Zoas get a white blob on top when closed

[justin_freebord]

Ive had this issue in the past with 2 different outcomes. The zoa will close up and stay closed then all the sudden one day there is a small ball shaped blog of white flesh sitting on top in the little hole thats left over when a zoa closes. Now ive done 2 things, left it alone and picked it off. I cant remember what happened when i picked it off but i think it died. And 2 times ive left it the zoa either died or one lost the blob after a couple weeks and opened back up smaller than it was before. A few weeks later it closed up and now its got a weird film on it and i think its done for. Has anyone experienced something similar?

 

[650-IS350]

Got pics?

 

[justin_freebord]

unfortunately no because at the moment none of my zoas are officially doing it just look like it. It looks like a little whip cream topping haha. Its basically looks like i fed the zoa a small chunk of scallop or shrimp its just a fleshy ball on top of a closed zoa

 

[650-IS350]

Maybe it was spweeing out its guts to clear something out?

 

[MUCHO REEF]

If you can, next time, take a quick picture. It could very well be something or nothing at all. The blob you mentioned could be innocent slim that was compressed when they retracted. Make sure this particular frag/colony is receiving its fair share of current which will help to remove any of these beads/balls/slim etc. It could be a regurgitation. A picture really would make a differtence if you can. Good luck BTW.

Mucho Reef

 

[justin_freebord]

thanks, i will try and get a picture next time. Ill check my pictures i may have one from a long time ago. Would you recommend i pick the stuff off with tweezers next time? Or just put it in a high flow area

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Not trying to be a smart mouth here at all, so please don't take it that way. Sometimes, when polyps retract quickly, they will pinch off their skirts and leave them slightly exposed outside of the crown of the polyp. Sometimes this will look like a whitish bead sitting on top of the polyp. If they are indeed skirts, using a tweezer would be a major no no. If you are sure this is something else, and they have a history of succumbing if left untouched, I'd suggest grabbing a fresh, soft bristle tooth, laying the brush on its side, and slowly sweeping it off instead of pulling it. It should roll right off. I wouldn't advise pulling it just yet. Sometimes the oral slit can protrude upwards for some crazy reason, if that's what you're seeing, it's another no no to pull on it. If it is indeed slimy, a film of any kind, yellowish or cottony, yes, pull it off or use the tooth brush. High flow is still a must regardless. Just keep an eye on it. Is it just one polyp, one area, one frag/colony etc?

Mucho Reef

 

[justin_freebord]

Well i had a 4 polpy frag. 3 of the 4 got it 2 died off 1 re opened. Then it got it again several weeks maybe even a month or two later and it died. Then a 1 polyp frag got it, lost it, opened, and is now been closed for a week or two

 

[justin_freebord]

oh yeah, and i didnt take that as a smart *** response at all. Im here to learn and stuff so i take everything i hear as good info and can usually pick through and ignore the sarcastic and sometimes rude responses so thank you

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Did this start right after you received the frag? Hmmmmmm

 

[justin_freebord]

no they were both in my tank for a while. I have moved the tank three times however so maybe the stress from that? Im in college so i had to move it home for christmas, back to school after a month and a half, then back to my home for the summer.

 

[justin_freebord]

i think it might be what you suggested. I just looked into the tank, one polyp is closed and the white is gone. The other is mostly closed with 2 fingers of the skirt sticking out with a minor amount of white stuff bulging out of the opening. Not a lot but just a little bit.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Great, I'm glad that's all it was. Lucky guess.

Good luck.

Mucho Reef