What it looks like. Colonial polyps in flat mats, each polyp a flat disc with short tentacles around the rim. Available in hundreds of named color morphs — from common greens and oranges to designer "Eagle Eye," "Utter Chaos," and "Sunny D" varieties.

In your tank. Beginner-friendly and forgiving. Colonies spread by budding new polyps from the base mat. Polyps close in response to stress, irritation from nearby corals, or sudden parameter changes — don't panic if a new frag stays closed for a few days.

Placement and care. Variable light and flow tolerated; color expression depends heavily on placement. Higher light intensifies reds and oranges; lower light favors greens and blues. Caution: handle with gloves and eye protection — related Palythoa species contain palytoxin, and the line between safe Zoanthus and toxic Palythoa isn't always visually clear.

Sourcing and feeding. Captive-propagated frags universally available across a huge price range ($10 for common morphs to $500+ for designer single polyps). Photosynthetic; benefits from occasional target feeding of phytoplankton or amino acids for color expression.