Zoas appear to be dying!

[Gort]

I didnt have any zoas in the tank, as I just got it going about 3 months ago. All cycled with a few pieces all doing well.

I bought a small frag of zoas and they were doing great for several weeks it appeared. Now they have very skinny polyps, and just barely open a little bit. Just a few once in a while.

At first they were all open and looking great.

I bought another small frag, which looked good last week. All open and nice. I mounted that frag pretty close to my other, not thinking.

The were open for about a day and now exhibit the same behavior. Both frags look like they are dying, and a few open tonight.


I have been looking at them. I did dip them in coral rx a few days ago and before I put either one in the tank. I have looked at them with a magnifying glass, and a few times on 1 polyp i think i see filiments sticking out of the closed polyp! Whatever it is, my flow doesnt take it away. It is not algea or anything.

I have seen this on both frags.

Could it be zoa spiders? I have heard of that. I bought the first frag at a real reputable LFS.

I dont want them to die but they are heading south!! Any ideas?

[Ripped Tide]

What other types of coral do you have in there? How are they doing? What are your parameters(temp and salinity included)? Do they stay stable or do they bounce around? What type of lights are you using? Where were they placed in the aquarium? How long was you coral rx dip and what were your EXACT practices?

[Lifestudent]

Please refer to this Zoanthid spider link for more info about them. Perhaps after reading it, it'll confirm your suspicions.

[Gort]

I got out a magnifying glass and just watched these two frags of zoas. I see a fair number of threads coming from the polyps. two times longer maybe than the polyp, very fine, and actually look striped, black/white sections, and end in a small tip, like the head of a pin.

Just shouldnt be there in such numbers... so i am sure its something.

Like a worm. I dont think its spiders.

I have dipped twice now, for about 8 minutes each time. 1 when they were first purchased, and then again trying to fix the problem.

I will dip once more for 10 minutes in Seachem dip. I have heard mention of a freshwater dip? Think that would help?

There is very little now in the tank. 1 acro, 1 frag favia, candy can two head, feather duster, flowepot, purple blatamouso (?) ... water params all good.

I think i just got some hitch hikers here. Gotta get rid of em or just remove them from the tank, zoas that is. At least to a quarantine arrangement.

Thanks for the responses for help

[deepseas89@hotmail.com]

Have you checked all of your levels? Have you tried moving them around in your tank up or down from lighting. what about current flow. I think that somethings pissing them off and it's always something simple.

[jimknutson]

Sounds like baby brittles or serpents to me. I have them in my tank any they love to hide behind the zoas.

[winkkle]

A freshwater dip would kill any nuisance critters on there. Id do a short one maybe 5 mins.

[Gort]

Freshwater dip tonight.. Thank you. Will report results. After the dip i am going to put them in a quarantine arrangement and see what happens.

Thanks again

[SnowManSnow]

u have any flatworms? (in your tank i mean)