What’s on my zoas?

[wsanley]

I did a time lapse video of my zoa colony opening up this morning. I noticed a few inverts crawling around on the heads that don’t open right away. I assume because they’re annoyed by what’s on them? Can someone please help with identification? Thanks!

 

[WIReefer]

Might be pods

 

[Mr. Crabs]

Pods, get a 6 line wrasse.

 

[spideybry]

I third pods. It's a good thing.

 

[Mr. Crabs]

Well too many can irritate corals so the population needs to be controlled

 

[wsanley]

Well too many can irritate corals so the population needs to be controlled

I’ll keep an eye out. This is one of the first and only corals added so far.

 

[Mr. Crabs]

There are other fish that will eat the pods but I keep a 6 line wrasse because they will eat other things that can be VERY bad for coral.

 

[wsanley]

There are other fish that will eat the pods but I keep a 6 line wrasse because they will eat other things that can be VERY bad for coral.

The local reefer I got the zoas from has one and he said it’s pretty well-behaved. I might see if he’d sell it to me.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Pods, get a 6 line wrasse.

Or a mandarin. They take up less space. And theyre cuter

 

[wsanley]

Or a mandarin. They take up less space. And theyre cuter

I LOVE mandarins. They’re definitely on my list, but I don’t think my tank is established enough for one yet. I have a baby pod population and some teeny tiny roundworms, but these pods came in on the rock that the zoas came on, so I’m worried I don’t have enough to sustain a mandarin yet.

 

[Mr. Crabs]

Or a mandarin. They take up less space. And theyre cuter

Completely agree as long as the pod pop can be maintained, otherwise, the mandarin will starve.

 

[Mr. Crabs]

I LOVE mandarins. They’re definitely on my list, but I don’t think my tank is established enough for one yet. I have a baby pod population and some teeny tiny roundworms, but these pods came in on the rock that the zoas came on, so I’m worried I don’t have enough to sustain a mandarin yet.

Algae barn sells different pods, if you have a space to grow them.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I LOVE mandarins. They’re definitely on my list, but I don’t think my tank is established enough for one yet. I have a baby pod population and some teeny tiny roundworms, but these pods came in on the rock that the zoas came on, so I’m worried I don’t have enough to sustain a mandarin yet.

If you want a mandarin just add another bottle of pods to be sure. I want one but i have a 20g so its tuff work. I might try it some time tho.

 

[wsanley]

They’re asterina stars! I totally missed the star-shape until I scrolled slowly with the slider on the video after a member on the Humblefish forum ID’d them. It’s “hugging” the zoa head. I’ll keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not eating them.

 

[TheGerm]

They’re asterina stars! I totally missed the star-shape until I scrolled slowly with the slider on the video after a member on the Humblefish forum ID’d them. It’s “hugging” the zoa head. I’ll keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not eating them.

Looking closely, I see the asterina star on the left, but that polyp opens rather quickly compared the others on the right. The ones on the right, i am not sure what maybe causing the slowness, but the pods look like they are on the glass, not the zoa's themselves (could be on them as well, but from the video they are on the glass).

Make sure nothing is touching them. From the time lapse its hard to tell if something touched them. I know for mine, my tomini tang swims rather close to a few patches of zoas and they close up and open later on.

 

[wsanley]

Looking closely, I see the asterina star on the left, but that polyp opens rather quickly compared the others on the right. The ones on the right, i am not sure what maybe causing the slowness, but the pods look like they are on the glass, not the zoa's themselves (could be on them as well, but from the video they are on the glass).

Make sure nothing is touching them. From the time lapse its hard to tell if something touched them. I know for mine, my tomini tang swims rather close to a few patches of zoas and they close up and open later on.

I’ve had this colony for almost a week and have noticed the ones on the right and the back of the rock do not open fully. I’ll keep a good eye on them to see if I find anything else. Thanks!

 

[Memisis]

Is this a good excuse for a harlequin?

 

[wsanley]

Is this a good excuse for a harlequin?

No. Did you not read my responses?

 

[Memisis]

No. Did you not read my responses?

I did! Did I miss something related to how you planned on dealing with them? Can't say I may not have m issued a post scrolling on phone.

Also, I would appreciate to hear from anyone in the community if harlequin is a viable response.

 

[jesspal]

I would get a Yellow Coris wrasse instead of a six-line but I'm no expert.