, Colonial polyps, button polyps, zoas, colonial anemones, they are as vast in colors as the regions of which they are collected and very easy to keep. They will proliferate rapidly in a mature somewhat stable environment with adequate lighting and current via powerheads, wavemakers etc.
Much debate lingers on whether or not to externally feed them. Some authors have said lighting and current alone is not enough to sustain them. I kept them for many years with explosive growth without external additions of food. Before you drop a single dime on a purchase, I would highly recommend that you read everything in the link below. It will afford you an adequate background to familiarize yourself with the vast amount or resourceful knowledge from those who have kept zoanthids for many years. I would learn the jargon and read, read and read as much as possible. Consider this your home and don't be afraid to ask questions my friend.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=632970
"What are some of your favorite kinds?"
Everyone has their favorites, but that list will be as long as your arm, and it will only prevent you from finding your own favorites. Be as individual as humanly possible in creating your own Biotope. Remember these words, buy what YOU like and not what everyone else has. You will only reproduce a tank that looks like every one else's tank and not that of your own. I would get your entire family evolved, you'll be amaze at how close a family will become as a result of coming together to make this a family project and hobby.
The easiest zoanthids that I suggest you purchase first, are the most colorful and the cheapest. Don't buy anything by the polyp which has become the norm of late. Talk with your LFS, (local fish store) and purchase an inexpensive colony of neon greens, reds, oranges etc, just to acclimate yourself to keeping zoas. I see that your system is only a month old. For this reason alone, I wouldn't consider any expensive coral purchases until your system has matured. I am a great believer in "New Tank Syndrome". A system that has little or no colonizing bacteria, fluctuating parameters, an unstable sand bed, a water column which needs to mature etc. Where do you live? If you are near Michigan, I can give you some things for free to get you started. Drop me a PM
Trust me, the biggest mistake you will make is to rush out and feel the need to compete with everyone else's beautiful tank. Set goals, practice good husbandry and keep a log of everything you do. Good test kits are also advised. Take your time, read, research and ask questions and get opinions. Make sure you read the Reefkeeping magazine articles each month. Reefkeeping is not an exact science and you are going to get a whole host of replies as we all place our own spin on what is best for our systems.
I know I went overboard, but I just spoke with a reefer this week who tried to create a masterpiece in 2 months and the devastation he suffered has turned him away from the hobby already.
I just woke up and typed off the top of my head, I know I missed something and that is where the great reefers we have in this forum will add tons more of great ideas, suggestion and feedback.
Good Luck Enigma445
Mucho
Zoanthid are extremely hardy non skeletal, non calcifying soft bodied corals which unfold like a rose in the morning. Often referred to say Sea mats, Colonial polyps, button polyps, zoas, colonial anemones, they are as vast in colors as the regions of which they are collected and very easy to keep. They will proliferate rapidly in a mature somewhat stable environment with adequate lighting and current via powerheads, wavemakers etc.
Much debate lingers on whether or not to externally feed them. Some authors have said lighting and current alone is not enough to sustain them. I kept them for many years with explosive growth without external additions of food. Before you drop a single dime on a purchase, I would highly recommend that you read everything in the link below. It will afford you an adequate background to familiarize yourself with the vast amount or resourceful knowledge from those who have kept zoanthids for many years. I would learn the jargon and read, read and read as much as possible. Consider this your home and don't be afraid to ask questions my friend.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=632970
"What are some of your favorite kinds?"
Everyone has their favorites, but that list will be as long as your arm, and it will only prevent you from finding your own favorites. Be as individual as humanly possible in creating your own Biotope. Remember these words, buy what YOU like and not what everyone else has. You will only reproduce a tank that looks like every one else's tank and not that of your own. I would get your entire family evolved, you'll be amaze at how close a family will become as a result of coming together to make this a family project and hobby.
The easiest zoanthids that I suggest you purchase first, are the most colorful and the cheapest. Don't buy anything by the polyp which has become the norm of late. Talk with your LFS, (local fish store) and purchase an inexpensive colony of neon greens, reds, oranges etc, just to acclimate yourself to keeping zoas. I see that your system is only a month old. For this reason alone, I wouldn't consider any expensive coral purchases until your system has matured. I am a great believer in "New Tank Syndrome". A system that has little or no colonizing bacteria, fluctuating parameters, an unstable sand bed, a water column which needs to mature etc. Where do you live? If you are near Michigan, I can give you some things for free to get you started. Drop me a PM
Trust me, the biggest mistake you will make is to rush out and feel the need to compete with everyone else's beautiful tank. Set goals, practice good husbandry and keep a log of everything you do. Good test kits are also advised. Take your time, read, research and ask questions and get opinions. Make sure you read the Reefkeeping magazine articles each month. Reefkeeping is not an exact science and you are going to get a whole host of replies as we all place our own spin on what is best for our systems.
I know I went overboard, but I just spoke with a reefer this week who tried to create a masterpiece in 2 months and the devastation he suffered has turned him away from the hobby already.
