why do zoas "pop" off the frag?

[dviper150]

I have noticed that lately some zoa frags that I am getting from people, the polyps just "pop" right off in a day or two. They are still open and none are closed. They just slowly come off the plug they were attached too and then I end up loosing the polyps behind my rocks where I can't reach. Why does this happen? It hasn't happened to any of my frags that I have had for awhile but just to some new ones that I get, not all the new ones either, just a few. Some frags seemed like they have been attached for bit and others seem fresh cut. Been getting pop offs from a little of both and not really sure what to think.

I just got a 3 polyp frag the other day and now I am down to 1 polyp after 2 came off. They were open last night and this morning, I only saw one attached

 

[rogersb]

This is common among fresh cuts. If it hasn't attached to the plug it's easy for polyps to pop off because they are stressed being introduced to a new environment after being chopped up. I try not to sell polyps that have less than 2 weeks heal time and request this whenever I am buying polyps or any other coral for that matter.

 

[planedoc]

With new ones I sometimes place them in a bowl with netting over top to prevent losing them. After a couple weeks , when I feel safe ill place them on rock.

 

[dviper150]

Thanks for the replies. So this doesn't happen to zoas that are already healed properly? Just fresh cuts?

I had a local reefer frag me some zoas onto a plug and they supposedly just peeled off and were all on the mat so he just glued them down by the mat. They still popped off one by one without him actually cutting the zoas themselves.

 

[A. Grandis]

They do that because of the glue, when they don't have time to grow and grab the plug.
Some times pumps, snails or fishes could contribute to it.

Grandis.

 

[organism]

Thanks for the replies. So this doesn't happen to zoas that are already healed properly? Just fresh cuts?

99.9% of the time when they pop off of plugs it's due to being fresh cut frags. A good plan is to make sure there's zoanthids growing on the actual frag plug instead of just the rock glued onto the frag plug, as well as avoiding frags that are on blindingly white fresh frag plugs. The issue is that fresh cut zoanthids slime up which can cause an infection that makes the polyps sort of fall off the plug and go floating away...

Unfortunately the name of the game in the hobby these days is to chop shop, so it's hard finding frags that are healed up and healthy sometimes.

 

[kara13]

Great advice. Thanks.

 

[Nanofreak79]

Usually this only happens to your most prized or expensive polyps so don't worry it's very common:lmao: I take either a breeder box retroed with suction cups, or a fish acclimation box and place fresh frags in there until there grown onto plug. This has worked well for me. This will keep the polyp inside the box, give good flow and keep snails and other inverts out until healed.

 

[dviper150]

Thanks! The only fish breeder boxes I know off are those petco/petsmart guppy/molly breeder boxes, is that what you are referring too? They float but I can get them to sink if I take the air out from the sides.

Which fish acclimation box do you use?

 

[Nanofreak79]

Thanks! The only fish breeder boxes I know off are those petco/petsmart guppy/molly breeder boxes, is that what you are referring too? They float but I can get them to sink if I take the air out from the sides.

Which fish acclimation box do you use?

Yep, those are the ones. I drill holes in the side to let the water come out, then use super glue and leftover maxi jet supplies to make suction cup attachments. I'm sure there are other ways, or just allowing it to sink. Using suction cups allows you to adjust height for better light placement. The fish box I use is from a local fish store that had them made custom from acrylic, with a sliding top and cups already attached.

 

[dviper150]

thanks! I will go buy one from petco and maybe break off a bar or two from each side instead of drilling holes to get a little extra flow then from the slits.

whenever I get new zoas from people, I will acclimate them in the container now.

 

[dviper150]

thanks! I will go buy one from petco and maybe break off a bar or two from each side instead of drilling holes to get a little extra flow then from the slits.

whenever I get new zoas from people, I will acclimate them in the container now.

 

[Nanofreak79]

At the top of the box is an area to hold air to keep the box a float, drill holes there as well if you'd like to have it sink.:thumbsup: