New species of Zoanthid?

[wfuavenger]

I just discovered this on a newly purchased frag (newly being relative...I have had it for 2 months now.)

I broke the Zoa rock up to be able to separate about 5 different species of zoa and grow them out. I split one of my keepers about 3 weeks ago and now I noticed these guys.

This is the best I can do due to their size.

They are the same size as tubs blue zoos (about 3mm in diameter if im lucky).
They have no mouths, do not open up, spread like regular zoas (attached filaments) and have color where it would if it was to open up into a mouth and disk.

They look like alien eyeballs attached to a rock.

any ideas?

 

[crsswift70]

Those look like the rare "green blur" zoas..

 

[wfuavenger]

Ha Ha....very funny...they are so small thats the best I could do. Even with macro mode and flash and perpindicular straight on ect ect ect......

Imagine an eyeball that is gray, and the part that would have color (iris) and the pupil are neon green.

No mouth
No disk

I will try again tomorrow.

 

[crsswift70]

Hope you get them I.D.'d. Wouldn't it be neat to find something new

 

[wfuavenger]

zoa ID

zoa ID

lets try this:

any ideas?

 

[wfuavenger]

really? no one knows? any ideas on naming it?

 

[xxtriggermanxx]

might want to wait till it opens.

 

[wfuavenger]

That's just it, it does not open. It has no mouth or disk.

 

[Jeff cousteau]

Just looks like they're closed to me, sometimes when they're closed it's hard to see the mouth. Could be wrong just my thoughts

 

[wfuavenger]

They have never opened up, they have no mouths, they are like a little eyeball. They are spreading without eating (using photosynthesys or something).

 

[wfuavenger]

Have I found a new species?

 

[crsswift70]

well, i have some that kind of look like that. They didn't like the move in to my tank and are closed up tight. All you see is a little tiny hole right in the center. I tend to agree with the others that it is a zoa that hasn't opened. Or perhaps it is a new polyp forming that hasn't opened?

 

[mollymonticello]

I agree with crsswift, it looks like some newly formed polyps that just haven't opened yet. They will with some time.

 

[wfuavenger]

they have been like that for 2 months.....there is no hole or opening in the tip.

 

[hexedagain]

They are just closed up. Even if they have never opened, they have the capability to do so. Something is irritating them at this point, or they are being overshadowed and not getting the light they would like. It could also be from the fact that you just fragged them 3 weeks ago. Maybe those don't frag well?
Either they will get acclimated and finally open up, or they will start the ever so wonderful melting zoa syndrome.
This is not a new species. Sorry.

 

[wfuavenger]

Okay, I know everyone thinks they have a mouth, they do not. I have examined them under a video microscope. <NO MOUTH OR DISK>

They do not grow anywhere other than in medium light areas and around other zoas/palys. I have tried to move them and isolate them to grow them out and they die.

Please stop telling me they have a mouth when I have clearly stated they do not. I appreciate the help, but after 4 times of explaining that they do NOT have them, I am getting irritated.

 

[chrissreef]

they look like zoa's getting stung by the aptasia and are closed. maybe move that aptasia and give them a week?

 

[wfuavenger]

not an aptasia. it is a sky blue paly.