Polyps

All photos © www.livestockusa.org, 2003-2007

Different Green Button Polyps

Glove Polyps

There are so many cool
types of polyps that are
very easy to keep and grow.
All are colonial or
semi-colonial. The two
main types are those
that grow with connecting
material (tissue) at their
bases and those that grow
as independent, single
animals, not connected
into a large mass.

Though many types superficially
resemble each other, they are often
not closely related. Most are
octocorals, soft corals without a
calcerous skeleton. There are
the Star Polyps (which are white,
green, metallic, or brown) of the
genus Pachyclavularia; the Sand
Polyps, which are usually Zooanthids
or Parazooanthids (which can be
green, red, or yellow); and (brown or
green) Button Polyps (Palythoa and
Protopalythoa); the Daisy and Glove
or Clove Polyps (Clavularia); and, the
rare Pacific Briareum, and others.

Glove Polyps

Star Polyps

They all share one thing
in common ... they are
easy to keep!

And, they all will do
well under less than halide
light ... that is 50-50's
and actinics, compact
fluorescents, HO and VHO,
will all suit them just fine.
Water flow and movement
is more important, as
is often the case.

White and Green Star Polyps

Note, that even amongst
similar-appearing star polyps,
there is tremendous variation of
form and, actually, undoubtedly,
many species involved.

There are short-tentacled and
long-stalked types; long-tentacled
and short-stalked varieties;
colored tentacled, stalked,
or centered types.

Star Polyps

White Star Polyps

Most polyps are shipped to
the U.S. dry, out of water.
This is because they are
attached to big heavy rocks
that weigh a lot already.
They often live in tidal
areas where they are dry
for part of their day routinely.
Star, Button, and Sand Polyps,
as well as Yellow Polyps are
all shipped from across the
Pacific out of water.
Some are wrapped in wet
newspaper, some are not.
There are virtually
no DOA's whatsoever.
If only everything in
water shipped so well!
Clove or Glove and
Daisy Polyps must be
shipped in water though.

Yellow Polyps

Star Polyps

So, here we offer a selection of photographs
of the different types of polyps that are widely
available. Hopefully this can help you
identify them as well as see their beauty too.

Timor Sand Polyps

Briareum (partially closed)

Briareum (open)

Glove Polyps (w/ Lemnalia soft coral)

Green Daisy Polyps

Button Polyps

If you are interested in learning about ordering
an assortment of polyps (along with other coral
varieties), please refer to our Corals Information page
for more details. Polyp colonies or polyp rocks are
generally a piece that is approx. 3 x 5" to 4 x 6",
with usually a hundred or even often a couple of
hundred of polyps (depending on the type of polyps.)

Polyps add beauty and color to a saltwater
aquarium or mini reef, are easily cared for and admired.

Enjoy your polyps!

Assorted Polyps