Dipping Zoas when mounted on live muscle

[Mael]

Quick question, I recently got a frag of Zoas that were mounted on a live muscle.

I have the 2 little fishes coral dip. Would doing a dip have ill affects on the muscle? All my other frags are on frag plugs or pieces of rock so I wasnt sure if I needed to do anything different with a colony that is mounted on something alive.

Thanks!

 

[A. Grandis]

Yeah, it could affect the muscle if it opens during the dipping process.
I would avoid dipping it, if you really want to keep the muscle alive.

I particularly would think that the zoas are more important than the muscle though and perhaps would be a good idea to sacrifice the muscle in order to keep the zoas nicely and prevent anything bad to be introduced into the system. That's just IMO. Unless that muscle has a really nice mantle or something…

Grandis.

 

[Mael]

no, it is just a normal muscle as far as I can tell, all you can really see of it is the edge when it opens as the zoas now number between 20 and 30 polyps and cover the whole top side, and some of the bottom.

If I get brave I was thinking of fraging the zoas off so the mucle could live in the fuge or something, or just toss it. I think this will end up what I need to do, as the opening and closing of the muscle is preventing the zoas from spreading over the sides, or so it seems.

 

[A. Grandis]

I wouldn't frag the zoas off the shell.
I would remove the shell and place the zoas on the shell somewhere else, killing the muscle.
Make sure you remove all the remains off the muscle if you decide to kill it, so it doesn't get rotten.
Or perhaps a fish would eat it?

Grandis.

 

[ThreeMoneyJ]

As long as the muscle is closed it will be fine. I have some growing on a muscle that I attached to a frag plug. I've dipped it several times and there are no issues.

 

[A. Grandis]

I would still say that's a gamble.
If, only if, that particular muscle opens during dipping, it will die.
If not removed from the shell it will get rotten.
I just don't think it would be something I would try myself because it's not worthy.
But everyone has different thinking...

Grandis.

 

[Mael]

OK, I think I am going to go with your suggestion after giving them some more time, I got this frag about 3 weeks ago and all polyps were open at the LFS, so maybe it just needs time, if it is doing the same thing after a month in the tank the muscle goes on the hit list. I just assumed something was wrong since all the other frags I got that day are doing great.

The PITA will be getting the muscle open without dmg'ing the zoas, since there are 5-6 polyps on the bottom half as well.

 

[AkoAung]

which muscle? pecs? delts? abs?

 

[A. Grandis]

which muscle? pecs? delts? abs?

LOL!!!!!!
Mussel!
Oh God!

Grandis.

 

[Mael]

lol i didnt even realize the mis spelled word until just now....and Im usually kind of anal about that.

Zoas are actually just starting to open for longer, so i think I will give them a bit more time....other issue is there are now like 15 polyps on the bottom and id guess 20-25 on the top. Not sure where I would grip it if I did choose to kill the muscle and separate the shell halves.

 

[A. Grandis]

lol i didnt even realize the mis spelled word until just now....and Im usually kind of anal about that.

Zoas are actually just starting to open for longer, so i think I will give them a bit more time....other issue is there are now like 15 polyps on the bottom and id guess 20-25 on the top. Not sure where I would grip it if I did choose to kill the muscle and separate the shell halves.

LOL!

Grandis.

 

[Mael]

this is what happens when you have some homebrew early in the day =)

musselmusselmussel....keep going