HELP zoanthid eating pods?

[jelisoner]

noticed today that 2 polyps on a frag I just bought were completely shut on closer inspection they had been eaten (not completely) and are covered in small white bugs so I went and got a magnifine glass they are some sort of pod did a fw dip and one larger one fell off they seem to be crawling inside at the base of the polyp and eating it from the inside out also my clam has not opened fully in 2 days and almost completely shut today I picked him up and 2 largers ones (like the photo ) came crawling out

 

[650-IS350]

if you have a frag rack, try moving it there away from the sand bed or main rocks.

Do a search on zoanthid eating ampipods here, you'll find some threads.

 

[sparrow7679]

Wow... I never knew pods eat zoo's. Mine never do that.

 

[650-IS350]

Just for reference of others experiences...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1493321&highlight=zoanthid+eating+ampipods
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996195&highlight=ampipods
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1097013&highlight=ampipods
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1088946&highlight=ampipods
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1549104&highlight=ampipods
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1110038&highlight=ampipods
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1258557&highlight=ampipods
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1678738&highlight=ampipods

 

[SIR PATRICK]

sparrow7679-

Not all do. There is a very small percentage that will. There are also those that dont normaly, but will if they have to. Most will eat an almost dead/fully dead polyp though...somtimes just very stressed ones...unfortunatly.

+1 to getting them off the sand and higher up on the rock work. The pods are less likely to get to them there.

My favorite method for pod control is a natural predator, like a good wrasse, pj cardinal, ect..

 

[650-IS350]

Yellow Coris is the best work horse if you want a natural predator. Nice bright yellow color, very active and doesn't bother a thing.

 

[jelisoner]

moved all my zoas last night onto the rocks they started eating the other 2 polyps did another fw dip and blasted as many off as I could with a baster.I checked my other zoas and the seem fine but they were already on rocks

 

[jelisoner]

also going to find a fairy wrasse I like tomorrow ...was planning on getting one anyway

 

[wormside]

I have the same problem. I got pods that kept eating zoas, but only the flashy ones hehehe, they eat the pink, blue and bright yellows...

They used to cruise the whole dayin the sand until I got a Six line wrasse, today it keeps them at bay and my zoas are getting better now, only the pink ones still a little closed.

 

[650-IS350]

best way is if you have frag racks is to move them up in the glass or walls. Ampipods are more hesitant to move up the glass as they are in the open for predation.

or make some out of soap holders

 

[luvdiving]

I like the soap holder idea..

 

[gweston]

Very interesting. Just this morning I was wondering what was going on with one of my Zoas. A few heads were a bit screwy looking. I have had a pod explosion in my tank the past 3 weeks and they are maturing (much larger now). I guess this explains why a few heads may be getting beat up.

I'll have to look closer for zoa eating pods.

I was thinking to pick up a wrasse.. this may give me a reason to.

 

[Neogenocide]

I recently had the same thing, however it was only on a single frag which was melting since I brought it home. It looks as if I saved about 5 heads out of 30, but at least I didn't lose the whole thing.

Scott

 

[jelisoner]

Its normal for them to eat dieing zoas ...and a rarity in my case to eat completely healthy ones.I picked up a six line wrasse today and a few more zoas today now to find replacements for what I had ...where those bam bams?