Purple Hornet
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Ice Breaker
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Ice Breaker zoa, Ice Breaker zoanthid
Ice Breaker is a zoanthid with a bright white center, a vivid orange ring and mustard-yellow tentacles.
Colors
Bright white center with a faint lavender-pink tint around a tiny dark slit mouth; a thin, ragged navy ring; a vivid orange to red-orange outer ring with faint radial streaks; a thin dark navy-purple rim; and mustard-yellow tentacles with dark navy-purple bases
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 white 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
Ice Breaker is built around a big, bright white center, framed by a thin, ragged navy ring and a vivid orange ring, with long mustard-yellow tentacles around the outside. 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, Ice Breaker may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
