I recently visited LA and, of course, had to go to Cali Kid Corals to see it in person for the first time. For as long as I can remember, I have been a zoanthid fanatic and have always had a craze when it comes to tracking down and collecting high-end or rare zoas. One piece that stopped me in my tracks was the new “Monsters Inc.” zoa that Cali Kid has been farming for some time.
This isn’t a chop shop piece but a specimen they brought in, held, and have now cut and grown for multiple generations. It appears to be the same species of zoanthids, such as rainbow infusions, kung fu fighters, and sunny d’s. Its lashes appear somewhat shorter compared to other species, but like other members of its “family,” it has bright, contrasting warm colors that help make it pop compared to other more drab zoos. I have only seen a similar pattern in some UK zoanthid collectors systems and posts.
Overall, given the species of this zoanthid, I would expect this strain to have a moderate growth rate and to be relatively hardy. I would also expect it to do better in and favor higher PAR compared to most other zoanthids. These guesses are based on my experiences growing zoanthids that are likely in the same family as this one for many years. All in all, if you’re a collector or a vendor looking to invest in a new hot zoa, this one should do fairly well growing.
Where to Get It
At the time of writing, the Monsters Inc. zoa is sold out on Cali Kid’s website, but it’s well worth tracking through their Instagram live sales. Additionally, you could contact Cali Kid directly to see if they have any available.
Be sure to watch our video touring Cali Kid’s shop and telling the story of a fire that affected their business.
