Introducing IDMyZoa

[enlighten]

Introducing IDMyZoa — A Community-Built Zoanthid Library (Early Concept Preview)​

Hey everyone!

I’m working on a project called IDMyZoa, and I’d love to involve the Reef2Reef community from the very beginning.

The idea is simple:

Build a community-moderated, Wikipedia-style platform dedicated entirely to zoanthids.​

A place where reefers can:

• Browse morphs
• Help identify unknown zoas
• Contribute photos and descriptors
• Compare lookalikes
• Record rarity, pricing trends, and “heat/hype” level
• Share notes and experiences
• Collaborate to keep information accurate and up-to-date

I’ve put together an early preview page here:
https://idmyzoa.com

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What I’m Building​

Each morph will eventually have its own page including:

Photos​

• Community gallery
• A primary “top-rated” image chosen by voters
• Variations across lighting/tanks

Descriptors (for ID help)​

• Skirt color
• Mouth color
• Inner/mid/outer ring colors
• Pattern (halo, speckled, splatter, solid, etc.)
• Size category (micro, standard, paly)

Care Information​

• Difficulty
• PAR range
• Flow preference
• Growth rate

Popularity Metrics​

• Price range ($–$$$)
• Rarity (common → high-end)
• “Heat level” (1–5 user-voted hype score)

Community Features​

• User-submitted edits
• Pending review system
• Confidence score (red/yellow/green)
• Lookalike linking
• Comments/experiences
• Contributor profiles & trust scores

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Submission & Review System​

This will be the heart of the platform.

Reefers can:

• Submit new morphs with name + photo
• Suggest edits to existing morphs
• Add descriptors missing from older entries
• Flag duplicates or questionable data
• Upvote/downvote corrections
• Collaboratively improve accuracy over time

Everything starts in Pending Review, and the community decides what becomes “Published.”

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I Need YOUR Input​

Before development goes too far, I’d really appreciate your insights.

Here’s what I’d love feedback on:​

1. What fields matter most when identifying zoas?
2. How strict should we be on naming, duplicates, or lookalikes?
3. Would you contribute photos or data if profiles tracked contributions?
4. Should the “heat/hype” score be based on votes or market trends?
5. What potential problems do you see (fake names, price pumping, etc.)?
6. Would you use a tool that filters by color traits to ID morphs?
7. Would you want articles and care guides included later on?

And of course:
What features would make this something you would use?

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Early Access​

If you'd like to help test features or contribute early morph entries, just follow this thread I’ll keep you updated when the beta is ready.

Thanks for taking a look and helping shape IDMyZoa!
This will be fully open, community-driven, and built with hobbyists in mind.
Let’s make something awesome together.


— Kris

 

[Hunna’s Stunnas]

I’ll provide pictures for ones I have, it will be hard to find better quality pictures than what a TG series can provide

 

[enlighten]

I’ll provide pictures for ones I have, it will be hard to find better quality pictures than what a TG series can provide

Stunning photos! Trying to describe some these with simple descriptors is going to be difficult.

 

[enlighten]

My host ssl took too long to verify but its all working! I need some tips for taking better pics!

 

[RedFrog211]

I love the idea! Morphs will make it a bit difficult, but I think it’s worth a shot. Will we include blue and white light for each?

 

[Hunna’s Stunnas]

My host ssl took too long to verify but its all working! I need some tips for taking better pics!

What are you using to take pictures with?

 

[bcbomb47]

What's the status of this site? I've been looking for something like this to help ID some Zoas I have.

 

[ShanePike]

Check out www.zoaid.org

 

[bcbomb47]

Check out www.zoaid.org

Oh perfect! Thank you! I've seen other websites that just show pictures and names but no color filter. This is exactly what I was looking for. :)

 

[enlighten]

What are you using to take pictures with?

Working on an app version and web. Slow but going process

 

[Hunna’s Stunnas]

Working on an app version and web. Slow but going process

You asked for tips on taking pictures, which is why I asked that question.

I’ve got loads of zoa pictures I’ll gladly let you use, all I’d ask for is credit for the picture.

 

[enlighten]

You asked for tips on taking pictures, which is why I asked that question.

I’ve got loads of zoa pictures I’ll gladly let you use, all I’d ask for is credit for the picture.

looks awesome! Will get an mvp going ASAP!