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Eagle Eye
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Illuminati
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Illuminati zoa, Illuminati zoanthid
Illuminati is a zoanthid with rows of orange to golden-yellow dots on a magenta-purple to plum face, a lime-green mouth, and orange-patched tentacles.
Colors
Magenta-purple to plum oral disc with fine radial ridges, covered in rows of small, bright orange to golden-yellow dots that radiate from the center and get finer near the mouth; a soft lavender haze around a bright lime-green slit mouth; and magenta to plum tentacles with orange to gold patches near the tips and lavender rims in places
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 dotted faces 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
On Illuminati, the dot pattern is what sets it apart. Rows of small orange to golden dots radiate across a magenta-purple to plum face toward a bright lime-green mouth, and the tentacles carry matching orange to gold patches near their tips. Under strong blue light the colors look more intense, and under whiter light they look softer. It is often sold as single polyps or small frags, so give a new piece time to settle before judging its growth. Face color ranges from magenta-purple to deep red between colonies and photos, with the same dot pattern, so buy from photos of the actual colony. Moderate, indirect flow keeps detritus off the faces but isn’t so strong that the polyps stay closed.
⚠ Palytoxin safety
Like any zoanthid, Illuminati may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
