Named zoas/palys, factors that affect color variations

[JoJosReef]

Interested if there are any zoa/paly experts here who know about factors in our tanks that might affect coloration of our fancy zoas. As an example, let's take the White Zombie Paly.
My new frag:

Variations in color from a google images search:

Questions for you zoaholics in the know:

1. Can our lighting (spectrum, intensity) affect the color?

2. Nutrients? Water parameters? Specific fish poop?

3. Do colors of the same frag change in different tanks?

4. Is the color driven primarily by lineage (e.g. Cornbred White Zombies vs. local reefer's White Zombies)?

5. Is it all just vendors saturating/editing their photos?

I'd love to know what plays a role in the color variation and if it is something we can modify. Would love for mine to have a bit more white or white speckling than red (but I still like mine).

Thanks!

 

[encrustingacro]

As an example, let's take the White Zombie Paly.
My new frag:

Variations in color from a google images search:

“White Zombies” are not Palythoa, but Zoanthus gigantus.

The variations in color in Zoanthus that you’re showing are most likely just vendors calling similar-looking strains by the same name; they may not necessarily come from an original colony. Zoa coloration can vary depending on lighting spectrum, water parameters, and feeding; however, coloration should not change so much that the zoa becomes a different color morph entirely.

 

[JoJosReef]

“White Zombies” are not Palythoa, but Zoanthus gigantus.

The variations in color in Zoanthus that you’re showing are most likely just vendors calling similar-looking strains by the same name; they may not necessarily come from an original colony. Zoa coloration can vary depending on lighting spectrum, water parameters, and feeding; however, coloration should not change so much that the zoa becomes a different color morph entirely.

Thanks for the clarification. So we can be sure that my white zombies at the top will never look like the first pic from the google search. Guess I'll have to be on the lookout for whiter white zombies!

 

[jackson6745]

When I had my white zombies under leds they had that whitish look to them. They changed to this over the last 6 weeks being under t5/halide.

 

[JoJosReef]

@jackson6745
Mine when I got them Sept 14th:

And yesterday:

Definitely seeing some variation in the color and patterns!

 

[littlebigreef]

White zombies are part of the agave family which collectively morph like crazy. Par, wave length, nutrition, and water chemistry all factor in to how a specific strain presents. Lineage also plays a role as some are more ‘bullet proof’ than others.