Eagle Eye Zoanthid

Eagle Eye Zoanthids (Zoanthus sp.) are a distinct color morph named for the ringed, eye-like pattern in each polyp's oral disc — a green outer ring with a contrasting gold or yellow center that produces an unmistakably ocular effect, particularly visible under blue-heavy lighting when the green fluoresces. Like all zoanthid colonies, what looks like individual flowers is actually a field of genetically identical clonal polyps connected by a shared tissue mat, budding off new heads as the colony spreads across rock.

Care-wise, zoanthids are about as forgiving as reef corals get — they tolerate a genuine range of lighting from low PAR shaded spots to moderate-high output, handle variable flow, and tend to outcompete nuisance algae for real estate once established. That tolerance makes them an excellent starting coral for someone entering the reef hobby, and an excellent space-filler for established systems building out rock coverage.

One caution that applies to the entire Zoanthus and Palythoa family: some individuals and species produce palytoxin — one of the more potent marine toxins known. The risk during normal care is low but real. Handle frags with gloves, keep hands away from eyes and mouth during maintenance, and don't squirt zoanthids with a baster or jet of water that could aerosolize tank water near your face.

Scientific name: Zoanthus sp. (Eagle Eye morph)
Origin: Indo-Pacific and Caribbean — shallow reef crests, rubble zones, and rock surfaces across tropical seas
Water parameters: Temp 74–82°F · Salinity 1.023–1.026 · pH 8.1–8.4 · Alkalinity 8–11 dKH
Lighting: Highly adaptable — 50–250 µmol PAR; color shows best at moderate intensity under blue-heavy spectrum
Flow: Low to moderate
Diet: Photosynthetic; benefits from fine particulate feeding (Reef Roids, phytoplankton)
Husbandry note: Zoanthids that stay closed during the day aren't necessarily unhappy — they close in response to water flow changes, handling, and chemistry shifts. Give them 24–48 hours to acclimate after placement before interpreting extended closure as a problem.