Stinger Tentacles

[Mr31415]

My one Zooanthid has a stinger tentacle that is more than 20cm long. How long is the maximu this will become? How close can I keep other corals such as my Colt Coral and Yellow Polyps?

 

[EvilInSin]

do you have a pic? I've never seen a zoo with a stinger tent. before.

 

[Mr31415]

Will try and get one this afternoon. It starts at the center of one of the polyps and extends between 0cm up to 20cm based on its mood...

 

[deanos]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7892593#post7892593 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr31415
Will try and get one this afternoon.

 

[Mr31415]

Hahahahaha yeah yeah I got tied up with some work. Let me rephrase - I will get a picture ASAP. Better?

 

[Mr31415]

Ok I promised - here they are:

 

[john76]

That's a thread from a vermetid snail. It uses it to trap detritus floating in the water column to eat. It's supposedly harmless but I break them off when I see them.

 

[Mr31415]

Are you sure? Thise threads all extend from the exact centre of the polyps...

 

[john76]

If it's coming from the mouth of the polyp I have no clue what it is. I've never seen that happen before.

 

[Mr31415]

It definitely is. Look (a bit fuzzy though - I was in a hurry):

 

[Ken668]

Wow. Very interesting. I have zoas that are surrounded by all different kinds of softies, lps, etc. and never seen anything like that. Make sure to post back here if you find any more info about it.

 

[Ken668]

Have you seen it actually retract it back in? Maybe it's expelling its zooxanthellae. Or maybe it's feeding. I think I saw a post a little while back about a paly that was doing something similar.

 

[john76]

I could be from reproduction or waste. Nice pics too.

 

[Mr31415]

Yup when I moved it away from my Colt Coral just now since it seemed like it started dying since I added the Zoanthids - it retracted the tentacles. The last photo show you how short they are - the first ones when they are extended.

 

[john76]

does it eventually retract back or break off?

 

[Mr31415]

Both. It sometimes retracts back, but I have ovserved many of them that broke off.

 

[john76]

That's wild... I've never seen that anything like that. I've seen zoox expelled but that disipates and is really dark colored. Same with waste. It does look just like an sweeper tentacle like the ones LPS put out. Shame that Calfo, Borneman or Dr. Ron don't post here anymore. They would have been able to give more info.

 

[Mr31415]

Where can one find those people? Or did they leave the hobby?

 

[john76]

I don't know what their presonal websites are. You may get more of a response in the advanced topics forum under general forums.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Mr31415, YGPM