Please help ID this Zoa

[Isaac Alves]

 

[CrunchyBananas]

I believe I see those called Pandora's Paly, super fast and aggressive growers

 

[Isaac Alves]

Aggressive and fast growing would characterize these guys....I really need to frag them up. That was only one picture to help with the ID. The stalks get big too.

 

[CrunchyBananas]

Definitely sounds like them, searching Pandora's Palythoa will come up with more results. Alos, careful fragging these guys, they can carry palytoxin, so try and keep them under water. Many hobbyisits like to make fun of those overly cautious around palythoa, but I got a light dose from a large colony and that toxin is no joke, better to be safe than sorry!

 

[Isaac Alves]

I believe I see those called Pandora's Paly, super fast and aggressive growers

Definitely sounds like them, searching Pandora's Palythoa will come up with more results. Alos, careful fragging these guys, they can carry palytoxin, so try and keep them under water. Many hobbyisits like to make fun of those overly cautious around palythoa, but I got a light dose from a large colony and that toxin is no joke, better to be safe than sorry!

Definitely.

Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate the ID as well.


Cheers,
Isaac

 

[C. Eymann]

I dont know the comic book name but
That's not real Palythoa sp. They may call it pandora palys, but they aren't really Palythoa sp.

Just sayying

That is a Zoanthid, maybe Z. gigantus?

 

[UCF Alum]

@isaacalves

here’s my grown out colony for reference. As stated above, they are Pandora’s

 

[C. Eymann]

@isaacalves

here’s my grown out colony for reference. As stated above, they are Pandora’s

Beautiful, and I do understand that they are referred to in the trade as "pandora palys" but it is incorrect, they are not true palythoa, like the people eater "palys" are all Zoanthus. gigantus, also, Armour of the gods "palys"- is actually believed to be Zoanthus kuroshio


Comic book names are great and all, they definitely have their place when describing color morphs and the collectabilty aspect of it has grown the hobby, which is great.
But when the comic book names start leading to misidentification problems, it's a pet peeve I guess, lol

 

[Isaac Alves]

Beautiful, and I do understand that they are referred to in the trade as "pandora palys" but it is incorrect, they are not true palythoa, like the people eater "palys" are all Zoanthus. gigantus, also, Armour of the gods "palys"- is actually believed to be Zoanthus kuroshio


Comic book names are great and all, they definitely have their place when describing color morphs and the collectabilty aspect of it has grown the hobby, which is great.
But when the comic book names start leading to misidentification problems, it's a pet peeve I guess, lol

Great info clarification.
Thank you

 

[UCF Alum]

Beautiful, and I do understand that they are referred to in the trade as "pandora palys" but it is incorrect, they are not true palythoa, like the people eater "palys" are all Zoanthus. gigantus, also, Armour of the gods "palys"- is actually believed to be Zoanthus kuroshio


Comic book names are great and all, they definitely have their place when describing color morphs and the collectabilty aspect of it has grown the hobby, which is great.
But when the comic book names start leading to misidentification problems, it's a pet peeve I guess, lol

I just know them as Pandora’s. Whether or not they are true plays, I don’t know. I just said in my post above that they are “Pandora’s.” I’ll take you at your word on it though as I’m not really a big zoa guy but rather an Acro freak!

 

[C. Eymann]

I just know them as Pandora’s. Whether or not they are true plays, I don’t know. I just said in my post above that they are “Pandora’s.” I’ll take you at your word on it though as I’m not really a big zoa guy but rather an Acro freak!

I'm a stick head myself

 

[VA5]

All have palyotoxin which as stated is extremely dangerous (I read second deadliest toxin LD50 by weight). Use gloves and eye wear, do all fragging under water and never boil any instrument or rock exposed to them. I recently changed tanks and simply gave my LFS (who did the install) the palys and the live rock they were attached to, some 20lb plus live pieces
As far as classification who cares, palys, Zoe’s ect all extremely similar and phylogeny matters very little

 

[C. Eymann]

All have palyotoxin which as stated is extremely dangerous (I read second deadliest toxin LD50 by weight). Use gloves and eye wear, do all fragging under water and never boil any instrument or rock exposed to them. I recently changed tanks and simply gave my LFS (who did the install) the palys and the live rock they were attached to, some 20lb plus live pieces
As far as classification who cares, palys, Zoe’s ect all extremely similar and phylogeny matters very little

While precautions should be taken with all coral


Studies have shown many species of zoanthus contain undetectable/not present levels of palytoxin, even some species of palythoa were found to be devoid of it.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Ok. So that pattern above is commonly called (comic book name ) Pandora “Paly” but really these are not Palys but Zoas

Genus: Zoanthus
Species: Gigantus
Binomial Name: Zoanthus Gigantus
Common names: “Pandora”,...

From what I’ve been reading these are definitely Zoas because of incorporating a non-sediment connective tissue. These particular Pandoras definitely have smoother skin and are connected using this connected tissue.

A good reference article:
https://saltyunderground.com/category/identifying-zoanthus-palythoa-and-protopalythoa