All "zoa eating spiders" must be destroyed!

[IridescentLily]

In last 72 hours, I have killed a grand total of 11 zoa eating spiders...AND FINALLY have just now discovered their "home". actually two of their homes. I didnt even know zoa eating spiderz had a breeding "home".
It was like somebody's nightmare.
I'm exhausted and have been crying out of frustration.
Because for the last couple of days...i have seen a spider sucking on a zoa two or three of them every day. So all day i wash my hands, then rinse my hands well, i get the tweezers, i pull the spider out, i wash my hands and wash the tweezers, then watch the skimmer stop foaming because i put my hand in the tank.
And then 20 minutes later i see another spider sucking on a zoa and have to do it all-over-again.
And again.
And again.
Now my hands are raw. But i can't put lotion on my hands because i'll only have to wash it off 30 minutes later when i spot another spider :-|
But at least i'm finding them, instead of having them eat more zoas. i found their breeding grounds and destroyed the *blank* out of it. :blown:
All my zoa colonies look better already!

For anybody that have had these, how do you get rid of them?
Is there more than tweezers in my future?
I looked in the zoa pests sticky thread here but it doesnt have anything about zoa eating spiders.
Thanks in advance for any questions, advice or suggestions.

 

[heckeng]

I would love to see a picture of one of the spiders "in action". I would like to see what to watch out for, I know the actual spiders can be hard to spot since they blend in well.

 

[psteeleb]

This is just a thought

I found from previous pest treatments Zoas can take a pretty high concentration of lugals and figured why not try to hit them "œin tank" with a high dose. I don't dose the tank routinely with Lugals, as I just don't care for testing iodine but when I do dose I will sometimes turn off all my pumps and dose the lugals solution directly onto a batch of Zoas. I started this practice a while back when I had a couple colonies go bad on me and they were not easily removable, so this was my attempt at an "œin tank" dip.

Basically what I'll do is instead of adding 5 drops to a high flow area I'll add the 5 drops to a small cup of tank water then with all the tank circulation turned off I'll use a turkey baister to administer the Lugals solution into and around the zoas. I'll let the cloud of Lugals sit there for about 15 minutes then turn the pumps back on to circulate the solution. I guess you could also use a cut off water bottle top like some people use to target feed to do the same thing.

I suppose there may be some risk of a fish swimming through the Lugals cloud but I haven't had any issues to date.

 

[IridescentLily]

This is just a thought
I found from previous pest treatments Zoas can take a pretty high concentration of lugals and figured why not try to hit them “in tank” with a high dose. I don't dose the tank routinely with Lugals, as I just don't care for testing iodine but when I do dose I will sometimes turn off all my pumps and dose the lugals solution directly onto a batch of Zoas. I started this practice a while back when I had a couple colonies go bad on me and they were not easily removable, so this was my attempt at an “in tank” dip.

Basically what I’ll do is instead of adding 5 drops to a high flow area I’ll add the 5 drops to a small cup of tank water then with all the tank circulation turned off I’ll use a turkey baister to administer the Lugals solution into and around the zoas. I’ll let the cloud of Lugals sit there for about 15 minutes then turn the pumps back on to circulate the solution. I guess you could also use a cut off water bottle top like some people use to target feed to do the same thing.
I suppose there may be some risk of a fish swimming through the Lugals cloud but I haven’t had any issues to date.

What an honor to have you give me advice, thanks much. You know, that is a good idea. I'm in the same predcament in that they are all attached so i'd have to do in "in tank dip". I spot feed them anyway so i'll just do as you suggested and kinda lightly spray some in their direction.
Do Lugols harm LPS? I've got seven 9 zoa colonies, 7 lps, urchin, a goby, crab, snail.
Will Lugol's be alright to dose if these animals are in my tank?
Thanks again.

I would love to see a picture of one of the spiders "in action". I would like to see what to watch out for, I know the actual spiders can be hard to spot since they blend in well.

Oh I took a pic and i also took a video, so people can see what they look like. They're almost clear or transparent except for some tiny brown markings. And they're about 1/4' or 1/8'.
It's hard to see in the 1st video but you can see his legs wiggling on the lower corner of the blue mushroom, behind it.
The second video one shows me taking the spider out of the water and it's easier to see it when i have it by the tweezers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ0Ws0OoABo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMjIl048BhM

 

[bigevill1]

I wonder, would these things be killed by interceptor treatments?

