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The Nightmare Zoanthids (Zoanthus sp., often "OG Nightmare" lineage) are a captivating, aquacultured strain of colonial soft corals with a cult following in the reef aquarium hobby, renowned for their intense, high-contrast patterns that live up to their ominous name while adding a bold, textured element to rockscapes.
Structure: Forms tight, low-profile clusters of 3-6 (or more) polyps that encrust and spread into a carpet-like mat across surfaces, with each polyp featuring a rounded oral disk that extends into a dome shape under favorable conditions—typically smaller than average zoas but larger than micros.
Coloration: Dominated by a deep, nearly black body and skirts speckled with vivid red dots or patterns that extend all the way to the center (without a green slit like similar strains), creating a dramatic, bonfire-spark effect; under actinic or blue-enriched lighting, the reds fluoresce brilliantly for an eerie, glowing contrast. Variants like KO Nightmare may incorporate deep purples with fiery orange accents for added intrigue.
Size and Growth: Sold as 1-2 polyp frags on small plugs, they exhibit variable but often rapid growth via budding or fission once acclimated—potentially forming expansive carpets in months—though some users report initial stagnation before explosive spread.
Sold per Polyp
The Nightmare Zoanthids (Zoanthus sp., often "OG Nightmare" lineage) are a captivating, aquacultured strain of colonial soft corals with a cult following in the reef aquarium hobby, renowned for their intense, high-contrast patterns that live up to their ominous name while adding a bold, textured element to rockscapes.
Structure: Forms tight, low-profile clusters of 3-6 (or more) polyps that encrust and spread into a carpet-like mat across surfaces, with each polyp featuring a rounded oral disk that extends into a dome shape under favorable conditions—typically smaller than average zoas but larger than micros.
Coloration: Dominated by a deep, nearly black body and skirts speckled with vivid red dots or patterns that extend all the way to the center (without a green slit like similar strains), creating a dramatic, bonfire-spark effect; under actinic or blue-enriched lighting, the reds fluoresce brilliantly for an eerie, glowing contrast. Variants like KO Nightmare may incorporate deep purples with fiery orange accents for added intrigue.
Size and Growth: Sold as 1-2 polyp frags on small plugs, they exhibit variable but often rapid growth via budding or fission once acclimated—potentially forming expansive carpets in months—though some users report initial stagnation before explosive spread.
Sold per Polyp