Main difference between zoa & paly?

[whyamisofl]

From what I can tell, a paly will have a long "stalk" and larger polyp....
Zoanthids seem to stay close to the rock (very short "stalk") and smaller polyps (dime size and smaller).....
Is this true???
I have been avoiding palys like a plague due to the long "stalks" (don't like the look), but MAN there are some sweet colored palys!
If not all paly's "get the stalk", ha ha, I would like to know asap!

 

[teresaq]

https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/302930/the-difference-between-palys-zoos-and-zoas

T

 

[whyamisofl]

I did read that thread (searched before posting)......
My main question I guess is, do all palys have those long stalks?

 

[whyamisofl]

bump......

 

[scopus tang]

I would say that to some degree the development of the long stalk is dependent on the amount of light the polyp is receiving. Both Armor of God and Devil's Armor for example are classed as palys (at least by some), and when I had frags of both of these sitting so the polyps faced the light, the stalks stayed fairly short. However last week I glued several frags of each in a vertical position on my overflows, and the polyps now have extended their stalk in order to turn the polyps up towards the light. Even so, the longest polyps are only about half an inch or so. JMO

 

[whyamisofl]

Thanks man......
I just got a frag of AOG and was going to pass it on to a fellow reefer that happens to be a paly fan, but I might just hang on to this and see what happens......
The rainbow paly I had, had about 1.5" of stalk........I just couldn't stand it! ha ha

 

[teresaq]

That sounds more like light seaking. I have several palys and most have short stalks.