Palythoas

Palythoa for Sale

Palythoa are the bigger, tougher cousins of zoanthids, with larger polyps and bold colors. This page has Pink Panther and Captain Jerk Palythoa, purple and red people eaters, and some zoanthid colonies sold alongside them. Everything is photographed in our Key West systems.

Palythoa or Zoanthus?

Palythoa build sand and debris into their tissue and feel rough to the touch. Zoanthus do not. Hobbyists also note that Palythoa have a slit-shaped mouth and Zoanthus a round one. Palythoa usually feed more readily, too.

Read this before you handle one

Some Palythoa carry palytoxin, a very potent toxin. In one study of aquarium-trade colonies, several Palythoa were highly toxic, while the zoanthids tested were weakly toxic or not toxic at all. People have needed corneal transplants after getting it in their eyes, and have ended up in the hospital after scrubbing or boiling rock with Palythoa on it, which puts the toxin in the air.

• Wear gloves whenever you move or frag them, and eye protection when you frag.
• Never boil, scrub or pressure-wash live rock that has Palythoa or zoanthids on it.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after any contact.
• To clean a rock you are removing, soak it for 30 minutes in household bleach at 0.1% or stronger, which neutralizes the toxin.

Palythoa care, in numbers

• Light: moderate.
• Flow: moderate to high.
• Feeding: about twice a week. They take food more readily than zoanthids.

How fast they grow

Relatively fast, in a stable tank.

How it ships from Key West

Palythoa ship UPS Next Day Air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only, so no box sits in a hub over a weekend. We ship to the lower 48. We do not ship to Alaska or Hawaii.

• Shipping charge: $30 for qualifying Florida livestock orders under 6 lb, and $50 elsewhere in the lower 48. The shipping charge is per order.
• Free livestock transportation: on qualifying livestock subtotals of $349 or more. WYSIWYG pieces count toward the $349. Dry goods do not.
• Box & Handling Fee: $10 per livestock box, and it still applies on orders with free livestock transportation. A box carries up to 6 lb of packed livestock. Heavier orders go out in additional boxes, each with its own $10 fee.
• Live arrival: if something arrives dead, photograph the animal inside the unopened bag within 4 hours of UPS delivery confirmation and send it with your order number.

Keep reading

• Why Are My Zoanthids Not Opening? Causes, Pests and Palytoxin Safety
• Zoanthid Care for Beginners: Light, Flow, Feeding and Safety
• Zoanthids · All soft corals