Hallucination
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Tyree Space Monster
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Tyree Space Monsters, Tyree Space Monster zoa
Tyree Space Monster is a large-polyp zoanthid with a glittery magenta-pink face, a small blue mouth, and long lime-green tentacles mottled with dark purple.
Colors
Magenta-pink to purple oral disc densely dusted with tiny pale pink to white specks that give it a glittery look; a small blue to violet slit mouth, often with a dark purple streak running across the face through the mouth; and long, rounded lime to yellow-green tentacles mottled with dark purple to brown, mainly toward the base
Care at a glance
Care level
Moderate
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
Mostly light-fed, with optional fine foods once or twice a week.
Photosynthetic; optional fine particulate food once or twice a week
Care notes
The contrast is the draw here: a pink face packed with fine pale specks inside a ring of long, lime-green tentacles. The polyps get large for a zoa, so a small frag still makes an impression. Reports vary: many keepers find it hardy and quick to spread once it settles, but some have seen the polyps melt, especially after fragging, so keep conditions steady and let a new piece settle before you cut it. Under strong blue light the pink looks more intense, and under whiter light it looks softer. Face color runs from pink to purple between colonies and photos, and some colonies have more yellow in the tentacles. A few similar pink-faced, green-skirted zoas, such as Strawberry Wine and one sold simply as Space Monster, are sold as separate morphs, and the names sometimes get mixed up, so buy from photos of the actual colony. Moderate, indirect flow keeps detritus off the faces but isn’t so strong that the polyps stay closed.
⚠ Palytoxin safety
Like any zoanthid, Tyree Space Monster may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Some sellers list it as a Palythoa, which are generally considered more toxic, so wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, never frag it out of water, wash up afterward, and see the Palytoxin Safety guide first.
