Paly or zoa

[TDDredge]

the frag on the left is definitely a zoa, what about the frag on the right, is that a paly? These are my first frags so I'm a rookie.

 

[KingTideCorals]

Looks like zoas to me! Closer pictures and possibly could ID, thinking Citrus Coolers tho!

Nice frags. Welcome to the zoa life! LOL

 

[TDDredge]

Looks like zoas to me! Closer pictures and possibly could ID, thinking Citrus Coolers tho!

Nice frags. Welcome to the zoa life! LOL

Okay cool. I couldn't tell since the tendrils were so much longer. What is the difference between the two then? Yeah I like the fruit loops to the left. I want a big zoa garden on my central rock work.

 

[KingTideCorals]

As good of an explanation that can be made in simple terms and time LOL...

Generally speaking, zoas have smaller, more colorful polyps, palys have larger, duller polyps, and protopalys have polyps on stalks that have more tentacles than the others and they do not grow from a thick mat. However, this is not always true, and the oral discs may be of different sizes in the same colony.

 

[Fishurama]

They look like tinkerbell zoas. @ReeferBlaine Is also correct above, except for there is also zoanthus gigantus, which looks like a paly, but is shorter. For example look up Purple people eaters. The original "people eaters"(among others) were zoanthus gigantus but people started naming palys after them too.

Tinkerbell

 

[TDDredge]

As good of an explanation that can be made in simple terms and time LOL...

Generally speaking, zoas have smaller, more colorful polyps, palys have larger, duller polyps, and protopalys have polyps on stalks that have more tentacles than the others and they do not grow from a thick mat. However, this is not always true, and the oral discs may be of different sizes in the same colony.

Some of the palys do fluoresce though, correct? I'm trusting all of your judgement, just trying to learn.

 

[Fishurama]

Some of the palys do fluoresce though, correct? I'm trusting all of your judgement, just trying to learn.

Yes some palys really do shine through. Utter chaos, one of the most sought after high end palythoa(some places label them a zoa), really stands out. Many others do as well, use google, but be prepared when you see prices LOL. It really will shock you how expensive these suckers can get.