Grandis Palythoa (Palythoa grandis), often called the “Cinnamon Grandis” or “Giant Paly,” is the titan of the zoanthid world. These are some of the largest polyps available in the hobby, with a single head often reaching the size of a half-dollar coin. Known for their intricate, fan-like “eyelash” tentacles and deeply textured, mottled discs, Grandis Palys bring a prehistoric and dramatic presence to the reef. They are incredibly hardy and, unlike smaller zoas, they exhibit a very clear and aggressive feeding response, making them a joy to watch during maintenance.
Coloration: Purple and green tenatcles circling a neon green base then a purple center
Size: 1-2 polyps (exceptionally large compared to standard zoanthids)
Lighting: Low to moderate (prefers lower placement; they can bleach if moved too quickly into high-par zones)
Water flow: Medium (needs enough flow to prevent detritus from settling in their deep cups)
Feeding: Highly predatory; benefits significantly from regular target feeding of mysis shrimp, chopped seafood, or large LPS pellets
Aggressiveness: Semi-aggressive (fast-growing and can shade out smaller corals; contains potent palytoxin)
Care Level: Easy
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