Zoa and Palys

[Minhle100]

can someone please explain to me the difference between these two. i have seen what looks like a zoa being called a palys and vise versa. thanks

[jjmcat]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/jjmcat/2003_0320Image0005.jpg

Palys are normaly larger in size.Search around and there are several threads on the differences.Another thing is that my palys will eat small shrimp where my zoas wont.




http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/jjmcat/2003_0207Image0008.jpg

[russ49merc]

and is it true that nudi branchs won't mess with paly's?

[dragonladylea]

jjmcat - are those yours? Do you ever frag them?

[SDguy]

I've been wondering for a while, and since I saw this thread I figured what better place to ask....when did large zoanthids start being called palythoa? I remember years ago only palythoa was that stuff that grows connected, like this:
http://www.edge-of-reef.com/anemoni/ESApalithoa21.jpg

Only occassionally for sale, usually brown/tan...rarely nice green.

[jjmcat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8561239#post8561239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I've been wondering for a while, and since I saw this thread I figured what better place to ask....when did large zoanthids start being called palythoa? I remember years ago only palythoa was that stuff that grows connected, like this:
http://www.edge-of-reef.com/anemoni/ESApalithoa21.jpg

Only occassionally for sale, usually brown/tan...rarely nice green.

Those are palythoa.The larger polyp was called the protopalythoa.

[jjmcat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8560659#post8560659 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dragonladylea
jjmcat - are those yours? Do you ever frag them?

Yes they are mine and I have fragged them a few times.

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8564102#post8564102 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjmcat
Those are palythoa.The larger polyp was called the protopalythoa.

:confused: OK. So with respect to the OP original question, you posted pics of protopalythoa and zoanthus, no palythoa. Isn't "paly" short for palythoa, or am I confusing it with something else?

EDIT: Never mind, I found a good explanantion:

http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0198/0198_1.html

Oh, and here:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/invert.htm

[russ49merc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8560618#post8560618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by russ49merc
and is it true that nudi branchs won't mess with paly's?

has anyone ever heard this before?

[SDguy]

Well, there's pretty much a nudi for every cnidarian (even free swimming ones that feed on jellies) so it stands to reason that, while many zoa nudi's may not cross over and feed on other polyps, there are probably protopaly and paly nudis out there.