Advice for new Zoa keeper

Emarley · May 23, 2020

Hello fellow reefers,

Received my first ever Zoas three days ago and as I have never kept Zoas before I've a couple of questions.
The first picture was taken on Thursday when they were just added, the second picture was taken earlier today.
Firstly, I got up this morning and the smallest on the left had become detached from the plug during the night and I can't find it anywhere in the tank/sump, is it possible this could have reattached to the rockwork in my tank or is it now likely to die?
Secondly, the middle zoa has still not opened up after 3 days, is this normal?

Thanks in advance

Dom

User1 · May 23, 2020

Best advise - do not stock any fish that likes skittles. They confuse the Zoa's for skittles and you will be angry.

Edit: pass by me. I can't keep zoa's - see advise above. My coral beauty and matted filefish eat them.

Emarley · May 23, 2020

saf1 said:
Best advise - do not stock any fish that likes skittles. They confuse the Zoa's for skittles and you will be angry.

Edit: pass by me. I can't keep zoa's - see advise above. My coral beauty and matted filefish eat them.

Never thought about the fish, only got a yellow tail and bicolour blenny in this tank, is it possible the blenny would eat it?

Jvalle · May 23, 2020

andrewey · May 23, 2020

Not opening after three days can be perfectly normal. I'd give it some more time.

The zoas that flew off can absolutely reattach to rock/sand and start growing, but if they were pushed into a dark area or wedged into the rock, they're likely toast. Most tend to die if they come off, however I've found mini colonies months later in the unlikeliest of places

Were these freshly cut zoas? It's not impossible for them to fly off, but that usually points to recent frags that haven't had enough time to encrust.

Emarley · May 23, 2020

andrewey said:
Not opening after three days can be perfectly normal. I'd give it some more time.

The zoas that flew off can absolutely reattach to rock/sand and start growing, but if they were pushed into a dark area or wedged into the rock, they're likely toast. Most tend to die if they come off, however I've found mini colonies months later in the unlikeliest of places

Were these freshly cut zoas? It's not impossible for them to fly off, but that usually points to recent frags that haven't had enough time to encrust.

Thanks for the reply, I got them from an online company so don't know if they were freshly cut, I've no experience at all with Zoas but was surprised by how small the frag was, it was a single head Rasta that was about 3mm in diameter so don't know if this is normal for a zoa frag or not?

Thanks again

Dom

andrewey · May 23, 2020

Hey Dom,

That's about the size, but my guess from the picture is that these were freshly cut. Either way, you have one doing well and the other will probably do well in time! If you have any reefers local to the Yorkshire area, you can probably grab some of the faster growing zoas/polys pretty cheaply to add additional splashes of color while your nicer zoas grow out.

Emarley · May 23, 2020

andrewey said:
Hey Dom,

That's about the size, but my guess from the picture is that these were freshly cut. Either way, you have one doing well and the other will probably do well in time! If you have any reefers local to the Yorkshire area, you can probably grab some of the faster growing zoas/polys pretty cheaply to add additional splashes of color while your nicer zoas grow out.

Thanks again,

I appreciate your advice.

Dom