When a Zoa becomes a pest...

[Dom]

Once upon a time, I purchased a Zoa frag. It was mounted on a flat, 1 inch square tile with a total of 6-8 heads.

Fast forward to today, and it has grown in the shape of a cross about 6 inches high and 5 inches across.

The problem: It covers several rocks in my rockscape.

I can separate the rocks, which will cause the Zoa to tear. But my big concern is that when the tear occurs, this will leave it stressed/threatened and may release toxins.

I could leave it alone. But the time will come when things need to be moved. I'm thinking I should break it up before it gets too big for the tank.

Thoughts?

Dom

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Pictures?

 

[Jimbo662]

You can take a razor blade to cut them. Just rub your had over them to get them to recede so you see the "skeleton" if you will and just cut along between the heads.

 

[JBKReef]

I would not be SUPER concerned about the palytoxin, as others have stated above just cut between heads once they are retracted. This is how people frag them up all the time. Just be cautious with your cuts, try to ensure you do not have any open wounds on your hands, and wash thoroughly after you've separated them.

 

[Dom]

This is a full shot of the tank in question. Its located dead center.

Zoom in...

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

You should be able to remove those without a palytoxin issue IME.

 

[Rakie]

You should be able to remove those without a palytoxin issue IME.

He has put his zoas through hell, his opinion is pretty solid. If ANYBODY here would have been hospitalized from Palytoxin, it has to be from the guy who put them in fresh water for a week.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

He has put his zoas through hell, his opinion is pretty solid. If ANYBODY here would have been hospitalized from Palytoxin, it has to be from the guy who put them in fresh water for a week.

;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[vetteguy53081]

tear, cut or anything. Toxins No BUT wear Gloves like aquagloves. Only $20 to save your fingers from cut and skin from elements

 

[hawkeye792001]

Yeah, knowledge is a good thing.

I bought a used tank when I got in the hobby. It was full of hair algea.

I pulled all the rock out and soaked it in a garbage can for a month with no light and just powerheads.

After a month I read that peroxide kills hair algea. Soooooo, I pulled each rock out poured peroxide on them and scrubbed them with a toothbrush over a 5 gallon bucket.

Little did I know that under many rocks there were zoanthids covering the rocks.

After 30 minutes I started having trouble breathing. I ran outside in a snow storm trying to catch my breath.

It took an hour to feel like i could take a full breath. It wasnt fun for sure.

 

[BmackCW]

I recently ripped out a large branch covered in pallys. I just made sure the carbon was fresh and I had no problems. My tank is SPS dominant.

 

[Jax15]

I understand the predicament, but it’s nice to see this problem rather than the usual “help my zoas aren’t growing!” (I fall more into that later category usually). You do seem to have a lot of remaining rockspace to work with for new corals, maybe just let me ride and focus on the fun part - buying new corals

 

[swensos]

I would worry more about the palys to the right of your scape.

 

[KenO]

I’ve read that a file fish which is usually added to eat Aptasia may also eat zoas. Might be worth a try.

 

[Chris Jakubowski]

You should be able to remove those without a palytoxin issue IME.

Wrong, I just lost all my SPS (within 18 hours they where totally stripped) and yellow tang died after doing a similar cull of these texas trash palys - Got a mild dose of palythoa toxica too in the process despite me taking precautions

 

[Terry aka Cr@sh]

When I remove coral that is growing better than expected I delicately separate and use fresh carbon. I crop GSP, Zenia, kenya, zoas and leathers by tearing or cutting slowly as to not rip a bunch apart harming them. They all have a chemical defense when harmed, some worse than others. Your open space leaves room for corals to spread in right conditions, Like someone mentioned, maybe you can trade the extra zoas to your LFS for new corals to fill the gaps removing the Zoas.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Wrong, I just lost all my SPS (within 18 hours they where totally stripped) and yellow tang died after doing a similar cull of these texas trash palys - Got a mild dose of palythoa toxica too in the process despite me taking precautions

That's a completely different species. Those are the larger palythoas, and yes, those are the ones known to let loose the toxins. The smaller zoas aren't known for that (so long as standard fragging methods are used...I still wouldn't recommend boiling them or doing anything crazy to them ). The OP shows off a rock covered in dragon eye zoas.

 

[reefermom750]

You could try a cowrie, but I’m not sure if your puffer would make a meal out of it. You would also need to keep an eye on the rest of your softies incase they are more appetizing to it.

 

[dangros]

I’ve been having a zoa issue for months. They are starting to grow into my sps’s And it’s really frustrating. I am now wishing I never got any.
Same with mushrooms and star polyps. Although they look really cool. I frequently rip them out any way I can and toss them into the toilet. I try to make sure the windows are open when I do.

 

[James w Lewis]

I have them in my tank and they grow everywhere. I hate them and I want them gone. They are pretty much unkillable. If anyone knows how to get rid of thempleasr let me know.