Cinnamon Brown Zoanthid

Description

The cinnamon brown zoanthid, Protopalythoa grandiflora , is a very hardy zoanthid that is somewhat uncommon in Florida. Each of the polyps will expand to about 0.75 inches of an inch in diameter and will be a dark, cinnamon brown color. These are very hardy zoanthids that come from deeper water, so they will do well with low to moderate light conditions. They are occasionally found in very shallow water too, so they can also take intense light.

We take all of our pictures in sunlight with a standard flash, so they are not jazzed up by some sort of funky lighting. This is what they actually look like in the wild, so that’s about what they will look like when they leave our warehouse.  Once in your system, the colors may look slightly different and may even change over time as the zooxanthellae adjust to your lighting conditions. In general with these zoanthids, stronger light will turn them a darker brown and more  subdued light will turn them a lighter brown. Some polyps will even pick up a fluorescent green color on their oral disk under some lighting conditions, so be prepared for some possible pleasant
surprises after a few months.

Zoanthids are partially photosynthetic and partially detritus feeders.  Since this species is from deeper water, in the wild it relies mainly on a daily shower of sediment and detritus, so you’ll need to regularly dust them with some sort of fine particle food to keep them in optimal health. This species will grow quickly by budding at the base, and will quickly attach to whatever you put it on. The colony will not be attached to any significant substrate and can easily be pulled apart and made into several smaller colonies. They also ship real well by priority mail, so this is a great way to try some different zoanthids.

Single: 1 polyp, and maybe a few more than that.

Nano: This cluster will contain at least 5 polyps, and maybe a few more than that.

Small: This cluster will contain at least 15 polyps, and maybe a few more than that.

Large: This cluster will contain at least 30 polyps, and maybe a few more than that.

Care should be taken when handling any zoanthid, ricordea, mushroom coral, or sea anemone because they use stinging cells called nematocysts to sting and capture their food, and these cells can cause skin irritation and eye damage if it gets on you or in your eyes.  The mucus of some of these animals also contains strong toxins that can cause severe skin irritations and permanent eye damage if handled improperly.  Use latex type gloves and protective glasses when handling or fragging these species.