Possibly Zoas AND Palys In This Colony?

[Radreefer]

Hi all,
I recently got this colony that was sold as zoanthids. As you can see from the photo the majority of the polyps are green while some polyps are mostly red. I thought there might be a chance that the red portion is actually Palys, not zoanthids. I was really trying to avoid having Palys in my tank so hopefully, you all can help ID these buggers.

Thanks!

 

[SHNICI]

Zoas only I think

EDIT:
Reading more about (never read that much about the Zoas and the Palys, only about the toxin they produce), I'll say, that are Zoas and/or Palythoas, can't confirm for sure (Check posts 3-5).

 

[rkpetersen]

Distinguishing zoas from palys is much more difficult than most people think.
Conclusive criteria for one vs the other are elusive.
Both are frequently misidentified as the other by sellers, and then the errors propagate forward.

 

[SHNICI]

Hi all,
I recently got this colony that was sold as zoanthids. As you can see from the photo the majority of the polyps are green while some polyps are mostly red. I thought there might be a chance that the red portion is actually Palys, not zoanthids. I was really trying to avoid having Palys in my tank so hopefully, you all can help ID these buggers.

Thanks!

Distinguishing zoas from palys is much more difficult than most people think.
Conclusive criteria for one vs the other are elusive.
Both are frequently misidentified as the other by sellers, and then the errors propagate forward.

That's right, usually the disk size and shape, the tentacles pointed or typed, the look and the appearance the colors they have..., no one can 100% confirm is it palythoa or zoanthid .

 

[SHNICI]

I just prepare this links for you, to get some clue, but no one can give it to be honest with you:

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3 (I'll say the last one completely look like zoanthid but they say its Paly, then who is right and who isn't can't say).

 

[Saltyreef]

There are only a few types of true palythoa. These are 100% zoanthid

 

[SHNICI]

There are only a few types of true palythoa. These are 100% zoanthid

what's the way to 100% confirm it, if you know, please let me know, because for example friend of mine is dealing with, but I never look after them that much (because can get really big trouble (like he got few times digging in his tank and disturbing them), because they are more dangerous than most of the corals (if you get them to point to realize the palytoxin and if you get the stronger concentration which like I know the palys have/produce )?

 

[Saltyreef]

Im just confident with my crystal ball

Same class, same order, different family.

description of Palythoa

"The tentacles' shape and size can vary considerably between species, and even between colonies of the same species. Their colors are also highly variable, with relatively dull shades like cream, coffee, white, brown, or yellow, being the most common. Fluorescent colored colonies also exist, but these are more rare."

Its also a HIGHLY debatable subject lol.

I believe these to be Zoanthidae family though.

 

[SHNICI]

Im just confident with my crystal ball

Same class, same order, different family.

description of Palythoa

"The tentacles' shape and size can vary considerably between species, and even between colonies of the same species. Their colors are also highly variable, with relatively dull shades like cream, coffee, white, brown, or yellow, being the most common. Fluorescent colored colonies also exist, but these are more rare."

Its also a HIGHLY debatable subject lol.

I believe these to be Zoanthidae family though.

I see, you are probably right, for me is under question, after I read and looking at this PALYs...:

$2,425 two-polyp Palythoa frag sale reminds us that zoanthid collectors mean business | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

As many of us have witnessed, there are lots of coral ‘fads’ that have come and gone over the years. From the early-on craze over the Australian Acan Lords to the tiniest little frag of a Rainbow…

reefbuilders.com

 

[Cell]

Ignore the name. Both zoanthids and palythoas can have palytoxin, so it's not like just avoiding palythoa's means you are in the clear. Use universal precaution when handling all zoa's and paly's.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I call them all zoas