Can anyone identify this species?

[Gunny]

Hello, I'm new to the hobby and so far everything is going well. I have a 40g tank and when I purchased my live rocks I noticed there was some sort of coral already growing on one of the rocks....can anyone help me to identify It?

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

It appears to be a cinnamon brown Zoanthid population growing. Are the centers green or are they also brown? I can't quite tell. Also, did you buy a frag of that or did it just start appearing?

 

[Eastlake]

brown palythoa or more commonly called button polyp. They're EXTREMELY durable and some consider them a pest as they can grow like gangbusters and can be toxic (read anything you can about palytoxins). With the paly toxins though you don't have to worry so long as you're being safe and aren't scrubbing, cutting, scraping, violently disturbing them in tank or open air because that's when the problems start. But, if kept responsibly there is no reason that palytoxin poisoning should ever occur so don't let my "warning" freak you out. Aside from that though aren't surprise hitchhikers the best?!

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

It appears to be a cinnamon brown Zoanthid population growing. Are the centers green or are they also brown? I can't quite tell. Also, did you buy a frag of that or did it just start appearing?

Brown palythoa! My bad!

 

[Gunny]

Thanks everyone. The center is Brown and no I didn't buy them. There was one tiny one on the rock I purchased and now they are flourishing. I'll keep my eye on them so they don't take over. Thanks again.....i will surly have more questions.

 

[Gunny]

brown palythoa or more commonly called button polyp. They're EXTREMELY durable and some consider them a pest as they can grow like gangbusters and can be toxic (read anything you can about palytoxins). With the paly toxins though you don't have to worry so long as you're being safe and aren't scrubbing, cutting, scraping, violently disturbing them in tank or open air because that's when the problems start. But, if kept responsibly there is no reason that palytoxin poisoning should ever occur so don't let my "warning" freak you out. Aside from that though aren't surprise hitchhikers the best?!

Absolutely. Thanks

 

[Gunny]

It appears to be a cinnamon brown Zoanthid population growing. Are the centers green or are they also brown? I can't quite tell. Also, did you buy a frag of that or did it just start appearing?

There was one on the rock I purchased and now they are flourishing. Thanks Kelsey

 

[Myk Verified Sponsor]

Semper Fi Gunny! Welcome aboard!

 

[neupane00]

Brown paly.i hate them !