Indo-Pacific and Caribbean; shallow, sunny reef flats
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Moderate to high
Flow
Medium
Care
An unusual zoanthid with long, bumpy, finger-like polyps that often lie along the rock, so it looks a little like a snake. Polyps are usually green, brown or mottled, and often open mostly at night. Neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists this species; the figures are general guidance for the genus, not from a source. Placement: middle of the rockwork. Light and flow: moderate to high light and medium flow. Water: stable reef conditions; iodine and trace elements. Growth: slow. Safety: zoanthids and palythoa can contain palytoxin, a very potent toxin. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging them, keep cuts away from the tissue, and never boil, scrub or pressure-wash rock that carries them. Sources: none (neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists it). Checked October 2026.
Diet
Photosynthetic; fine foods occasionally.
Breeding
Rarely fragged; cut polyps from the shared base with a scalpel.
Compatibility and tank mates
Peaceful; give some space.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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