Zoas split?

[Clancaster23]

Noticed the past few days that it looks like one of my zoas is breaking apart from the larger piece. Is this normal? Should I just snip it apart and move the smaller piece? This was one whole piece but this section looks to be falling off from it. They are closed in this picture cause I believe it was disturbed shortly before taking the pic. It doesn't look like it's dying.

 

[A. Grandis]

If you want to separate the rocks, that's ok. Up to you. I would leave it alone doing it's own thing. If you want you can place that rock in another part of the aquarium and have them growing there...
When you posted splitting, I though it was one polyp with 2 mouths. That happened to me before. I would call that a split, not what's happening to yours. Some times the polyps have 2 mouths and don't split also.:spin2:

I've seen what's going on with your zoas many times before and I wouldn't worry about it, if that's what you wanna hear.

Some times we can find patches of zoas very close to each other in nature. That could be what's happening to yours or could be fertilized eggs settling on the same rock (or close by). Not to worry.

Have fun!

Grandis.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

The smaller piece is merely pulling away due to gravity. Most likely the base rock it is attached to was previously broken away from the mother colony. Perfectly normal and it happens all the time. You can do one of two things. I believe in keeping my hands off of my reef as much as possible. If this rock was on a reef, it would simply pull away naturally on its own with no problem at all. So, you could leave it as is and it will detach naturally over time. Or, you could just snip it where it is connected. Normally I would remove the rock to perform this, then dab but cut edges with Lugols, but since it is barely hanging on, I'd snip it with a very clean and fresh razor blade or dedicated scissors. Then move it once and place in its new position in your tank. I have done this many timed in my own system with no issues at all. Good luck.

Mucho Reef