Orange Spot Colony Polyps
(Zoanthus sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Middle to Top
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Green, Orange
Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Indonesia
Family: Zoanthidae

The Orange Spot Colony Polyp Coral, also referred to as a Sea Mat, or Button Polyp, originates from the reefs of Indonesia. They are a colonial coral that under the right conditions will rapidly spread across the rockwork of the aquarium. This variety of Zoanthus has bright orange centers and green tentacles. They are an easy to maintain coral that will adapt to many different lighting conditions within the aquarium.

These polyps have the ability to sting other polyps or corals. While the sting is not strong, they are semi-aggressive and need to have space between their colony and any neighbors since they tend to crowd them out. They are easy to maintain, making them a good choice for beginner reef aquarists. They require a moderate light level combined with a medium water movement within the aquarium. They will adapt and become more brightly colored under intense lighting. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony.

They contain the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae providing almost all of their nutritional requirements. Especially if the lighting is not optimal, they should be fed zooplankton or brine shrimp.

It is common to receive a rock that is not completely covered in polyps. However, under the right conditions, they will quickly spread across this and surrounding rocks in the aquarium.

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Thick Stem Waving Hand
(Xenia sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Expert Only
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: High
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Black, Tan, White
Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: South Pacific
Family: Xeniidae

The Anthelia Thick Stem Waving Hand Coral may also be referred to as a Glove Coral or Pom-Pom Coral. They are usually white, tan, or gray. The polyps are not retractable, but do have the distinctive eight-leaved tentacles associated with all of the members of this family. They are colonial animals, and form a creeping mat which has a snowflake, or tuft-like appearance. Some have thicker stems, and when several polyps are present on their leathery base, they resemble a cheerleader’s pom-pom.

Predatory fish, crabs, snails, or the stings of other corals may damage the colony quite easily. Therefore, provide adequate space between them and sessile animals, especially other types of soft corals. They are difficult to maintain in an aquarium. They require a medium to high light level combined with a medium to strong water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

Under ideal conditions, and once acclimated, they may reproduce in the established reef aquarium, forming a creeping mat, which will quickly grow over any adjacent rock work.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provide the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. Additional weekly feedings of micro-plankton or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates are also needed.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 2″ to 3″; Medium: 3″ to 5″

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Stick/ Tree Polyps
(Acrozoanthus sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: High
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Middle
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Tan
Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Indonesia
Family: Zoanthidae

Acrozoanthus Stick Polyps are colonial animals with multiple tan or brown individual polyps attached to the discarded or dead tubes of tubeworms or fanworms. The colony is also referred to as Encrusting Stick Anemones, or Tree Polyps. The polyps have long tentacles and the ability to sting other polyps or corals, although the sting is not strong.

Stick/Tree Polyps are semi-aggressive and need space between their own colony and other corals. They require a high light level combined with a medium water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

They will reproduce in the reef aquarium on their own by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), if adequate water quality parameters are maintained.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provide the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. The remainder of their nutritional requirements will need to be provided in the form of regular weekly feedings of micro-plankton or brine shrimp.

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Blue Waving Hand
(Anthelia sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate to High
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Placement: Bottom
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Blue
Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Xeniidae

The Anthelia Waving Hand Coral is also referred to as a Glove Coral. It is a group of colonial animals with several individual polyps attached to a piece of solid substrate. They are blue, brown, or tan, in color, and their polyps have the distinctive eight-leaved tentacles associated with all of the members of this family.

Predatory fish, crabs, snails, or the stings of other corals may damage the colony quite easily. Therefore, provide adequate space between them and sessile animals, especially other types of soft corals. They are difficult to maintain in an aquarium. They require a medium to high light level combined with a medium to strong water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

Under ideal conditions, and once acclimated, they may reproduce in the established reef aquarium, forming a creeping mat, which will quickly grow over any adjacent rock work.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provide the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. Additional weekly feedings of micro-plankton or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates are also needed.

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Glove Polyps
(Clavularia sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Middle to Top
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Green, Red, Tan, White
Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Indonesia
Family: Clavulariidae

The Clavularia Glove Polyps are also commonly referred to as Eight Tentacle Polyps, or Encrusting Polyps. They are brown, tan, pink, green, or white in color and their polyps have the distinctive eight-leaved tentacles associated with all the members of this family. They are colonial animals with several individual polyps attached to a single piece of live rock and are often stung and damaged by other aggressive corals. Therefore, they need adequate space between themselves and other corals.

They are not difficult to maintain and require moderate lighting combined with moderate water movement. They require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water. They will grow rapidly in the established reef aquarium by encrusting over adjacent rock work or even other corals.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies is responsible for providing the majority of their nutritional requirements via the algae’s light drive process of photosynthesis. They also benefit from weekly feedings of micro-plankton or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.

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