Avalanche People Eater
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Northern Lights
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Northern Lights zoa, Northern Lights zoanthid
Northern Lights is a speckled collector zoanthid with fine white to orange-gold flecks on a dark purple face and a neon green-yellow skirt.
Colors
Dark purple to plum oral disc densely speckled with fine white to orange-gold flecks, a small blue to violet mouth, and a neon green to yellow skirt; tentacle tips can show lavender or purple
Care at a glance
Care level
Easy
Light
Medium
75-150 PAR
Flow
Moderate
Growth rate
Moderate
Placement
Lower to middle rockwork, ideally a spot near the front of the tank where the speckled faces can be seen up close
Temperature
75 to 80°F (24 to 27°C)
Salinity
1.024-1.026 specific gravity (about 32-35 ppt)
Feeding
Optional
Photosynthetic; optional fine particulate food once or twice a week
Care notes
Northern Lights is a collector morph, and the detail people pay for is the speckling. Each dark purple face is dusted with fine white to orange-gold flecks that shimmer against the blue mouth, framed by a bright green-yellow skirt. Under heavy blue light the skirt glows and the flecks look more metallic. Under whiter light the colors look warmer and less intense. It is often sold as single-polyp frags, so many keepers start with just one or two heads. Give a new frag time before judging its growth. The name has also been used for a different-looking morph over the years, so buy from photos of the actual colony. Keep it out of strong direct flow so the polyps open flat and show their full pattern.
⚠ Palytoxin safety
Like any zoanthid, Northern Lights may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
Photo gallery
