🪸🦍 Gorilla Nipples Zoanthus – WYSIWYG
Collector Zoanthid Colony
🔹 Quick Stats
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Colour Form: Deep purple to burgundy oral discs surrounded by vibrant fluorescent green skirts and contrasting lighter centres. Under actinic lighting, the intense green fluorescence creates a striking contrast against the darker disc, giving the colony the bold appearance that has made Gorilla Nipples one of the hobby's most recognisable Zoanthus varieties.
Water Conditions: 24–26 °C, dKH 7.5–8.5, pH 8.0–8.4, sg 1.024–1.026
Family: Zoanthidae
Lighting: Moderate (PAR 80–180)
Water Flow: Low to Moderate
Placement: Low to Mid Reef
Type: WYSIWYG
🧬 Overview
The Gorilla Nipples Zoanthus is a highly sought-after collector morph, admired for its bold colour contrast, rapid colony growth, and exceptional fluorescence. Its rich purple oral discs are framed by intensely fluorescent green skirts, creating a dramatic display that stands out in any reef aquarium.
Under blue-spectrum lighting, the vibrant green fringe glows brilliantly while the darker centre retains excellent colour saturation, producing an eye-catching contrast from every angle. As the colony expands, it forms a dense carpet of colourful polyps, making it an ideal feature for zoanthid gardens and mixed reef displays.
Hardy and adaptable, Gorilla Nipples is an excellent choice for both beginner reef keepers and experienced collectors seeking a distinctive, high-impact Zoanthus.
Selected for:
- • Distinctive Gorilla Nipples colour pattern
- • Intense fluorescent green skirts
- • Rich purple oral discs with contrasting centres
- • Excellent actinic fluorescence
- • Fast-growing collector colony
🍽️ Care & Feeding
Although primarily photosynthetic, Zoanthus can benefit from occasional feeding, promoting faster growth and improved polyp development.
Recommended feeding:
- • Reef Roids
- • Phytoplankton and fine zooplankton blends
- • Amino acid supplements
- • Fine powdered coral foods
Stable water chemistry and moderate nutrient levels will encourage rapid colony expansion and vibrant colouration.
📈 Optimal Parameters
| Parameter | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Alkalinity (dKH) | 7.5–8.5 |
| Calcium (Ca) | 420–450 ppm |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1300–1400 ppm |
| Nitrate (NO₃) | 5–15 ppm |
| Phosphate (PO₄) | 0.03–0.10 ppm |
📍 Placement
Place on the lower to middle regions of the reef under moderate lighting and gentle to moderate water movement. Allow space for future colony expansion, as this variety readily spreads across surrounding rockwork under favourable conditions.
🪸🦍 Gorilla Nipples Zoanthus – WYSIWYG
A striking collector Zoanthus featuring deep purple oral discs framed by intensely fluorescent green skirts. Hardy, fast-growing, and exceptionally vibrant under actinic lighting, Gorilla Nipples is a classic addition to any zoanthid garden or mixed reef aquarium.