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What eats Zoas? (1 Viewer)

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Cody

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I have some palys in my display that I want gone but I’m not looking forward to tearing out rocks they’re on. I’m curious if y’all know anything that specifically eats Zoas and not mushrooms or LPS.
 
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Cody

Cody

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I wonder where I’d find those
 

SCUBAFreaky

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WAIT...A...MINUTE!! You mean when I lost all but 2 of my 38 zoa colonies 2 years ago it could have been these little A Holes all along?!?! I still can't keep zoas. I thought I was fighting some mysterious water chemistry problem that wasn't showing up in multiple water tests. I thought the consensus was that Asterinas were ok. So NO?? Not really!! These are murderous bterds after all?? I have at least a couple hundred of these things now. So what's that shrimp that eats starfish? And has anyone found an economical solution to feeding said shrimp once the Asterinas are gone?

20221028_155323.jpg

Oh, and so sorry to hear about your zoas Cody! That really sucks!! I know!
 

frankc

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So do I, but I don't keep zoas, so I'm ok with it. Our granddaughter learned to count by counting the starfish. That's why she's so advanced for her age, because we have so many.
 
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Cody

Cody

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WAIT...A...MINUTE!! You mean when I lost all but 2 of my 38 zoa colonies 2 years ago it could have been these little A Holes all along?!?! I still can't keep zoas. I thought I was fighting some mysterious water chemistry problem that wasn't showing up in multiple water tests. I thought the consensus was that Asterinas were ok. So NO?? Not really!! These are murderous bterds after all?? I have at least a couple hundred of these things now. So what's that shrimp that eats starfish? And has anyone found an economical solution to feeding said shrimp once the Asterinas are gone?

20221028_155323.jpg

Oh, and so sorry to hear about your zoas Cody! That really sucks!! I know!
You tell me. These were the $200 JF Acid Trips. Open and healthy when the lights came on. This before the lights were off. In case you were wondering, the third head is under the starfish, which was open and happy just hours before.

2D02B6D0-EF1E-446F-90A8-9DC066CA43DE.png
 
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Cody

Cody

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WAIT...A...MINUTE!! You mean when I lost all but 2 of my 38 zoa colonies 2 years ago it could have been these little A Holes all along?!?! I still can't keep zoas. I thought I was fighting some mysterious water chemistry problem that wasn't showing up in multiple water tests. I thought the consensus was that Asterinas were ok. So NO?? Not really!! These are murderous bterds after all?? I have at least a couple hundred of these things now. So what's that shrimp that eats starfish? And has anyone found an economical solution to feeding said shrimp once the Asterinas are gone?

20221028_155323.jpg

Oh, and so sorry to hear about your zoas Cody! That really sucks!! I know!
Harlequin shrimp. They’re not cheap either so make sure you don’t have a red hawk fish or predator fish that will eat them. They’re like $40-50 each these days.
 

Stickboy97

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LOL, learned a lesson recently about these little bast ards too. Wiped out a ton of higher end zoas in 1 of my tanks. I started pulling 8-10 starfish a day for over a week. Then they slow started to decline until I see 1-2 every couple of days! Probably should have purchased a shrimp, but what do they eat after the starfish are gone?
 
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Cody

Cody

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LOL, learned a lesson recently about these little bast ards too. Wiped out a ton of higher end zoas in 1 of my tanks. I started pulling 8-10 starfish a day for over a week. Then they slow started to decline until I see 1-2 every couple of days! Probably should have purchased a shrimp, but what do they eat after the starfish are gone?
They starve. However, once you think the starfish are gone, you could VERY easily resell it to someone else that needs one, recoup your cost, and everyone is happen. Repeat ad nauseam.
 

TX_Punisher

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I don’t really see them mess with my acros but i pick them out occasionally. I don’t have zoas as my 4 angels would probably snack on them.

too bad they don’t eat aptasia or bubble algae 😂
 

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I had another starfish at one point that loved to chow down on asterinas. Red Fromia, I think?

As for the Zoas. . .Regal Angelfish seem to do the trick from past experience. They may nip at other LPS (or Clams) also.
 
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Cody

Cody

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I had another starfish at one point that loved to chow down on asterinas. Red Fromia, I think?

As for the Zoas. . .Regal Angelfish seem to do the trick from past experience. They may nip at other LPS (or Clams) also.
Yeah the LPS on is the one that worries me. I’ve got a lot of those. Maybe I could just redone them while and angel does work, then put the regal in an sps only tank. That or find a new home for him.

Also, good to see you on here. You’ve been MIA for a minute!
 

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Can you cover them with super glue or epoxy putty? I once tried to put a needle with lemon juice in an apstasia next to a zoa on a frag. I missed and hit the zoa. The lemon juice melted the zoa.
 
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