Carribean Blue Zoas captivity?

[critmin]

I have some carribean blue zoas and someone from reefcentral told me that they don't do well in captivity? Is this true? And if so why is that? It just seems strange to me.

I don't feel like posting all the pics of them again so here is a link to a thread with pics of them.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1095118

 

[msman825]

lotta light and good flow and stable tank parameters is all you can offer some folks has luck with them

 

[critmin]

They seem to be doing alright in my tank and they opened fairly quickly after I got them which wasn't too long ago. Who else has them? What are your experience with them?

 

[45commando]

I got a small frag(literally 2 polyps)from a friend about a year ago.They have slowly spread & have darkened to an almost purple colour in my tank.They do seem to really like the high flow/light,as mentioned by Msman.

 

[alexinfla]

Yep, more a myth than anything else that they don't do well. Treat them like SPS in regards to flow and light. Don't frag small pieces...this is where most screw up but you'll never hear them mention that

 

[Agu]

I have blue zoas from the Gulf that never did well. Finally gave up and put them in a dark corner of the tank with low flow, now they look great :lol: .

 

[geoxman]

The ones that you have- I purchased about 2 years ago as Alien eyes. Mine are about 3 inches under the water surface and lit by 400w 20k MH and the color has gotten insane blue since I got them. Mine also have developed a blue mouth during this time, I do not know if it is from all of the feeding I do, or the high light.
I have found greater growth when my tank is around 75-78 degrees. They do fine under higher temps but grow better when cooler.

Don't frag small pieces...this is where most screw up but you'll never hear them mention that

I have done quite a few 5,10 and 20 polyp frags in trades and they have done very well?
Did you mean 1-2 polyp frags? I have a few 10 and 20 polyp frags that I did a month ago and they are doing great.

We could have two different species all together, but they look like what I had when I got mine. good luck

 

[critmin]

Thanks for all the help. Hey geoxman can you post pics of yours?

 

[alexinfla]

Yes geoxman, I was meaning when they get a frag like you describe (5-10-15polyps) to not try and frag that down to singles and doubles. Or otherwise known as "getting greedy with da' goods!"

 

[bobafett]

Mine are doing fine and spreading but they have lost their color. They look more gray than blue.

 

[geoxman]

here you go-the frag is placed on a dodo orange/yellow zoo for color comparison

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[critmin]

Hmm, mine don't have those long frills they look more like people eaters. Do the frills get longer?

 

[edwing206]

Awesome zoas geoxman.
I read somewhere that they come from shallow waters where the flow is strong as is the light.

 

[critmin]

Are they actually from the carribean? I just thought they called them that because they looked cool and relaxed.

 

[geoxman]

they are from the Caribbean. Mine are under major flow and light and that could be why the skirts are longer. Mine did not have long skirts when I got them.
They could be two totally different morphs but your pic looks like mine did- when I got them. good luck with them