Losing zoanthids ,,,help!

Jason arsenault · Feb 11, 2020

About a week ago my green zoanthid colony’s went from this (1st pic)

to this. They get what looks like a slime on them and they stop opening up. They eventually fall off the rock. I don’t see any pests. The water parameters are acceptable.

this Zoa is fine (older pic) ,,,,so far

trying to identify a few things, are these two below a problem? Any ideas?

Retro Reefer · Feb 12, 2020

I have had terrible luck with dragon eyes, seems no matter what I do they just melt away.

drivingmecrazy · Feb 13, 2020

In my opinion. This happens more often to wild colonies of zoanthids. Most of the time its a white cloudy fungus that will spread quickly. And sometimes it can or will spread to established zoanthids colonies in your system.

I like to think this kind of scenario is similar to RTN but for zoanthids. First you would have to identify this is correct. In my experience more flow is needed to help prevent these zoanthids from developing this.

Less light usually helps and more flow.

Most of the treatments are done in buckets with the zoanthids left in it overnight with a power head inside to keep this fungus from spreading.

I am assuming that this is a wild colony zoanthid, and have recently aqcired it withen a few months. Could you please verify if I am right.

Have you confirmed your water test and salinity.

Do you have a better picture of whats on or covering your zoanthids?

It may not be a fungus and could possibly be flat worms, snails or another type of pest that is slowly consuming it.

Its hard to say, with just two pictures, but if you feel as if your zoanthids are covered in a film. And are melting in large amounts. Quickly overnight, then I would belive it is a fungus.