• Name:

    Alpha Zoanthids

    (View AKA's)
  • Family: Zoanthidae
  • Species: Zoanthid
  • Scientific Name: Zoanthus sp
More Details

Also Know As:

| Sea Mat

| Alpha Zoas

| Alpha Omega Zoas

General info about Alpha Zoanthids

Zoanthids feature a hard exoskeleton and is considered one of the most durable inhabitants in a reef aquarium making them the perfect piece for newbie aquarist. Their appearance resembles like a cluster of miniature sea anemones that often creates a hard matting appearance. While they look similar with sea anemones, Zoanthids are generally smaller with an oral disc measuring only from 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter.
 
For the Alpha Zoanthids, the are predominantly colored violet with red polyps and light blue mouth. This are the water paramaters in cultivating Alpha Zoanthids:
  • Calcium: 380 - 430 ppm
  • Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.5 MEQ/L
  • Phosphates: 0
  • Magnesium: 1250 - 1300 ppm
  • Strontium: 8 - 10
  • Temperature: 72° - 82° F (22° - 27° C)
  • Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

Alpha Zoanthids Diet & Nutrition

In the wild, Alpha Zoanthids has developed a symbiotic feeding relationship with marine algae called zooxanthellae. But in captivity, you have to feed them with nanoplankton or dissolved organics.

Fragging / Propagating Alpha Zoanthids

A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Alpha Zoanthids. They should be set in the middle or top part of the tank where they will receive the most amount of light.

Flow / Lighting Requirements for Alpha Zoanthids

Alpha Zoanthids requires strong lighting and moderate waterflow.

Parasites & Diseases that Affect Alpha Zoanthids

While the Alpha Zoanthids are easy to maintain, you have to be alert for filamentous algae that can overgrow and smother their polyps. They are also prone to box snail which feeds on them, so you need to remove this particular snail from the tank. You also have to look out for large crustaceans and fish like angelfish and butterflyfish that nibbles on their tentacles.

Alpha Zoanthids Origin

Alpha Zoanthids are abundant and can be found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Caution Should be Taken with Alpha Zoanthids

Alpha Zoanthids are known to posses high levels of palytoxin and vibrio bacteria especially in their mucus. So, you need to wear gloves in handling them.

How to Acclimate Alpha Zoanthids

Alpha Zoanthids is purely marine. So, therefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.

Stinging Tentacles on Alpha Zoanthids

Since the Alpha Zoanthids contains toxins and bateria, you have give them ample space so that they cannot sting other coral species.

Relevent Articles

Original Detail

Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Alpha Zoanthids Zoanthid Zoanthidae Zoanthus sp
Zoanthids feature a hard exoskeleton and is considered one of the most durable inhabitants in a reef aquarium making them the perfect piece for newbie aquarist. Their appearance resembles like a cluster of miniature sea anemones that often creates a hard matting appearance. While they look similar with sea anemones, Zoanthids are generally smaller with an oral disc measuring only from 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter.
 
For the Alpha Zoanthids, the are predominantly colored violet with red polyps and light blue mouth. This are the water paramaters in cultivating Alpha Zoanthids:
  • Calcium: 380 - 430 ppm
  • Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.5 MEQ/L
  • Phosphates: 0
  • Magnesium: 1250 - 1300 ppm
  • Strontium: 8 - 10
  • Temperature: 72° - 82° F (22° - 27° C)
  • Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025
PalaciosAn

Changed by users

Submitted Date Submitted By Status Action
2019-10-10 05:36:12 PalaciosAn Approved