Hot Tamales
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Blue Kiss
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Blue Kiss zoa, Blue Kiss zoanthid
Blue Kiss is a zoanthid with a soft mauve to purple center, a wide aqua-blue band and short gray-teal tentacles.
Colors
Mauve to purple center around a small pale mouth; a wide, glowing aqua to sky-blue outer band; and short, stubby gray-teal 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 aqua bands 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
Blue Kiss is a softer-colored morph: a mauve to purple center inside a wide, glowing band of aqua to sky blue, with short, stubby gray-teal tentacles. 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, Blue Kiss may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
