Black ribbon from mouth of zooa

[Scoober68]

One of my colonies of zooa hasn't been thriving as much as the others. The polyps have a duller color than they used to and they don't all open like they used to. All my other colonies look great.

In addition, I notice there is a thin brownish blackish ribbon of material coming out of one polyps mouth. I noticed the same thing on two other polyps about a month ago. Anybody know what that is?

One theory on my problem: About two months ago, I made kalkwasser paste and squirted it on aptasia. A kernal of paste landed on one of the polyps from this colony and when I tried to get it out, the polyp closed. The colony looked okay the next day (as I remember it) and so I didn't worry too much about it. But not long after (I think), the colony wasn't opening. It has improved now, since most of the polyps open, but the color and extension and the strange ribbons are not right.

I assume time will solve this, but just curious if anyone knows what the ribbon is, or can explain this to me.

 

[Akwarius]

That is a common occurance for zoanthid keepers and is generally accepted as light shock. Zoanthids will expell zoanthellae in this manner, causing them to bleach. A little bleaching can sometimes improve color, increasing the light intensity too quickly will cause excessive bleaching and possibly mortality.

 

[CrazyZoa]

Yup...remember a polyps mouth is not just for intake......it's POOP!

 

[Scoober68]

Thanks. I will position this colony lower in the water column then.

 

[jjmcat]

:thumbsup:

Thanks. I will position this colony lower in the water column then.

 

[GotSopranos?]

Yup they are going poopoo remember they eat to and when a living animal eats it obviously has to poop. If they didnt poop where would the food go they ate? They would eventually pop like a balloon lol or we would have 3 inch wide poo filled palys lol

 

[Akwarius]

Yup they are going poopoo remember they eat to and when a living animal eats it obviously has to poop. If they didnt poop where would the food go they ate? They would eventually pop like a balloon lol or we would have 3 inch wide poo filled palys lol

Really?!? What other corals have you seen defecate? I personally have never seen my acros take a dump, or any other coral for that matter. They do not have sophisticated digestive tracts like fish or mammals.

The brown string is expelled zoanthellae.

 

[RokleM]

Really?!? What other corals have you seen defecate? I personally have never seen my acros take a dump, or any other coral for that matter. They do not have sophisticated digestive tracts like fish or mammals.

The brown string is expelled zoanthellae.

Actually a good chunk of LPS will. Acans, favia, euphyllia, etc. It's not out of the question that zoanthids do as well if they had a big fat meal.

But you're also correct, it could be zoanthellae. If the zoa's look or have been stressed, if you see loss off color or "bleaching", then it's possible this is what's happening.

 

[GotSopranos?]

My zoas and Palys do it all the time and its not because they are stressed. Ive seen my green hairy mushrooms poo. As well a my Acans. What goes in has to come out digestive tract or not lol Corals are beautiful but I dont think they hold powers to make things vanish I think that would be against the laws of physics

 

[Akwarius]

You will not see long strands of brown stuff from simply overfeeding zoas. This is a reaction to light shock. In general, you will not see lps or softies expel waste unless you are overfeeding them. You will not see waste expelled from stony corals.

 

[Reefmonster]

Really?!? What other corals have you seen defecate? I personally have never seen my acros take a dump, or any other coral for that matter. They do not have sophisticated digestive tracts like fish or mammals.

The brown string is expelled zoanthellae.

Incorrect, my friend. Just because you don't see it happen doesn't mean it doesn't happen... Corals do expell waste, and it usually is expelled through their mouths.

It's kinda the same way chickens lay eggs through their bung holes. Like Newton's Law in reserve...what goes in, must come out. To think otherwise is against the laws of nature...even single celled organisms like Paramecia poop.

Barnes and Noble has lots of biology books...you should pick one up. :thumbsup:

 

[buy_baff]

I have seen lots of soft corals and lps poo but never a sps. I had some huge harry mushrooms that took a fat poo every evening about 6pm lol.
I have only seen zoas do this when they are unhappy though.

 

[DanRhomberg]

incorrect, my friend. Just because you don't see it happen doesn't mean it doesn't happen... Corals do expell waste, and it usually is expelled through their mouths.

It's kinda the same way chickens lay eggs through their bung holes. Like newton's law in reserve...what goes in, must come out. To think otherwise is against the laws of nature...even single celled organisms like paramecia poop.

Barnes and noble has lots of biology books...you should pick one up. :thumbsup:

+1^^^

 

[kichimark]

i have seen some of my lps's poop a few times.