Zoos disappearing

[StephNewman]

My zoos were growing wonderfully and now they are starting to disappear, what is the most likely cause for this? It isn't just one colony, but several colonies in different parts of the tank. I had two pretty large colonies of dragon eye and forest zoos and half of the colony has disintegrated, I had a small colony of bam bam and there are now only a few polyps left I need to figure out what is wrong before all of them have disappeared.

 

[Nanook]

If you didn't dip or quarantine your zoanthids it is most likely zoanthid eating nudibranchs.

 

[killagoby]

It could be some species of fish as well. Got any Angels in the tank?

 

[StephNewman]

I have a lame angel, but have had it for years without this problem. I have a red coris wrasse, do they eat corals? I have not noticed any nudis in my tank.

 

[StephNewman]

Are these coral eatting nudis too small to see with the naked eye?

 

[Chelsey]

Usually they're relatively small...definately under 1/2". Do your zoas stay closed for periods of time before melting? You may also see tiny white spiral egg sacks on the closed polyps. Do they show any "symptoms" such as a white fungus or do they just melt and then leave kind of a "shell" ? If you could take some pics it'd be helpful as well

 

[killagoby]

I'd say it's the Angel. Keep an eye on him.

 

[StephNewman]

I never see the angels mouth anywhere near the zoos, I really don't think it is him. I will try to get pictures today. They are staying closed before melting, I believe. I tried freshwater dipping on of the rock frags but didn't really notice much come off besides a few amphipods. There does seem to be some white dots on some of the zoos however but I don't think they are eggs like I had seen in a previous pic. My camera isn't very good so don't know how good of a shot I will get.

 

[StephNewman]

I wish I could some how stop it before my last few bam bam zoos disappear. It is strange. In the instance of the bam bam, they look fine (just keep disappearing) They ones that were one the plugs disappeared first and the ones that actually have attached to the rock work are still there but even them I think I starting to disappear, they are all open but then will be closed about a day then be gone.
I seem to have different situations with several zoos. The dragon eyes are the ones with the white spots. The purple zoos seem to have a film on them and aren't openign but also aren't disappearing. I have some orange zoos that have a yellow film around them but don't seem to actually be on the zoos but the zoos aren't opening much.
To best honest i think alot of the dragon eyes and forest zoos ight not be disintegrating but actually just detaching from the rock and then getting lost in the tank because when looking at the rocks alot of them are detaching from the rock and are only being held on by the ones that are still attached.

 

[StephNewman]

Examing the tank before the lights come on I have found bristle worms in two of the areas havign problems. They are small, with the front half being red and back being gray. I think these might be harmless ones but maybe I am wrong and they are the culprit. I can't get a good picture of them with my camera.

 

[StephNewman]

I found two micro serpent stars living under the plug of bam bams, do we know for sure they do not cause harm to zoas

 

[StephNewman]

Here are a few pics, the first two are of my dragon eye colony (what is left of it). It looks fine (no film or zoos melting or anything) except for some white spots on some of them and they are detaching from rock for whatever reason. Not sure if the zoas that have been lost on this colony actually disintegrated or just detached and is loose in my tank behind rock work and etc.

Here is a pic of my purple zoos, they actually look to be melting away. I wll try putting them at the very bottom of the tank and close to rock work for shade to see if maybe they were just in to high of light.

 

[StephNewman]

There use to not be one open spot on that rock with the dragon eyes

 

[Chelsey]

The white dots on your zoas are zoa pox, check out this link:
http://www.zoaid.com/articles004.php

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

You need furan-2 . You can buy it local at most freshwater fish stores .

I' m having the same issue in my zoa tank right now . I will be treating it tonight . It seems to be the time of year for this issue

John

 

[Chelsey]

Be aware that when you dip and treat you will still probably lose some zoas, if not some colonies...the dip is pretty strong, but it's has better outcomes than doing nothing.

 

[chadfarmer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11244933#post11244933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DARKSILENTTYPE
You need furan-2 . You can buy it local at most freshwater fish stores .

I' m having the same issue in my zoa tank right now . I will be treating it tonight . It seems to be the time of year for this issue

John

thats sucks for both of you

 

[StephNewman]

I idd my first dose with furan-2 last night and starting on the next dose today. Hopefully it solves the problem. I did seem to already have more of my dragon eyes open today than had been.

 

[Reefer Wannabe]

Zoa pox killed all zoanthids in my tank two years ago. I think the disease came in on some zoos from an order and infected the whole tank. Wish I would have known about the treatment then.

 

[StephNewman]

Okay I did the first three treatments like I was suppose too, not sure if it is helping. I don't really see any spots on the zoos but have lost almost the whole dragon eye colony. Hopefully it will stop with the dragon eyes.