Are these zoanthids okay?

Muchcunfooz

New member
When the lights turn on the zoanthids open up big and the color is great, but at in the morning when I look at them and they're closed up, the tips look strange. Are they okay?
 

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Yes they are fine, they open and close quite frequently at night.

Beware....they spread rapidly, I would procure a spot for them that you can control so that they don't run wild on your other corals.
 
Think of them like a flower, sun goes down they close up sun comes out they open up. If something disturbs them they will close up to.
 
That is normal behavior for a zoanthid :) Mine close at night and open in the morning. It looks like there isn't much light in the tank in your picture, so that's probably why he's not fully open. I would only start to worry if he is closed for multiple days or if his stalks get very thin. Then i would examine for any pests on them and test water parameters.
 
So they have to be isolated on one side?

They don't "have" to be but if you have expensive more attractive corals, they can be overrun by the zoanthids/palys, so you can sort of control their spreading by putting pieces of rubble around them that can be easily moved, as opposed to permanent rock work or worse...the skeletons of your other corals.
 
Make sure you wear goggles and gloves when messing with them. They don't appear to be the toxic type, but research palytoxin. Some zoas/palys are HIGHLY toxic and have sent people to the ER and left them with permanent damage. Just a PSA.
 
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