Help! Something is eating my zoos!

[vertwake]

I need help trying to figure out what is eating my zoas...

I've had 4 plugs of 5-10 head frags eaten over the past month. I've never seen anything pick at them except a decorator crab who I though was the culprit. Removed him and I'm still losing heads!

Stock list:
Achilles Tang
Powder Blue Tang
2-Yellow tangs
2-clowns
2-mandarin (they won't eat them right? They've grown ridiculously fat.)
3-royal grammas
Lots of hermits & snails
I think that's about it...


I've extracted about 10 crabs of various sizes, some have been large, but continue to lose zoas. I know there are several more crabs I've yet to catch.

Ideas, suggestions?

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

Many will disagree, but I do not trust any Surgeons ( Tangs ) in a tank full of zoanthids. There are numerous accounts of them consuming zoanthids. Do a quick search to the right in this forum on "fish eating zoas" and you will see ten very informative threads on this topic on the first 4 pages. Also, are you feeding your Tangs? If you are, what and how often?


Mucho Reef

 

[vertwake]

Thanks, I'll do some research on the tangs.

Feeding mysis and pellets 2x per day.

 

[popwin]

One of my zoas colony is shrinking quickly these days and last night after I turn off the light for around one hour, I saw some long smooth skin worms coming out out rock and eating my zoas. so check if any worms after light's off.

I need help trying to figure out what is eating my zoas...

I've had 4 plugs of 5-10 head frags eaten over the past month. I've never seen anything pick at them except a decorator crab who I though was the culprit. Removed him and I'm still losing heads!

Stock list:
Achilles Tang
Powder Blue Tang
2-Yellow tangs
2-clowns
2-mandarin (they won't eat them right? They've grown ridiculously fat.)
3-royal grammas
Lots of hermits & snails
I think that's about it...


I've extracted about 10 crabs of various sizes, some have been large, but continue to lose zoas. I know there are several more crabs I've yet to catch.

Ideas, suggestions?

 

[kichimark]

+1 with Mucho.

Popwin- these worms you are talking about...are you mentioning bristleworms? The worms "may" not be the problem but are being opportunistic and going after your weak/dying zoas. The problem may be something else.

 

[popwin]

They are not bristleworms. They have smooth body and sucker mouth similar to earthworm. I hope they are not eating zoas but they stick their mouth on polys and I couldn't find other worms around.

+1 with Mucho.

Popwin- these worms you are talking about...are you mentioning bristleworms? The worms "may" not be the problem but are being opportunistic and going after your weak/dying zoas. The problem may be something else.

 

[kichimark]

They are not bristleworms. They have smooth body and sucker mouth similar to earthworm. I hope they are not eating zoas but they stick their mouth on polys and I couldn't find other worms around.

Post a pic

 

[smtank]

I would look at night for the usual suspects.

Asteria stars
Nudibranch
Sundial snails.