pods eating zoas? (1 Viewer)

[Kilo2008]

I have had a slight ression on some of my zoas. Lights went off tonight and i noticed about 6 or 7 large amphipods munching on my red people eater zoas. I blasted them off with a baster and within seconds they were all over it again. I ended up pulled the frag out and putting it in a different area of the tank. Saw a post on a different forum and they were saying they target people eater zoas specifically. Anyone elae have this problem. I have been letting the pods reproduce to eventually get a mandrin but not at the expense of my zoas.

 

[cacarnold3]

I have heard of this but not experienced it myself. Typically, amphipods just irritate the polyps as they run across the frag/colony which keeps them closed. Most of my fish will gobble them up if they see them. That is why the pods come out at night while the fish are less active. Maybe you should try and dip the frag/colony and see if that doesn't keep the pods away. That would be my first course of action.

 

[Kilo2008]

If i dip wont they just eun back on them again?

 

[emixa]

Not really. Get a mandarin. If anything dipping your zoas will help them

 

[cacarnold3]

If i dip wont they just eun back on them again?

Sorry for the late reply. Dipping them will remove any that might be hiding on or under the zoas. It might also prevent new ones from getting on the frag/colony for a while. If by chance, the pods are not the cause of the recession, you might find what is when you dip. There are various pests that could be hiding on or around them. In the past, I have pulled out sundial snails, zoa eating nudibranches and even a zoa eating spider. A dip often brings these pests to the surface.

 

[Kilo2008]

I dip everything before i put it in the tank but will do it again when i get home

 

[GenSkiR6]

I do random dips Jay, whenever anything starts acting "funny". You'd be amazed at what comes off of a frag thats been in your tank for awhile. I had about 6 spaghetti worms fall off of so some zoas the other day.