I just woke up and typed off the top of my head, I know I missed something and that is where the great reefers we have in this forum will add tons more of great ideas, suggestion and feedback.
Good Luck Enigma445
Mucho
ok to add a few things.... I feed my zoos whenever possilbe (some really just don't take food well).
Lighting is a big debate and many believe strong lights are not essential. I believe opposite of this. High lighting will give you the best colors and growth.
Palythoa are not zoos but are very similar. I do not know well enough how to distinguish them but there is a thread in the information thread that will tell you how to tell the difference. (i find my palys eat a lot better)
I would suggest looking to other reefers in your area for your first frags. As a reefer matures lots of times they will have hardy coral colonies that they are looking to shrink down. Zoa and Palythoa are easy to propogate and easy to frag. Let people know you are new and you might even get some freebies.
Hope this helps and feel free to ask lots of questions in all the forums and hopefully you will be able to do things right the first time.
Lighting is a big debate and many believe strong lights are not essential. I believe opposite of this. High lighting will give you the best colors and growth.
Palythoa are not zoos but are very similar. I do not know well enough how to distinguish them but there is a thread in the information thread that will tell you how to tell the difference. (i find my palys eat a lot better)
I would suggest looking to other reefers in your area for your first frags. As a reefer matures lots of times they will have hardy coral colonies that they are looking to shrink down. Zoa and Palythoa are easy to propogate and easy to frag. Let people know you are new and you might even get some freebies.
Hope this helps and feel free to ask lots of questions in all the forums and hopefully you will be able to do things right the first time.
kawicivic, I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with me, but you didn't answer any of Enigma445
questions.
"What is a Zoanthids and are they hard to keep?
What are some of your favorite kinds?
Also what you think is the easiest for the Novice to keep?"
questions.
"What is a Zoanthids and are they hard to keep?
What are some of your favorite kinds?
Also what you think is the easiest for the Novice to keep?"
Last edited:
:lol:
I was just kind of adding to your post... not really disagreeing with anything other than the going to fellow reefers vs LFS
are they hard to keep? - just like anything else in this hobby they can be hard if you are not aware of what they need. I believe zoos are one of the more forgiving species but can also be tempermental. I would suggest sticking to larger frags or even colonies (cheap run of the mill ones.... like the ones Mucho was talking about finding at the LFS). Many people have started selling single polyp or few polyp heads lately.... Many times these will melt or disappear (usually just release from the glue that holds them on). Larger colonies also give more room for error.... they usually will take longer to completely die if something is not correct. This would give you time to figure out what is going on.
Don't let that talk of dieing scare you though... I have only had one frag (other than single polyps) melt completely away on me and that was one that came to me with zoa pox.
What are some of your favorite kinds? - I really like nuclear greens (which are palys...finally got 1 head yesterday.... "do as I say, not as I do" comes to mind now...:lol
I also am a fan of eagle eyes which are pretty common.
I just picked up some light blue palys that look neat too... we will see how they grow (sorry but no pic)
Also what you think is the easiest for the Novice to keep?" - just stay away from the rarer corals mainly because the price and the fact that many times you only get a single head. Stick to propagated frags from other reefers or affordable colonies from your LFS.
Some non zoa recomendations - Anthelia, GSP, and Xenia - all of these grow really fast and are easy to take care of (many consider them a pest and keep them isolated... these are the kinds of corals you can get from fellow reefers for cheap or free almost anytime)
mushrooms - real easy to keep and they are fun to play with (fragging involves just cutting them in half and watching them slowly grow into full circles again).
I was just kind of adding to your post... not really disagreeing with anything other than the going to fellow reefers vs LFS
are they hard to keep? - just like anything else in this hobby they can be hard if you are not aware of what they need. I believe zoos are one of the more forgiving species but can also be tempermental. I would suggest sticking to larger frags or even colonies (cheap run of the mill ones.... like the ones Mucho was talking about finding at the LFS). Many people have started selling single polyp or few polyp heads lately.... Many times these will melt or disappear (usually just release from the glue that holds them on). Larger colonies also give more room for error.... they usually will take longer to completely die if something is not correct. This would give you time to figure out what is going on.
Don't let that talk of dieing scare you though... I have only had one frag (other than single polyps) melt completely away on me and that was one that came to me with zoa pox.
What are some of your favorite kinds? - I really like nuclear greens (which are palys...finally got 1 head yesterday.... "do as I say, not as I do" comes to mind now...:lol
I also am a fan of eagle eyes which are pretty common.
I just picked up some light blue palys that look neat too... we will see how they grow (sorry but no pic)
Also what you think is the easiest for the Novice to keep?" - just stay away from the rarer corals mainly because the price and the fact that many times you only get a single head. Stick to propagated frags from other reefers or affordable colonies from your LFS.
Some non zoa recomendations - Anthelia, GSP, and Xenia - all of these grow really fast and are easy to take care of (many consider them a pest and keep them isolated... these are the kinds of corals you can get from fellow reefers for cheap or free almost anytime)
mushrooms - real easy to keep and they are fun to play with (fragging involves just cutting them in half and watching them slowly grow into full circles again).