 

[psteeleb]

What an honor to have you give me advice, thanks much. You know, that is a good idea. I'm in the same predcament in that they are all attached so i'd have to do in "in tank dip". I spot feed them anyway so i'll just do as you suggested and kinda lightly spray some in their direction.
Do Lugols harm LPS? I've got seven 9 zoa colonies, 7 lps, urchin, a goby, crab, snail.
Will Lugol's be alright to dose if these animals are in my tank?
Thanks again.

wow thanks for the nice complement
as for your other critters

Zoa's - no issues with high concentration of Lugals

LPS - there may be some exceptions to this large generic family of corals, but I've dosed most LPS the same as I dose zoa's (mostly frogspawn, hammers, etc). I'd ask the forum if you have some concerns about some specifics here.

urchin - may be an issue but I'd just make sure it is clear of the area first

goby (or any other fish) - my thought is they will vacate the area if they feel or sense a high concentration of anything (burning sensation on the gills will get them moving fast)

crab - I have lots of hermits and other and never had an issue, again I suspect they will vacate the area.

snails - may be a bit slow to react so just make sure they are clear of the area before using.

FYI - I don't administer in a concentrated solution more then the recomended amount for the entire tank. (5 drops for my tank)



KENT Lugals Directions:
Lugol`s Solution is VERY strong, and must not be overdosed! Add 1 drop per 25 gallons aquarium capacity weekly to sump or an area of high water flow. Can also be diluted in one cup of aquarium water and administered directly over xenia colonies or soft corals with rigid tubing or a pipette. Do not mix with other supplements outside the aquarium. To use as a dip for corals, in a separate bucket add 40 drops Lugol`s Solution to 1 gallon aquarium water, and immerse coral for 10-15 minutes.

 

[KyleCT]

What do these spiders look like?

 

[IridescentLily]

What do these spiders look like?

Here you go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ0Ws0OoABo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMjIl048BhM

Also, click on this link below, then when you're there click on the box which says zoa eating spiders.
http://www.coralpedia.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384

 

[IridescentLily]

wow thanks for the nice complement
as for your other critters

Zoa's - no issues with high concentration of Lugals

LPS - there may be some exceptions to this large generic family of corals, but I've dosed most LPS the same as I dose zoa's (mostly frogspawn, hammers, etc). I'd ask the forum if you have some concerns about some specifics here.

urchin - may be an issue but I'd just make sure it is clear of the area first

goby (or any other fish) - my thought is they will vacate the area if they feel or sense a high concentration of anything (burning sensation on the gills will get them moving fast)

crab - I have lots of hermits and other and never had an issue, again I suspect they will vacate the area.

snails - may be a bit slow to react so just make sure they are clear of the area before using.

FYI - I don't administer in a concentrated solution more then the recomended amount for the entire tank. (5 drops for my tank)



KENT Lugals Directions:
Lugol`s Solution is VERY strong, and must not be overdosed! Add 1 drop per 25 gallons aquarium capacity weekly to sump or an area of high water flow. Can also be diluted in one cup of aquarium water and administered directly over xenia colonies or soft corals with rigid tubing or a pipette. Do not mix with other supplements outside the aquarium. To use as a dip for corals, in a separate bucket add 40 drops Lugol`s Solution to 1 gallon aquarium water, and immerse coral for 10-15 minutes.

Thanks so much for this info.
Since i posted here last i actually found another two spiders (krikey). So i took matters further and videoed those three new vids as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vfhj-TljZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBtLFix75WE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98sPaWpGP5s

 

[IridescentLily]

Since i have you all here, i'd like to ask another zoa related question?
I asked the same question here in my build thread but this would be better asked here i think
Thanks for any advice.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1998651
Here is my question in that thread regarding feeding zoas/palythoa;

Since my zoa colonies have been preyed upon during the past couple weeks by zoa spiders and zoa nudibranchs, this explains why only some zoas on some colonies are starving from the spiders sucking on them.

I'm now wondering if i should feed them everyday until they recover fully, then return to my regular feeding 3x per week?

So my question to you all is; Will feeding everyday do any harm to them? I've got the nutrient export covered for daily reef roids/coral frenzy feedings, but i'm not sure if they maybe need a day or two between feedings to metabolize the food?

Thanks in advance for any input or advice.

 

[A. Grandis]

Humm...
Nope. I would allow them to rest for a week or two before feeding them.
They will try to come back to their normal metabolism and when they feed, after 2 weeks, they will get back to a normal schedule. You don't need to worry about feeding them, when you have the appropriate lights to maintain their zooxanthellae. Their nutrients come mainly from the zooxanthellae and they can absorb from the water as well. Make sure they have some water flow (normal).
Let them rest...

