something is eating my zoanthids

[lauremf2002]

Like I said, something is eating my zoanthids. Fewer and fewer are opening everyday, and I have noticed that some of the zoas that are still opening are missing parts of their skirts.

I havent seen anything out of the ordinary. There are some flat worms on the glass, but not the bad ones. (just the ones that like to munch on copepods and algae) Im broke until Friday and out of RO/DI water but would like a plan of action when the paycheck comes. Im going to get water and freshwater dip them then but Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

P.S. I plan to get a Mandarin Dragonet when this tank is more established but dont have the copepod population for it yet so any "critter" eating fish is out. I dont want to disturb the pod population.

 

[luvabunny]

check for little snails. can't remember what they're called, but they look like little sundials, about half the size of a pencil eraser. they blend in very, very well.
If it helps, I haven't had any problems with the ones I got from you, so maybe it's a real newcomer and there's only 1.

 

[lauremf2002]

Pictures

Pictures

brace yourselves...

Before the massacre:

<a href='http://s972.photobucket.com/albums/ae208/lauremf2002/?action=view&current=Sept212010132.jpg' target='_blank'><img

 

[lauremf2002]

more pics

more pics

And after:

they dont even look like the same colonies. It sux

 

[dugg]

I think i see a zoa nudibranch in the third pic. Go get you a yellow chorris wrasse. He should take care of the issue pretty quick. I marked the spot i see for you.

 

[Tek]

I had a case of Zoa eating nudis a few months ago. They blend very well with what they are eating and change the into the same color. Surprisingly my Blue Linka starfish walked over each Zoa colony and I no longer have the pest.

 

[dugg]

I was just looking at the pic that i marked for you and spotted another one right under the polyp that is marked. They are masters od disquise.

 

[chaderic26]

That's a good eye.

 

[lauremf2002]

Are you sure? Those pictures were taken when they were healthy and before I added what I think is the contaminating rock. We shall see who the culprit has been though! Im going to dip tonight. Anyone have any idea how long to leave them in the fresh water? I dont want to hurt the zoas

 

[dugg]

They may have come in as eggs and are just now getting big enough to cause problems. A freshwater dip will kill them, but you would need to ask someone else about the time. Look int he tank about 2 hrs after lights out with a red flashlight and you will see the culprit. I am pretty sure that is what i am seeing though. If you notice the skirt in those spots are pointing a different direction from the polyps.

 

[Mylilreef]

would a 6-line wrasse take care of them as well as a choris? i'm thinking i may have some of these buggers too. zoas are the only corals i seem to have problems keeping alive.

 

[lauremf2002]

A six line will work. But I cant put a wrasse in either of the tanks I have. One is too small and the other is the future home of a mandarin and I dont want to lose my copepods.

Also, I did the freshwater dips and got nada. No nudi's. Just a bunch of amphipods and bristle worms. I did see what might have been a bad flatworm come off. and there are some strange reddish spots on the zoas. That cant be good.

 

[lauremf2002]

Well... did some research and Im thinking those red spots might be tiny flat worms. What now? Flat worm Exit?

 

[lauremf2002]

they look like tiny versions of this. I had to use a 10x loop to even really see them.

 

[Lytehouse]

no fish will take care of the eggs, neither will dipping.

Dipping will take care of most of the adults. Visual inspection for the spiral formation of white eggs and scraping them off is the only way to completely get rid of them.

would a 6-line wrasse take care of them as well as a choris? i'm thinking i may have some of these buggers too. zoas are the only corals i seem to have problems keeping alive.

 

[BabyB]

marine melafix works amazingly at making any invert abandon ship, i would try that and see what happens

 

[pwhitby]

six lines and or yellow coris are excellent on red flatworms, but...thats not what the issue is.

I do not see nudibranchs in the pictures, i do see folded edges of the polyps, but not a nudibranch.

When my zoas disappeared it was due to a crab coming out at night and eating them. Have you tried to look at night and see what is scurrying about?
I also have had fish eat zoas as well, but i doubt that this is your problem.

P.

 

[kender]

I caught me a bristleworm off of one of your frags. Do the nip at or irritate zoas at all?

 

[Lytehouse]

usually not unless the get very large or large in numbers in the area of the zoanthids and while hunting irritate the polyps to the point they don't come back out.

As far as Paul's statement of looking at the tank at night, a red or blue light flashlight in a dark room so you are not backlit will give you the best chance of catching something running amuck in your tank.

I caught me a bristleworm off of one of your frags. Do the nip at or irritate zoas at all?

 

[kender]

I threw him in the tank cause he was only about 3" long if that.