Avalanche People Eater
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Hot Tamales
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Hot Tamales zoa, Hot Tamales zoanthid
Hot Tamales is a zoanthid with a glowing orange center, a striped red-orange band and short, dark maroon tentacles.
Colors
Glowing orange center with a brighter yellow-orange patch around a small, pale cream mouth; a thin, ragged dark maroon ring; a red-orange outer band with dense dark maroon radial lines; a thin maroon rim; and short, plump tentacles in deep maroon to near-black
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 glowing orange 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
Hot Tamales glows from the middle out: a bright orange center, a thin dark maroon ring, then a red-orange band streaked with dark lines, all inside a crowded ring of short, near-black maroon 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, Hot Tamales may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
