Hallucination
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Daisy Cutter
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Daisy Cutter zoa, Daisy Cutter zoanthid
Daisy Cutter is a zoanthid with an orange center, a star of cream-yellow petals, a navy face and long green tentacles.
Colors
Orange center around a small mouth; a star-shaped ring of cream to pale yellow petals; a navy-blue disc; and long, curling green tentacles
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 star-shaped centers 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 star of cream-yellow petals around an orange center is the feature, set on a navy face. The tentacles are long and curling, so each open polyp spreads wider than the face itself. Under strong blue light the colors look more intense, and under whiter light they look softer. Care values here are typical for zoanthids, not measured for this morph: medium light, moderate, indirect flow and steady water. Give a new frag time to settle before judging its growth or color, and if it starts to pale, move it lower rather than changing several things at once. Zoa trade names are used loosely, and colonies sold under this name can look different, so buy from photos of the actual colony.
⚠ Palytoxin safety
Like any zoanthid, Daisy Cutter may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
