Zoanthids (order Zoanthidea) are a type of soft coral commonly found in coral reefs around the world. These animals come in a variety of different colonizing formations and in numerous colors. They can be found as individual polyps, attached by a fleshy stolon or a mat that can be created from pieces of sediment, sand and rock. There are a large number of different morphs of the same or similar species depending on the location on the reef each colony occupies. Different species are even able to cohabitate the same area and even join stolons, creating a unique and colourful colony. Like most corals, they are hermatypic and obtain much of their nutrient requirement from symbiotic unicellular algae called zooxanthellae, and so are dependent upon a light source for nourishment. As a result, these corals are usually found not far beneath the surface. The lighting requirements of Zoanthids vary from species to species, but as a whole they are less demanding than other corals available to the aquarium trade.

Zoanthids (eg Montlivaltia) are known in the fossil record from the Triassic period onwards. Many familiar forms such as the Madrepores have survived essentially unchanged for many millions of years.

Zoanthids contain the highly toxic substance palytoxin. Palytoxin is one of the most toxic organic substances in the world, but there is an ongoing debate over the concentration of this toxin in these animals.^{[citation needed]} However, even in small quantities, the toxin can be fatal should it be ingested or enter the blood stream. If delivered immediately, vasodilators injected into the ventricle of the heart can act as an antidote.[1]

In order for this toxin to be dangerous to humans, the average aquarist would need to ingest the zoanthid in sufficient quantities, or brush a recent cut over it. Average handling, propogation and aquarium maintenance is unlikely to pose any danger beyond a localized skin reaction.^{[citation needed]}

Zoanthids don't exactly need to be fed. They can usualy grow by photosynthesis, and zooxanthellae. If you want it to grow faster, you can directly feed it meaty foods, such as lancefish, brine shrimp, krill, bloodworms, ECT. Just drop the food into the center of the mouth (center of the top) of the zoanthid, and it will close and eat it.

• Discussion About The Toxicity of Zoanthids
• Gallery of Zoanthind Pictures