zoanthids & palythoas

BradMugs · 03/30/2009, 08:44 PM

OK, what's the differance between zoanthids & palythoas?

Thanks

Brad

MarcB · 03/30/2009, 09:29 PM

From what I have seen, Palys are generally larger and usually slower growing. Exceptions exist.

chaderic26 · 03/30/2009, 09:53 PM

I disagree, from my experience most zoanthids are mostly photosynthetic and absorb some nutrients from the water. So they're growth depends on that stuff. Paly's are less photosynthetic and most that I've seen have at least partially formed stomach cavity of some kind and are exceptional growers if fed. Otherwise they kinda stay where there at.

stricknine · 03/30/2009, 10:15 PM

Palys=longer stem
zoas=smaller

Aquarist007 · 03/30/2009, 10:27 PM

I just bought these three frags --its easy to see the difference

BradMugs · 03/31/2009, 09:00 PM

Capn,

OK, I can see the differance in what you posted but the top picture doesn't look like any of the zoas or paly's I've ever seen. Looks more like a LSP from what I've seen, but then that is a very limited education.

From your pictures, which is which?

Ragman Jones · 03/31/2009, 09:14 PM

Top is palys bottom is zoas. I think.

Whats next the them in the bottom pic? The Anemone looking thing?

RyanDragon · 03/31/2009, 09:27 PM

I think the anemone looking thing is the evergreen starburst polyps...

chaderic26 · 03/31/2009, 09:36 PM

Looks like plain gsp to me. The top does look like lps maybe lobed brain coral.

Salamander · 03/31/2009, 09:39 PM

That is not palythoa in the top pic capn posted. Those are an LPS. Palys typically have longer, thinner tentacles than zoas and will readily accept food.

The green in the second pic is more commonly called green star polyps, AKA GSP. They're nice but very prolific and will cover everything if not kept isolated.

Tswifty · 03/31/2009, 09:42 PM

Zoanthids are usually smaller, however the Zoanthid Gignatus can be just as large as Palys.

Palys also are VERY toxic, so be careful working with them.

I also believe there is a difference in the way each feeds. I believe the Zoanthids are primarily photosynthetic, and the Palythoas are known to be aggressive feeders.

Palys and Zoanthids are both known to be very fast growers, although growth rates will vary due to TONS of factors outside of their classification.

BradMugs · 03/31/2009, 10:51 PM

OK, that sounds better.
Palys - thinner tentacales (mine are also longer), will eat food and are normally larger

Zoas - fatter tentacles and smaller bodies.

Tswifty - can you get into more detail about toxic - that always catchs my attention, when and to whom are normally my big questions.

Aquarist007 · 04/01/2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BradMugs
Capn,

OK, I can see the differance in what you posted but the top picture doesn't look like any of the zoas or paly's I've ever seen. Looks more like a LSP from what I've seen, but then that is a very limited education.

From your pictures, which is which?

Correction--the top is lobophylia

These are palys:

Tswifty · 04/01/2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BradMugs
Tswifty - can you get into more detail about toxic - that always catchs my attention, when and to whom are normally my big questions.

The Palytoxin or whatever it is called is pretty nasty. I'm no expert on it though, there's probably a Reefkeeping article on it somewhere.

Steven Pro did a talk on venomous fish/dangerous stuff in our tanks a few months ago. The Palytoxin was the stuff I guess natives used dipped the tips of their arrows in to kill stuff. I believe Steven's comment was, "Palythoas, now this is the stuff that can kill you." or something along those lines.

Apparently Anthony Calfo has had more than a few run-ins with the toxin as well when propagating and fragging them. I think he lost taste for a week or something the one time.

Tswifty · 04/01/2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
Correction--the top is lobophylia

These are palys:

Those look like a variation of "People Eaters" which are actually are a variation of Zoanthus gigantus. The neon green mouth gives them away. Also there are probably white striations on the underside of the polyps which would be more visible when the polyps close. It's my understanding that the white striations classify them as Zoanthus gigantus, and the neon green mouth is what makes them a "People Eater."

There was a brief discussion in one of the forums a while back, and it was understood that all "People Eaters" are Zoanthus gigantus, but all Zoanthus gigantus are not "People Eaters."

Anyway... the point of the post was that, while they do resemble Palythoas in size, they are actually Zoanthids.

JEFFR259 · 04/01/2009, 09:06 AM

Ok, here's a pic that resembles what I have in my tank, and I've always been led to believe what I have is Paly's.

+1 to the differences in how Zoas and Paly's get nutrients. My zoas never seem to react to cyclopeeze or anything else I feed my LPS (like Coral Frenzy).

My "palys" close up like venus flytraps.

