๐๐ Purple Death Palythoa โ Signature Purple Paly | Similar to Photo
Deep Metallic Purple Polyps โ Classic American Collector Morph
๐น Quick Stats
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful, but can spread rapidly and overgrow neighbouring corals.
Colour Form: Intense deep-purple oral discs with rich metallic violet tones and contrasting blue-grey to teal skirts. Under blue/actinic lighting, the polyps reveal beautiful purple and violet highlights, creating a dramatic and elegant appearance.
Size: Frag โ Polyp count and size may vary.
Water Conditions: 24โ26 ยฐC, dKH 7.5โ9.0, pH 8.0โ8.4, sg 1.024โ1.026
Family: Sphenopidae
Lighting: Low to Moderate (PAR 50โ120)
Water Flow: Low to Moderate, indirect
Placement: Low to Mid reef
Type: Similar to Photo โ Representative Image
๐งฌ Overview
The Purple Death Palythoa is a legendary collector morph, recognised for its intense purple pigmentation and distinctive fleshy polyps.
Originally popularised within the American reef-keeping community, Purple Death became a classic among Palythoa collectors thanks to its unusual monochromatic coloration and impressive colony development.
Unlike the bright fluorescent greens and oranges commonly found in Zoanthid gardens, Purple Death offers something completely different: a rich, velvety purple appearance with subtle metallic highlights.
Its relatively large polyps create an impressive three-dimensional effect, while the contrasting skirts add definition to each individual polyp.
Under suitable blue-enriched lighting, the purple pigmentation becomes particularly attractive, creating a striking contrast against lighter corals and reef rockwork.
With stable aquarium conditions, Purple Death can gradually develop additional polyps and form an impressive colony.
Its classic American collector heritage, distinctive coloration and relatively straightforward maintenance make it an excellent addition to dedicated Palythoa gardens and mixed reef aquariums.
๐งพ Similar to Photo โ Representative Frag
You will receive a Purple Death Palythoa frag similar to the specimen shown in the reference photograph.
The photograph represents the variety and expected coloration. Exact polyp count, size, arrangement and colour intensity may vary between specimens.
Selected for:
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Deep metallic-purple coloration
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Beautiful violet highlights
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Contrasting blue-grey skirts
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Distinctive fleshy polyp structure
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Classic American collector morph
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Attractive appearance under actinic lighting
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Relatively easy maintenance
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Excellent potential for colony development
๐ฝ๏ธ Care & Feeding
Purple Death Palythoa is primarily photosynthetic, obtaining much of its energy through symbiotic algae.
Direct feeding is generally unnecessary, although occasional broadcast feeding with fine particulate coral foods or appropriately sized zooplankton may provide additional nutrition.
Maintain stable water parameters and moderate nutrient availability to encourage healthy growth and polyp extension.
Gentle to moderate indirect water movement helps prevent detritus from accumulating between the polyps.
Important safety note: Palythoa may contain palytoxin. Always wear gloves and eye protection when handling these corals. Never boil, heat or pressure-wash rocks containing Palythoa, and avoid procedures that could aerosolise coral tissue or water.
๐ Optimal Parameters
|
Parameter |
Ideal Range |
|---|---|
|
Temperature |
24โ26 ยฐC |
|
Alkalinity (dKH) |
7.5โ9.0 |
|
Calcium (Ca) |
400โ450 ppm |
|
Magnesium (Mg) |
1250โ1400 ppm |
|
Nitrate (NOโ) |
5โ15 ppm |
|
Phosphate (POโ) |
0.03โ0.10 ppm |
|
Salinity |
1.024โ1.026 SG |
|
Lighting |
PAR 50โ120 |
These are suggested starting ranges rather than strict requirements. Stable conditions and gradual acclimation are particularly important.
๐ Placement
Place Purple Death Palythoa in the lower to middle areas of the aquarium, where it receives low to moderate lighting and gentle to moderate indirect water movement.
Avoid excessive direct flow, which may prevent the polyps from expanding fully.
Gradually acclimate newly introduced frags to your aquarium lighting.
For a spectacular display, combine Purple Death with Nuclear Green Palythoa or golden-yellow Zoanthids to create a beautiful contrast between deep purple and fluorescent colours.
An isolated rock or dedicated Palythoa island is recommended to help control its spread and prevent it from overgrowing neighbouring corals.
๐๐ Purple Death Palythoa โ Signature Purple Paly | Similar to Photo
Dark, mysterious and unmistakably purple! A legendary American collector morph with rich metallic tones, bold polyps and timeless appeal โ the perfect addition for reef keepers looking for something beyond ordinary fluorescence.