Sonic Flare
Zoanthus sp.
Species profile
Rasta
Zoanthus sp.
Also sold as: Rastas, Rasta zoas
Rasta is a small, hardy zoanthid known for its rings of blue, yellow, and lime green.
Colors
Navy-blue to purple center, a yellow ring (sometimes with a thin orange-red band), a wide lime-green ring, a thin blue edge, and olive-green skirt
Care at a glance
Care level
Easy
Light
Medium
75-150 PAR
Flow
Moderate
Growth rate
Moderate
Placement
Lower to middle rockwork, or an isolated rock or frag plug
Temperature
75 to 80°F (24 to 27°C)
Salinity
1.024-1.026 specific gravity (about 32-35 ppt)
Feeding
Optional
Photosynthetic; optional fine particulate food once or twice a week
Care notes
Rasta polyps are small, typically about 3/16-1/4 inch (5-6 mm) across, so a frag looks busy and dense rather than bold. The appeal comes from colonies. A rock covered in Rastas reads as a sheet of concentric rings, with the green outer band doing most of the work from across the room. Under strong blue light the yellow and green fluoresce hard. Under whiter light the navy center looks almost black. Growth is steady rather than explosive, so it is easy to keep on a rock of its own. A Rasta that loses its yellow ring or turns muddy green is often getting too much light too quickly. Move it lower and give it a couple of weeks before deciding the color is gone.
⚠ Palytoxin safety
Like any zoanthid, Rasta may contain palytoxin, so treat it as toxic. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling or fragging, and wash up afterward.
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