Tyree Pink Hippos Care Guide
Tyree Pink Hippos (Zoanthus sp. 'Tyree Pink Hippos') is a photosynthetic zoanthid morph kept in reef aquariums under moderate light and low flow; like all zoanthids it may contain palytoxin.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Tyree Pink Hippos (Zoanthus sp. 'Tyree Pink Hippos') is a Tyree-line Zoanthus morph with a bright pink skirt and a yellow ring; a slow-growing collector morph. Zoanthus, colloquially called button polyps or "zoas", are colonial polyps of the order Zoantharia. They are zooxanthellate corals: they host symbiotic zooxanthellae and obtain most of their energy from photosynthesis, while also exhibiting fluorescent proteins responsible for their bright colours. Trade morph names such as this one are hobbyist designations, not formal scientific taxa.
Taxonomy
- Order: Zoantharia
- Family: Zoanthidae
- Genus: Zoanthus (Lamarck, 1801)
- Trade morph: Zoanthus sp. 'Tyree Pink Hippos'
Habitat
Wild Zoanthus colonies spread across hard substrate on reefs, often forming brightly coloured mats that can cover a rock. Aquarium specimens of designer morphs are aquacultured rather than wild-collected.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 specific gravity
- Carbonate hardness: 8-11 dKH
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate: below 0.1 ppm
- Nitrate: below 15 ppm
- Minimum tank maturity: ~3 months
Lighting and flow
Zoanthids do well under low to moderate lighting, with roughly 50-150 PAR suiting this morph. They prefer moderate, indirect water flow that keeps debris off the colony without blasting the polyps flat; this shard lists a low flow requirement. New lighting should be increased gradually to avoid light shock.
Feeding
As a photosynthetic coral it derives its primary nutrition from its zooxanthellae. It can additionally benefit from amino acids and fine particulate reef foods dosed to the water column, though supplemental feeding is optional.
Compatibility and growth
It is passive and lacks aggressive stinging tentacles, and is considered reef-, shrimp- and fish-safe. Reported growth is about 0.2-0.4 cm per month. Care difficulty is rated intermediate.
Tyree Pink Hippos Zoa Propagation Guide
Overview
Tyree Pink Hippos is a premium Tyree-line Zoanthus morph with a bright-pink skirt and a yellow ring, valued as a slow-growing collector zoa. It is a member of the genus Zoanthus (family Zoanthidae) and grows as a colony of button polyps joined by a shared tissue mat. The colony is photosynthetic; the slow growth rate means propagation rewards patience and clean technique.
Reproductive Mode
This morph is increased asexually. Polyps bud from the connecting stolon, slowly widening the colony, and fragging harvests sections of that clonal sheet. Asexual division preserves the pink-and-yellow pattern that defines the line in daughter colonies.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
As Reef Builders describes, score the tissue around the chosen polyps with a razor blade and follow the cut with coral cutters until the piece separates, cutting close to the base. Given the slow growth, take only a few polyps per session so the parent retains enough mass to bounce back.
- Wear gloves and eye protection before any out-of-water work.
- Cut the stolon mat between polyps with a fresh razor blade.
- Trace the line with coral cutters until the frag separates near the base.
- Dry the plug and frag base, add a little glue, and press the frag on gently.
- Return it, baster off mucus, and allow time for slow re-anchoring and budding.
Conditions for Propagation
- Lighting: 50-150 PAR (medium)
- Flow: low
- Temperature: 24-26 degC
- pH: 8.1-8.4; salinity 1.024-1.026
- Nitrate below 15 ppm, phosphate below 0.1 ppm
Palytoxin Safety
Palytoxin is documented in both Zoanthus and Palythoa, and home aquarists have been poisoned handling colonies. There is no antidote, so protective equipment is the only reliable safeguard while propagating.
Common Challenges
As a slow grower, Tyree Pink Hippos suffers if fragged too aggressively. Glue on the skirt, deep cuts that damage the polyp interior, and unstable parameters also stall frags. Take small frags, use minimal glue, and keep chemistry steady throughout the extended recovery.