Palythoa grandis (Magnificent Sea Mat) Care Guide
Palythoa grandis is a large-polyped zoanthid with fleshy skirts that responds well to feeding. It contains palytoxin, so protective handling is essential.
Overview
Palythoa grandis is a large-polyped colonial zoanthid with prominent fleshy skirts. Its polyps are noticeably bigger than those of small zoanthids, with flattened oral discs ringed by tentacles. It is zooxanthellate but, given its large polyps, is also an active feeder.
Taxonomy
- Order: Zoantharia
- Family: Sphenopidae
- Genus: Palythoa
- Scientific name: Palythoa grandis (Verrill, 1900) (WoRMS AphiaID 288461; originally described as Protopalythoa grandis)
Habitat
The species is recorded from the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific, where its large polyps grow embedded in an encrusting coenenchyme on reef substrate.
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 grandis is hardy and beginner-friendly when parameters are stable. Because of its large polyps it does best with regular spot-feeding of meaty foods such as mysis, alongside fine reef foods and amino acids, in addition to the energy it gets from photosynthesis. Provide medium lighting and moderate flow.
Compatibility
It is peaceful and reef-safe with fish and shrimp. As an encrusting colony it can spread, so leave room around it to avoid contact with other corals.