Green and Purple Paly

The Green and Purple Paly (Palythoa sp.) is a classic, hardy reef staple known for its massive polyp size, rapid encrusting growth, and striking color contrast. Featuring a broad, velvety forest-green to emerald oral disc centered around a bright green or white slit mouth, this morph is framed by a rich plum-purple or violet margin and ringed with long, tapered purple skirt tentacles that sway dramatically in the current.

Safety Warning: Like many Palythoa species, this coral can contain potent toxins (palytoxin) within its mucus and tissue. Always wear protective eyewear and gloves when handling, cutting, or scrubbing rocks containing Palys, and never boil or run hot tap water over them.

Coloration: Deep forest-green to emerald face disc, surrounded by a rich purple/violet margin and long, tapered purple skirt tentacles.

Growth Pattern: Colonial mat (rapidly forms large, fleshy polyps connected by a thick mat that encrusts over rockwork, overflow boxes, and bare glass). Sold as 2-3 polyps.

Lighting: Low to High (PAR 75–250; exceptionally adaptable to almost any lighting setup).

Water Flow: Moderate to Strong (Thrives in active flow that keeps its large polyps moving and clean).

Feeding: Highly carnivorous and photosynthetic; aggressively captures small pellets, mysis shrimp, and particulate coral feeds.

Aggressiveness: Semi-Aggressive (Fast growth rate and large polyps will easily crowd out and shade neighboring corals).

Care Level: Beginner / Very Easy (Virtually indestructible once established).