King Tut Zoa Care Guide
A slow-growing collector Zoanthus morph with a golden skirt, orange ring and turquoise center; a photosynthetic encrusting zoanthid for reef tanks.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
King Tut Zoa is a named color morph of Zoanthus, a colonial zoanthid in the family Zoanthidae. The morph is recognized by a golden skirt, an orange ring and a turquoise center, and is a slow grower favored by collectors. Zoanthids form colonies of small polyps that spread across rock as an encrusting mat and are commonly called zoas or button polyps.
Taxonomy
- Phylum: Cnidaria; Class: Anthozoa (Hexacorallia); Order: Zoantharia
- Family: Zoanthidae
- Genus: Zoanthus Lamarck, 1801
- Scientific name: Zoanthus sp. 'King Tut' (aquacultured designer morph)
Biology
Zoanthus is a zooxanthellate genus: the polyps host symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) and obtain most of their energy from photosynthesis, supplemented by capturing fine food particles with their tentacles. Polyps are connected by shared tissue and reproduce asexually by budding, allowing a colony to spread over a rock surface.
Tank requirements
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Nitrate: below ~15 ppm; Phosphate: below ~0.1 ppm
- Lighting: medium, around 50-150 PAR
- Flow: low to moderate (enough to keep detritus off the polyps)
- Minimum tank maturity: about 3 months
Care and placement
Zoanthids tolerate a range of lighting spectrums and intensities; medium light suits this morph. They benefit from moderate flow, since low-flow areas allow detritus and algae films to settle on the polyps. They are peaceful and reef-safe with other corals, fish and invertebrates. As a slower-growing encrusting coral it gradually spreads across the rock.
Feeding
The colony is primarily photosynthetic through its zooxanthellae. Optional target feeding with fine foods such as phytoplankton or zooplankton, roughly twice a week, can support growth, but is not strictly required.
King Tut Zoa: Propagation Guide
Overview
King Tut is a high-end Zoanthus morph (family Zoanthidae) with a golden skirt, an orange ring, and a turquoise center, and it is reported as a slow grower favored by collectors. It is a trade-named color selection of these colonial button polyps rather than a separate species. The polyps of a colony remain joined by a stolon, or coenenchyme mat, and Zoanthus is recognized for displaying many color morphs of the same or similar species.
Reproductive Mode
Propagation in aquaria is asexual. Colonies form because offspring polyps remain attached to the parent by a fleshy stolon, and the mat buds new polyps across the rock. This budding is how a King Tut colony enlarges, though its slow growth means expansion is gradual.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Pick the polyps to separate and cut through the stolon mat with a clean razor blade.
- Run coral cutters along the cut line so the piece breaks free; thick rock is cut with a diamond band saw.
- Soak and dry a plug or rubble, dry the frag base, then apply a little 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
Zoanthus are hardy corals that tolerate lighting from lower to higher levels over roughly an 8 to 12 hour day. Healing frags prefer moderate to higher flow so the polyps are fed and waste is removed. Because King Tut grows slowly, the stolon fills a plug only over time.
Palytoxin Safety
Zoanthids may contain palytoxin, among the most poisonous non-protein substances known. Wear gloves and eye protection during fragging, keep your hands off your face, and wash thoroughly afterward. Do not boil, heat, or 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 stay closed for several days while healing; steady chemistry and gentle flow speed recovery. King Tut is slow growing, so colonies enlarge gradually and reward patience. The golden, orange, and turquoise coloration varies with lighting and water quality, and safe palytoxin handling remains the key concern.