I'm glad you've got the tweezers and removed the spiders!!!
grandis.

 

[Ooulophilia]

Yous should get some gloves! Coralife make a pair that goes past the elbow - just keep them by the tank. My hands use to crack from being in and out of saltwater all day and now I will not go near a tank without gloves.

 

[IridescentLily]

Humm...
Nope. I would allow them to rest for a week or two before feeding them.
They will try to come back to their normal metabolism and when they feed, after 2 weeks, they will get back to a normal schedule. You don't need to worry about feeding them, when you have the appropriate lights to maintain their zooxanthellae. Their nutrients come mainly from the zooxanthellae and they can absorb from the water as well. Make sure they have some water flow (normal).
Let them rest...

I'm glad you've got the tweezers and removed the spiders!!!
grandis.

Oh Thank you!
Okay cool that's what i'll do. I'll update as i try to get this spider thing under control. I've caught a grand total of eighteen thus far as of today, the last one i saw was this morning. This is actually a good sign lol. And i'll also update here on any progress as far as the colonies which have dead or injured zoas/palys.
I've been taking even more pics and vids of them as i get them so folks can know what they look like.

Yous should get some gloves! Coralife make a pair that goes past the elbow - just keep them by the tank. My hands use to crack from being in and out of saltwater all day and now I will not go near a tank without gloves.

You are SO right. It finally dawned on me, after a week of this, that i need to wear gloves when i do this. I realized in that one video that i only had one glove on. I'm like "Um, hello?".
Yes, absolutely, good point! Not only is there the possible danget of palyotoxin from the palys but yukky spider juice....ewww.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Tagging aslong- for when I can read it with a good internet connection!

 

[IridescentLily]

Hey there Sir Patrick! Glad to have you along

This morning i found and caught another one
Here's a video of it under or inside a zoa polyp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBGy4UIQos8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's what it looks like close up, in the water flow, in my tweezers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxz-NdF0bA8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's a macro shot i took of it for you all. See it's long clear legs sticking out on the left side on the pink zoa frag plug?

 

[The Escaped Ape]

Are they relatively easy to pull off IridescentLily? Or do they hang on pretty hard? I'd be worried about only getting a leg and leaving the little beastie still on the zoa.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

I still can't believe you could see these! I really gotta check mine for those because something is still eating mine... I don't know about you, but I am finding zoanthids to be the most annoying corals to keep because everything wants to eat them!! :headwalls:

 

[IridescentLily]

Are they relatively easy to pull off IridescentLily? Or do they hang on pretty hard? I'd be worried about only getting a leg and leaving the little beastie still on the zoa.

Hi,
They're easy to pull off.
Unless one is already inside the zoa, then unfortunately i have to mangle that polyp to get the spider out, and the spider gets mangled too though. I've only had to pull out 4 or 5 that were already dug in inside the zoa. But i figure to kill one polyp getting the spider out, then having it kill the whole colony one by one.
Just plan on having to mangle a polyp if you see one. 75% of the ones i've seen and caught were just sitting there, either next to a zoa, or sitting on top of a zoa.

 

[IridescentLily]

I still can't believe you could see these! I really gotta check mine for those because something is still eating mine... I don't know about you, but I am finding zoanthids to be the most annoying corals to keep because everything wants to eat them!! :headwalls:

I know, i totally hear ya on that.
I am nearsighted as heck, need glasses to see far away. But i have better than 20/20 seeing up close. No one in my family can see these spiders, even when i point them out, cuz they're so dang small, and clear.

So....i've taken some pics of the polyps right before i pulled a spider out of them, so i can show you what a zoa who's being sucked on by a spider, looks like. That way even if you guys can't see the spider (if you have them) you can at least know to look for one if a polyp looks a certain way.

By the way, the "zoa eating spider" as they call them, aren't spiders at all, they're a distant cousin of the crab family, but they do look like a spider.

I'll also help explain the difference between a zoa eating nudibranch predation and zoa spider predation. The zoas/palys look completely different
depending on which of these predators is the culprit.

So in a couple hours, after i fix my twins some lunch, i'll start posting pics i took of the polyps themselves and how to tell. My pictures aren't the best, lol, but i'll try to do the best I can with what i got.

 

[IridescentLily]

Here's a macro photo i took of one of the spiders i took out. It looks huge but it's only 1/4" in diameter.