Who is this and what is he doing on my zoa's?
- Thread starter stanger50lx92
- Start date
mistaflicksta
New member
it looks like a AEOLID NUDIBRANCHS
There are lots of aeolids (including the aiptasia-eating berghia - a good guy to have!) but the most common one for us is this guy - a zoanthid predator! They are a pain to get rid of but will mow through your zos if you don't.
we have some links here http://www.starsreefclub.com/#!page-2
The actual website i got it from here http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm
There are lots of aeolids (including the aiptasia-eating berghia - a good guy to have!) but the most common one for us is this guy - a zoanthid predator! They are a pain to get rid of but will mow through your zos if you don't.
we have some links here http://www.starsreefclub.com/#!page-2
The actual website i got it from here http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm
bmw_zoan
New member
that is an ugly looking thing, dont know what it is, but i know how you feel man it sucks having things pop out all of the sudden and then finding out they are harmful.. you are not alone, and alomost everything can be taken care of haha you just have to find somebody who knows 
in this case i have no idea what it is, but somebody here will
in this case i have no idea what it is, but somebody here will 
jmait769
-CSHFLW
mistaflicksta
New member
6 line wrasse will more than likely scoop these critters out, or a file fish, I just took my file fish to Charlie cause after eatin all of the aptaisa he turned on all of the invertibates. he mowed down tons of stars and any critter he could fit in its mouth.
chuy marquez
New member
It is in fact a nudibranch and it will eat all your zoanthids if you don't get rid of them. Yes THEM because they are never alone and they lay eggs in the shape of a curl on the zoas. Dipping in Lugol's iodine will kill them but not the eggs so you will have to dip them for some weeks to kill whatever eggs hatch.
stanger50lx92
New member
I will be purchasing a 6 line wrasse. I'll just hope for the best that the six line eats them all. If not then I'll have to dip my zoa's which would take time since they are colonies on major parts of the bigger rocks in my tank.
Thanks for your help guys!
Freddy
Thanks for your help guys!
Freddy
chuy marquez
New member
Dipping the zoas will work for sure, the wrasse is a 50-50 shot. The longer you wait the worse it could get.
Important questions:
Where did you find the critter? was it on the glass or on a colony?
If it was on the glass you may have a bigger problem. If on a colony, start localized, dip that colony and those nearby. Rest the colonies/frags in saltwater/tank water after dipping, then while the polyps are closed, inspect the entire colony-- polyp by polyp, for the eggs-- use a good magnifying glass. If you see the eggs, carefully scrape them off with a sharp blade--very tender. Back in the tank. Do this again in a week and every week until you see nothing.
You absolutely cannot afford to be lazy here. They will infest the tank eventually.
Best wishes.
stanger50lx92
New member
I found a couple on a colony and not on the glass. I had what looked like cyno bacteria but brown instead of red on that colony so what I did was a water change. I took out that colony of zoas and poured old salt water to flush that brown cyno looking stuff off of the colony which worked. When I looked at the stuff that came off the colony I saw two of those nudibranch guys in the water so I just took a test tube and got them to take pics of.
I'll buy the wrasse and hope he likes those guys. If not he is still a beautiful fish!
I'll start the process of dipping every colony and searching for eggs. What do they look like? I'll end up trying to take off everything that isn't a polyp!
Your right I can't afford to be lazy. It's just that all or most my zoas are part of the bigger rocks in my tank so it will be some work!
I'll buy the wrasse and hope he likes those guys. If not he is still a beautiful fish!
I'll start the process of dipping every colony and searching for eggs. What do they look like? I'll end up trying to take off everything that isn't a polyp!
Your right I can't afford to be lazy. It's just that all or most my zoas are part of the bigger rocks in my tank so it will be some work!
eggs
eggs
http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=5944
It sucks to have to mess with your rock work, so start with the colonies/frags that were closed. Many times, they won't venture far from the original colony, unless they need food or have reproduced to the point the need to spread out.
Dipping those that are easy to get out, seeing what falls off and looking for eggs will give you an idea if they have spread.
Remember, dipping, wrasses, absolutely nothing will take care of eggs except manual removal.
I was farming for a guy 2 years ago and took a wild colony. Watched him dip it till I thought it might be dead. Infected a 48 x 48 frag tank with spiders and nudi's. I was dipping and removing eggs for 2 months.
But, if you have zoas/palys you like, its really worth it.
And while dipping frags/colonies you get is wise. Dipping won't do a thing to eggs. You really have to inspect every single polyp.
Really, best of luck.
eggs
http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=5944
It sucks to have to mess with your rock work, so start with the colonies/frags that were closed. Many times, they won't venture far from the original colony, unless they need food or have reproduced to the point the need to spread out.
Dipping those that are easy to get out, seeing what falls off and looking for eggs will give you an idea if they have spread.
Remember, dipping, wrasses, absolutely nothing will take care of eggs except manual removal.
I was farming for a guy 2 years ago and took a wild colony. Watched him dip it till I thought it might be dead. Infected a 48 x 48 frag tank with spiders and nudi's. I was dipping and removing eggs for 2 months.
But, if you have zoas/palys you like, its really worth it.
And while dipping frags/colonies you get is wise. Dipping won't do a thing to eggs. You really have to inspect every single polyp.
Really, best of luck.
