Zoo Help Needed

[Tripspike]

I would like some feedback on the state of affairs with my large colony of zoos I am having trouble with. I bought a large rock from an LFS a while back and all was well for several months.

The zoos deteriorated over time and now I am not sure waht to do if anything. Wouldlike some input and thoughts.

I bought them and placed them in my tank. This is what they look like.

This is what they looked like at the beginning of November:

This is what they look like now.

They look better now than earlier. More have opened.

Any suggestions. Should I frag off the good ones? Should I leave them alone? I moved the rock up higher in the tank to see if that would help.

Thanks for any input,

Trip

 

[edwing206]

my guess is nudis. try to do a dip

 

[njreefgrl_2182]

Is it possible to get a close up or closer picture, it might help.

 

[Reef Junkie]

Could be nudis, but after several months, I think you'd have more damage.

A dip might be in order, but more likely you might want to move them.

Your Colt (?) and your Flowerpot (Gonipora?) might be your culprits. Try moving the colony away from them.

Can you get a closeup pic?

 

[Tripspike]

I just moved them up there from the previous spot (correct Bill next to the Colt and the Gonipora, my wife cringes everytime I say that because it sounds like an STD) . They seem to have opened up more. I thought I would put them in a lower flow area with more light. Will try to get a closeup.

I also took them out a week or so ago for inspection. I removed two small starfish from the side of a couple polyps. I also fragged off a few just in case.

Trip

 

[Reef Junkie]

If you just moved them there and they looked like that before moving them, then that is ruled out.

Back to the original suggestion from edwing.
Do you know what Nuibranchs and Sundial snails look like?
If not, look here: http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384

IT might not be a predator, but lets rule that out before going to the next potential problem.

 

[Snowreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8739137#post8739137 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Junkie
Could be nudis, but after several months, I think you'd have more damage.

A dip might be in order, but more likely you might want to move them.

Your Colt (?) and your Flowerpot (Gonipora?) might be your culprits. Try moving the colony away from them.

Can you get a closeup pic?

I was just about to say that. Those look just like a colony i had that was getting brushed by a kenya tree that grew into them.

 

[Trip 22]

I have witnessed the "Decline" of the colony. It happened before it was moved up top closer to the Colt Coral.

 

[Tripspike]

I do know what nudis are and I have seen pictures but never seen them in my tank. This colony was in the LFS for a couple months before I bought it. I visually inspected the colony when I took it out. I peeled off a couple small starfish attached to a couple of polyps. I did not see any sundial snails either. I have another oo colony which is thriving and has been unaffected to date.
I am taking some closeups now...as close as my camera will allow.

Trip

 

[Tripspike]

Here are two bugs that I have seen...the first one I grabbed out of the water coulmn right about the same time I put the colony back into the tank. The feet had sharp points on them just like a crab. He was dead when I grabbed him I think.

The other I just spotted today. It is tough to get a good pic because it is in the back of my tank. This one is black with two feather like antennae. It almost looks like a small cricket without the bent legs. Wouldn't my six line wrasse eat this?

Trip

 

[Tripspike]

Here are closer up shots of the zoo colony in question:

 

[Trip 22]

Pynogonum littorale, a north-west European sea spider shown here feeding on the sea anemone Metridium senile.
Looks like you have "zoa spiders"!
1st pic is definately a zoa spider

 

[Reef Junkie]

Dang, zoa spiders!?
That's a rough one, but not completely uncurable.
I never had them myself, so maybe someone that has should chime in.

 

[Trip 22]

This guy also has been battling them. I have included the thread because he got some awesome shots of them close up.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=977159

 

[Tripspike]

Just thought I would post a followup to my situation. The colony has reemerged after a month or so. Below is a current pic. There are more bown zoos than before. The rock is upside down from the original pic.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess sometimes patience is the key.

Trip