Palythoa caribaeorum (Sun Polyps) Care Guide
Palythoa caribaeorum is a Caribbean encrusting zoanthid with golden-tan polyps. It contains palytoxin, so gloves and eye protection are essential.
Overview
Palythoa caribaeorum is an encrusting colonial zoanthid native to the Caribbean, with golden-tan polyps embedded in a shared tissue mat. Polyps have a flattened oral disc ringed by short tentacles. It is zooxanthellate, drawing most of its nutrition from symbiotic algae through photosynthesis.
Taxonomy
- Order: Zoantharia
- Family: Sphenopidae
- Genus: Palythoa
- Scientific name: Palythoa caribaeorum (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860) (WoRMS AphiaID 288456)
Habitat
In the wild this species forms encrusting colonies in shallow Caribbean reef zones with intense light and strong water movement. Polyps are embedded in a sand-reinforced coenenchyme, and colonies can spread broadly across rock.
Reef tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Lighting: 75-200 PAR (medium)
- Flow: medium
- Recommended tank maturity: about 3 months
Care and feeding
Palythoa caribaeorum is hardy and rated beginner-friendly, tolerating a range of conditions provided they stay stable. It prefers somewhat brighter light than small zoanthids and moderate flow; flow that is too strong keeps polyps closed. Being photosynthetic, it still benefits from fine feeding such as amino acids, mysis or fine reef foods.
Compatibility
This species is peaceful and reef-safe with fish and shrimp, but as a fast encruster it can overgrow nearby corals, so allow space around the colony.