Tswifty · 04/01/2009, 09:08 AM

.

returnofsid · 04/01/2009, 09:15 AM

The difference in Zoas and Palys has nothing to do with length or shape of tentacles, length of stem or size of button. The difference is how they build themselves. Palys pick up pieces of sand and incorporate it into their mat and stollen. Zoanthids Don't. That's it....plain and simple.

reefscape15 · 04/01/2009, 04:25 PM

From what i could tell, Palys can form single stalks, and Zoas create mats to grow from

03/30/2009, 08:44 PM	#1
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	zoanthids & palythoas OK, what's the differance between zoanthids & palythoas? Thanks Brad

03/30/2009, 09:53 PM	#3
chaderic26 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: OKC Posts: 1,064	I disagree, from my experience most zoanthids are mostly photosynthetic and absorb some nutrients from the water. So they're growth depends on that stuff. Paly's are less photosynthetic and most that I've seen have at least partially formed stomach cavity of some kind and are exceptional growers if fed. Otherwise they kinda stay where there at. __________________ Raoul Duke: There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. Current Tank Info: 220 Gallon Shined up Turd.

03/30/2009, 10:27 PM	#5
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I just bought these three frags --its easy to see the difference __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

03/31/2009, 09:27 PM	#8
RyanDragon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 343	I think the anemone looking thing is the evergreen starburst polyps... __________________ 25 Gal Reef :) 30lbs LR,,, 20lbs LS, CPR HOB skimmer, 1 mod maxi jet 1200 , 3 different damsels, 1 clarkii clown Torch Coral, Frogspawn Coral, Couples Zoa/Paly colonies, and Mushrooms Current Tank Info: 25 gallons reef tank with 96watts of t5 HO lighting

03/31/2009, 09:36 PM	#9
chaderic26 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: OKC Posts: 1,064	Looks like plain gsp to me. The top does look like lps maybe lobed brain coral. __________________ Raoul Duke: There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. Current Tank Info: 220 Gallon Shined up Turd.

03/30/2009, 09:29 PM	#2
MarcB Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 74	From what I have seen, Palys are generally larger and usually slower growing. Exceptions exist.

03/30/2009, 10:15 PM	#4
stricknine Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 989	Palys=longer stem zoas=smaller

03/31/2009, 09:00 PM	#6
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Capn, OK, I can see the differance in what you posted but the top picture doesn't look like any of the zoas or paly's I've ever seen. Looks more like a LSP from what I've seen, but then that is a very limited education. From your pictures, which is which?

03/31/2009, 09:14 PM	#7
Ragman Jones Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 36	Top is palys bottom is zoas. I think. Whats next the them in the bottom pic? The Anemone looking thing?

03/31/2009, 09:39 PM	#10
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	That is not palythoa in the top pic capn posted. Those are an LPS. Palys typically have longer, thinner tentacles than zoas and will readily accept food. The green in the second pic is more commonly called green star polyps, AKA GSP. They're nice but very prolific and will cover everything if not kept isolated. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

03/31/2009, 09:42 PM	#11
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Zoanthids are usually smaller, however the Zoanthid Gignatus can be just as large as Palys. Palys also are VERY toxic, so be careful working with them. I also believe there is a difference in the way each feeds. I believe the Zoanthids are primarily photosynthetic, and the Palythoas are known to be aggressive feeders. Palys and Zoanthids are both known to be very fast growers, although growth rates will vary due to TONS of factors outside of their classification. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

03/31/2009, 10:51 PM	#12
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	OK, that sounds better. Palys - thinner tentacales (mine are also longer), will eat food and are normally larger Zoas - fatter tentacles and smaller bodies. Tswifty - can you get into more detail about toxic - that always catchs my attention, when and to whom are normally my big questions.

04/01/2009, 09:06 AM	#16
JEFFR259 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 595	Ok, here's a pic that resembles what I have in my tank, and I've always been led to believe what I have is Paly's. +1 to the differences in how Zoas and Paly's get nutrients. My zoas never seem to react to cyclopeeze or anything else I feed my LPS (like Coral Frenzy). My "palys" close up like venus flytraps.

04/01/2009, 09:08 AM	#17
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover Last edited by Tswifty; 04/01/2009 at 09:15 AM.

04/01/2009, 09:15 AM	#18
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	The difference in Zoas and Palys has nothing to do with length or shape of tentacles, length of stem or size of button. The difference is how they build themselves. Palys pick up pieces of sand and incorporate it into their mat and stollen. Zoanthids Don't. That's it....plain and simple.

04/01/2009, 04:25 PM	#19
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	From what i could tell, Palys can form single stalks, and Zoas create mats to grow from __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H