How Long Can Zoas be out of Water

motopsycho

motopsycho

Member
How long can zoanthids be out of water for?

The reason I'm asking is......

I had a frag rack in my system that I took at at Christmas and just set it on a shelf (not in any water), I decided to put it back in my system this evening. I put it in and then decided to do some fragging. After about a half hour I noticed some zoas all over the rack. Back at Christmas I only had zoa frags on the rack and remember several had overgrown.

I am not sure what to think at this point. The rack has only been in the tank for about an hour now and they seem to be plumbing up, like adding water to a dry sponge. I am not sure if they will ever open and probably not. Just thought this was really crazy as I didn't see anything on the rack as I quickly brushed it off before adding it to the water.

957882Polyps.jpg


957885Polyps.jpg
 
Polyps can, and are often completely exposed in some regions during low tide without any negative affects. Polyps can be shipped in mere moist paper towel via overnight or evening 2 day shipping and survive without any issues once placed in a system. The only variable which would affect moist towel shipping is the ambient temperature which must be kept within a 10 to 15 degree variation and they will do fine. I and many others have made mistakes when fragging and inadvertently left a polyp or 2 laying out on the counter for a day or 2 or even 3 or 4 days only to have them bounce back once placed in the tank. I went over the deep end saying all of that to say this, I'd be shocked and amazed if those polyps were sitting out for nearly 4 months and are still intact with what appears to be no disintegration at all. Nope, not calling you a liar, just saying I'm shocked. Good for you though.


Mucho Reef
 
Thanks Mucho,

I have accidently left forgot to put frags in the tank at night (usually the only time to frag after my little one has gone to bed) and find them in the morning when feeding my tank. They are fine and have always done well.

I didn't post this so everyone would think I'm a nutbar but I just don't understand. My original thought was the humidity level where I was storing the rack may have been too high, but not likely. Right now it is around 50% humidity and it's usually a lot lower here throughout the winter months (being up in Toronto).

Ok, I can hear it now, crazzzy canuck :D
 
Of course you're not crazy, don't say that mate. You made a mistake, we've all made them. I wouldn't even consider it a mistake, you didn't know they were even there when you removed the rack. I commend you for being bold and brave enough to even share this. In our shortcomings, you'd be surprise how many people we help. Trust me, you're no "nutbar". Just wish there was a logical explanation, I surely don't have one.


Mucho Reef
 
motopsycho, I have to ask you this question my friend. Where was the rack kept for the 4 months it was out of your tank?

I see that you live in the midwest near me. Please don't tell me that rack was in garage during the winter? If it was, I'm driving down to see this. 4 months with no hydration and still alive is near impossible, but I have to take you at your word. WOW !!!
 
motopsycho, do you by chance have an update? I ( we ) are very interested in learning more about this. Thanks.

Mucho Reef
 
I've seen it with aiptasia, where totally dried ones appear to plump back up when put in a tank. Freaked me out, but they were dead and eventually amphipods cleaned off the anemone jerky. I would guess you're seeing the same thing and they will be gone within a day or two.
 
Sorry about the delay in the response. They are still there, but have not opened at all. I have tried to see if they have anything inside on one of the polyps and it basically just tore open and dust like substance just came out. Kinda like they may have mummafied or something.
 
Ahh so they didnt make it... that would be amazing if they did. Im guessing they are all gone now. You probably just rehydrated them after they had beem dehydrated. Man if 4 months and it survived it would end a lot of fraggers worries about keeping them out too long.
 
yeah they didn't make it.

I have left a few frags out when I finished fragging at midnight and put them in my tank at 8-9am and no issues.
 
Sounds like the dead polyps just rehydrated when added to the tank.

I was half expecting them to come back to life....beleive it or not!

I have heard of zoa frags left for days, outside, in the winter, then found, added to the tank and living.

Zoanthids are crazy- they live through the impossible, them melt one day for no aperant reason!
 
My how this thread from 2 years ago coincides with Organism's damp shipment thread today.

Mucho Reef
 
Zoas are hardy little creatures. I once had an unkown clam on a piece of LR and left it out of water for probably a week then put it back in and I noticed the clam and it was open and happy. We are all usually baffled by these types of occurrences but we also should remember some of these animals were designed to go without water for a certain amount of time. Still remarkable.
 
I was fragging a few weeks ago and lost a small frag of pink zoas. the next day I was vacuuming and found the frag. I put it on a plug and back in my tank and now it's a healthy growing frag..
 
ibtigr33 said:
I was fragging a few weeks ago and lost a small frag of pink zoas. the next day I was vacuuming and found the frag. I put it on a plug and back in my tank and now it's a healthy growing frag..
Click to expand...

And to think, when I started, I was scared to frag for the first time because they were out of the water for a minute as they were getting glued to frag discs.

Absolutely amazing!
 
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