Zoa size (1 Viewer)

[StephenM]

So I just bought my first Zoa and what I received was very small, when open it is less than 1/8 of a inch. This is it closed and beside a ink pen. I got it online. I was told this is normal by the vender. Anyone confirm this?

 

[Cody]

When most Zoas are closed, they should be that size. The coral just went through a little trauma with shipping so it might take a day or two to open up.

 

[Cody]

Side note, it looks like the person that sold you this frag clipped the plastic around the coral to sell you the frag as opposed to scraping it off and reattaching it to another surface. This is to insure the Zoa was comfortable with where it had set up post instead of putting it on something new and making it uncomfortable.

 

[Stickboy97]

Side note, it looks like the person that sold you this frag clipped the plastic around the coral to sell you the frag as opposed to scraping it off and reattaching it to another surface. This is to insure the Zoa was comfortable with where it had set up post instead of putting it on something new and making it uncomfortable.

What makes a zoa open up more.... more light = open larger polyps, less light = open larger polyps?

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

What makes a zoa open up more.... more light = open larger polyps, less light = open larger polyps?

My experience with zoas is right nutrition = bigger better polyps. Zoas tend to adapt to just about any light I've found, but if your nutrients are are low they will turn brown and over extend in low light or get more pale in high light. It's about finding the right amount of fuel for the light you have. Here's some pics of my zoa tank, they sit at about 200-250 par with about 15 no3 and .08-.1 po4. Grow like nuts and very colorful.
Here's another tank I'm trying to get right, nitrate was basically gone in this tank with the same light fixture and settings but all the reds and blues have turned brown. Colony on the right is the same as the big blue one on the left in the first pic.

 

[Stickboy97]

I was just curious. I have lots of zoas all on the same make shift rack. Some have much larger polyps than others, all getting the same light & food. Some are even the same type, just from different people & the polyp size is different. Recently added some SBB Hephaestus and they are open, just not real big.... I was wondering if maybe they wanted more/less light.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

I was just curious. I have lots of zoas all on the same make shift rack. Some have much larger polyps than others, all getting the same light & food. Some are even the same type, just from different people & the polyp size is different. Recently added some SBB Hephaestus and they are open, just not real big.... I was wondering if maybe they wanted more/less light.

If they are doing well I'd guess just time and stability. Probably weren't growing the same rate in the different tanks. They should hit a max size at some point and end up pretty uniform, as long as they have good food and light, some will just take longer. Though they do seem to shrink if they aren't getting enough of something, tank you get them from really bright maybe? Should adjust though.

 

[Cody]

What makes a zoa open up more.... more light = open larger polyps, less light = open larger polyps?

Think of the polyp as a solar panel. If it’s closing up and becoming small, that means it’s trying to reduce the amount of photon radiation it’s receiving. If it’s opening up its polyps very large then it’s content or seeking more light. The length of the stalk is also a great indicator when it comes to too little light as well. If the stalk is super long then it’s reaching best it can for more light.