Captain America Zoa Care Guide
Captain America Zoa is a hardy, photosynthetic Zoanthus colony for reef aquaria. Easy to keep and fast-spreading, but colonies may carry palytoxin and require careful handling.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Patriotic zoa morph with red, white, and blue concentric rings. Zoanthus are colonial anthozoans (often called "button polyps" or "zoas") whose polyps spread to encrust rock with brightly coloured patterns. Their vivid colours come in part from green-fluorescent-protein-like pigments.
Taxonomy
- Family: Zoanthidae
- Order: Zoantharia
- Genus: Zoanthus
- Scientific name: Zoanthus sp. 'Captain America'
- Note: Zoanthus sp. 'Captain America' is an aquarium trade morph of the genus Zoanthus, not a separately described WoRMS species
Habitat
This is an aquacultured Zoanthus morph propagated within the hobby rather than a wild-collected population, so material is sourced from fragmented colonies (Aquacultured).
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 degrees C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 specific gravity
- Alkalinity: 8-11 dKH
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Lighting: 50-150 PAR (medium), at least 8-12 hours per day
- Flow: low to moderate
- Suggested minimum tank maturity: 3 months
Feeding and lighting
Zoanthus obtain most of their energy from photosynthesis carried out by symbiotic zooxanthellae, so stable lighting is the priority. They can be target-fed about twice weekly with fine phytoplankton or zooplankton and amino acids using a pipette or turkey baster, although supplemental feeding is optional. They are rated among the hardiest, most beginner-friendly corals and tolerate parameter fluctuations.
Placement and compatibility
These passive zoas lack stinging tentacles that threaten neighbours and are considered reef-safe, shrimp-safe and fish-safe. Reef Builders recommends moderate to higher flow to prevent fungal or detritus problems on the mat. Colonies spread quickly by budding, so leave space around them. Reported growth is roughly 0.4-0.9 cm per month under good conditions.
Captain America Zoa: Propagation Guide
Overview
Captain America is a named Zoanthus morph (family Zoanthidae) marked by concentric red, white, and blue rings. It belongs to the broad pool of trade-named strains the hobby has produced from these colonial button polyps rather than to a distinct species. Within a colony the polyps stay joined by a stolon, or coenenchyme mat, and Zoanthus is well known for displaying many color morphs across the same or similar species.
Reproductive Mode
Propagation is asexual in the aquarium. Colonies form because offspring polyps stay attached to the parent by a fleshy stolon, and the mat buds new polyps that spread over the rock. Hobbyists rely on this stolon-driven budding to grow a Captain America colony; no sexual reproduction is involved.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Pick the polyps to separate and cut the stolon mat between them with a sharp razor blade.
- Run coral cutters along the score line so the piece breaks away; thick rock bases are cut with a diamond band saw.
- Soak and dry a frag plug or rubble, dry the frag base, and add a small bead of cyanoacrylate glue.
- Press the frag onto the plug, hold a few seconds to cure, then return it to the tank.
- Fresh tissue and new polyps confirm the frag has attached.
Conditions for Propagation
These corals are very hardy and tolerate lighting from lower to higher intensities over roughly an 8 to 12 hour day. Healing frags prefer moderate to higher flow, which carries nutrients to the polyps and removes waste. As the stolon advances, grouped frags grow together into a colorful mat across the rock.
Palytoxin Safety
Zoanthids may contain palytoxin, among the most poisonous non-protein substances known. Wear gloves and eye protection during fragging, keep hands away from your face, and wash thoroughly afterward. Do not boil, heat, or aggressively scrape the rock, because that can aerosolize the toxin for inhalation. No antidote exists; only symptoms can be treated.
Common Challenges
Newly cut polyps may remain closed for a few days while the wound seals; stable chemistry and gentle flow speed healing. The red, white, and blue banding of Captain America can shift with lighting and water quality. The principal challenge is safe palytoxin handling, not the mechanics of cutting.