Citrus Cooler
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Cinder
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Cinder zoa, Cinder zoanthid
Cinder is a zoanthid with a deep blue center with an aqua mouth and a thick skirt of orange-red tentacles.
Colors
Deep blue center with a glowing aqua mouth; a narrow blue to purple disc; and a thick skirt of large, textured orange-red 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 orange skirts 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
Cinder is all contrast: a small, deep blue center with a glowing aqua mouth inside a thick skirt of large, orange-red tentacles, like an ember around a blue flame. 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, Cinder may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
