My red zoa's disappearing

[pinkcoral]

I had about 50 red zoa's and i'm down to two. I have stayed up late at night to see what might be eating them but can't catch it. I have recently added a green emerald crab but why would he only eat the red ones and not the others? what can i do to save my only two?

 

[audiowerks]

are there parts of them left? like something is eating them or are they getting smaller over time?

 

[pinkcoral]

last night I had 5 and today after work 2, they are not desolving or parts left. something is eating them for sure.

 

[audiowerks]

you can check out zoaid to see if there is a predator:
http://www.zoaid.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=384

my guess would be the location is causing problems(like they are near somethings home), maybe you could move them to a frag rack or something.
Or some supposed reef safe fish will eat polyps. Ive had blue tangs, and blue jaw triggers munch zoas.

 

[pinkcoral]

do you think the emerald crab might be eating them? I moved them from the original place they were at and that's when I had 5 left and i placed them close to the glass but it still ate them what ever it is. hopefully i still have two in the morning.

 

[audiowerks]

Ive never had an emerald crab, so i cant say for sure.....but the reason ive never bought one is ive been told they get a taste for meatier things than algea in the aquarium.

the only thing ive ever had eat my zoas like that are fish.

 

[dalston]

I would doubt it was the emerald, but crabs are crabs so I wouldn't put it past them...

What are your other inhabitants?

 

[RGC]

I have 3 emeralds and they haven't eaten any of my zoas that I know of.

 

[650-IS350]

what fish do you have?

 

[b16drag]

I've seen emerald crabs eat them. $20 on the green one!

 

[pinkcoral]

My fish yellow tang, mystery wrasse, leopard wrasse, clown, green chromis, cleaning crew snails and crabs. I did find some of the little star fish but i have been removing them and I don't think they can eat zoa's that fast. they are wiping them down to the rock. It all started when the green crab was put in there.

 

[Norwood IND]

Probably your green emerald crab is eating them. I have heard people complain about them eating zoanthids before.

 

[pinkcoral]

I think I am going to get him out of there. I got him to control the bubble algae but has not touch one. I did a better job removing them myself then him. LOL I moved the rock to a higher place and I still have the two. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[dalston]

Can you snap a pic of the crab? what do it's pincers look like? are they sharp and pointed or shovel like? IME i've never had problems with an emerald like that before...maybe you have something else and not actually an emerald.

 

[pinkcoral]

It's hard to take a picture of it, it only comes out at night. I am not sure about his pinchers. I will try to look at them tonight.