Zoanthid eating nudis

JustinReef

JustinReef

New member
I noticed a few Zoanthid colonies closed up today and sure enough, I found nudibranches. Siphoned a few out but of course Im sure there are many, many more as well as eggs.

Here is the biggest problem:

_MG_7022.jpg


You can see many of my zoas are growing all in and around SPS and on rocks that I cannot remove and dip. I would have to take the whole tank apart and I am not really willing to do that because of the health of my SPS.

I have heard Salifert Flatworm Exit will help. Is it worth trying it on the whole tank? I know it won't kill eggs but maybe along with some manual removal, I can at least control this.

What kind of wrasse (small species) would be most likely to eat them if I use a turkey baster to blow them off the zoas?

Any advice is really appreciated!
 
Try some Yellow coris, green sea grass wrasse, Lined wrasses etc.

You probably would have to use a lot of FWE just to make it effective to any hatched nudis, but the problem would be what kinda effect / problem that amount would create to your tank and inhabitants.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15214903#post15214903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
Try some Yellow coris, green sea grass wrasse, Lined wrasses etc.

You probably would have to use a lot of FWE just to make it effective to any hatched nudis, but the problem would be what kinda effect / problem that amount would create to your tank and inhabitants.
Click to expand...

This is kind of what I was worried about. I don't like the idea of putting chemicals in my tank.

I guess for now I will try a wrasse and daily manual removal. I don't see this working long term but who knows. Seems like eventually there should be a population explosion of them :(

How long without zoas would it take for the tank to be pest free?
 
I tried the same thing and it also has worked so far! I only saw a few more but he ate them while I was watching. Now half the day, the sixline will just hover around the zoas and look for them.
 
My 6line didn't do anything so I bought a lepard wrasse and he took care of them. Only problem was I had to catch the 6 line cause he was such a jerk to everyone. I was told the yellow wrasse is also a very hard worker. Also I used my turkey baster to suck them out of the tank. Just squeze it before you get there and put it up to the nudi and it will suck them right out.
 
The second one in the top row of that link is what I found.

I have not seen one since adding the wrasse though and my zoas look great. Im sure they are still there but the wrasse is hunting in the rocks all day long and I think eats any he finds. He certainly ate them when I blew them off with a turkey baster.
 
They camo themselves to what polyp they're eating as a means of defense against predators. But when you blow the polyps with water to make them close it helps the wrasses get to them more.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15239804#post15239804 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
They camo themselves to what polyp they're eating as a means of defense against predators. But when you blow the polyps with water to make them close it helps the wrasses get to them more.
Click to expand...

Don't the zoas usually close up when the nudi is on them?
 
If they're just resting under them on the stems or base I doubt it as they aren't getting irritated at that time.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15239923#post15239923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
If they're just resting under them on the stems or base I doubt it as they aren't getting irritated at that time.
Click to expand...

Ok well when I blow them off with a turkey baster I don't see any anymore. But like I said, I am sure they must be there still. Maybe they just have a good grip.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15239735#post15239735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JustinReef
The second one in the top row of that link is what I found.

I have not seen one since adding the wrasse though and my zoas look great. Im sure they are still there but the wrasse is hunting in the rocks all day long and I think eats any he finds. He certainly ate them when I blew them off with a turkey baster.
Click to expand...

yep. same thing. is there anything that I should be dipping my zoas in?
 
Thanks for the info. Checked a few times last night and no sightings of any others yet. Is salifert okay to use with a mantis? My problem is in the mantis mansion. He is very discrete, but it is his mansion. Will he eat the nudi's if he sees them?
 
I really wouldn't advise treating the whole tank with FWE... I just don't know what it would do to the ecosystem.

I don't think it would harm the mantis but I could also be wrong. You stomapod won't go after the nudi, be it a smasher or stabber. I'd only be wary of other inverts with it or some fish.
 
I hate to use stuff unless I have to so I will propably do the manual tweezing and maybe revive if I have to (dipping pieces in a different container). Yea.. tested out a peppermint shrimp out, he lost rather quickly once the mantis found him.
 
any other invert you put there would be an expensive meal for your mantis. only another mantis, octopus/similar or a trigger would go toe to toe with that mantins
 
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