Palythoa grandis

Palythoa grandis, the giant green palythoa, grows some of the largest polyps of any zoanthid — broad, fleshy discs that open wide under moderate light. The farm piece photographed here shows the classic saturated green oral disc with a darker centre and a frilled skirt edge.

Care

Hardy and fast growing for a palythoa. Low to medium light and medium flow suit it; it tolerates a range of nutrient levels and will pale if light is pushed too hard. Give it room — it is aggressive, spreads over neighbouring rock, and like other Palythoa should be handled with care.