X-Men

X-Men is a Palythoa strain with a blue-purple face ringed in orange to yellow, the warm ring framing the cooler disc of each polyp. As a Palythoa it has the larger, stouter polyp form typical of the group compared with small-polyp Zoanthus, forming a robust mat over rock. It is a Tier 3 collector name, grown for its two-tone contrast — blue-purple against a fiery rim — which reads clearly even at a distance.

Care

Place it in medium lighting with medium flow in the bottom to middle of the tank. Keep flow through the mat, nutrients measurable — zoanthids and palythoa sulk in ultra-clean water — and alkalinity stable. Rated intermediate in difficulty, it settles well in a mature system. Handle with gloves and eye protection when fragging (palytoxin caution).

Keeping and spread

Growth is moderate and mat-forming; the colony encrusts outward and can smother slower neighbours, so give it about 2 in of space or its own rock island. Aggression is moderate. To frag, cut through the thick mat between polyps and mount the section, taking the palytoxin precautions noted above and allowing frags moderate light and flow while they heal.