Coral question

[RayAllen]

This is probably a horrible question but to this day it some what confuses me. What is the diffrence between a Zoa polyp aka button polyp and a paly? Is there any diffrence at all. In my tank I have both zoas and palys; the only diffrence I see is that my red and phoenix palys tubes are longer and the heads are bigger. And my assorted green zoas and eagle eye zoas tend to have smaller heads and are almost flat against the rocks. :wacko I hate going into a store or looking in a tank and not knowing to call something a zoa or paly. Someone please clarify this for me.

Ray

[erikharrison]

You are pretty much right as far as your description. I couldn't tell you the technical reasons though!

[RayAllen]

Well thats good to know. Its funny that there is no true scientific/technical reason why one is called a zoa and the other a paly. I just wanted to know what you guys thought.

[apedroza]

Also alot of Paly's tend to have much larger skirts (tentacles) Also Ive noticed that palys also don't colonize as closely as zoas do.

[glennr1978]

I could be wrong on this one, but I think another one of the differences is that zoo's are a matting coral. When they spread they are all still connected to a thin layer of tissue or "mat". I've never had any paly's but I think the grow individually.

[erikharrison]

I could be wrong on this one, but I think another one of the differences is that zoo's are a matting coral. When they spread they are all still connected to a thin layer of tissue or "mat". I've never had any paly's but I think the grow individually.

Palys do grow together as well. :) Essentially Palys are just large zoas, but I would too like to know any other differences!

[caferacermike]

I was under the impression that zoa share their feet and Paly's/buttons are autonomous, once grown not sharing any part of the colony.

[RayAllen]

im glad i started this thread because its giving my all sorts of great info. caferacermike I think you are right about palys them being seperate.