Why are my goochsters pooping?

[kev2me]

So I woke up this morning and saw some brown stuff coming out of the mouths of my Goochsters. It really looks like they're pooping. What's going on?

 

[ss7]

I've had that happen to many of my palys. They generally appear unhappy when they do that, but it doesn't alarm me as they've always been fine within a couple days.

SS

 

[roshi719]

Did you move them recently?

 

[kev2me]

Yes we did move them recently. They were up near the top of the tank in high light but low flow and they started developing fungus on them. We did a hydrogen peroxide dip and put them in medium to high flow at the bottom of the tank.

Now they're just about all open and the fungus is pretty much gone. They seem much happier now, but started expelling that brown stuff this morning.

It seems like when the polyp is done expelling, it's totally done and another one starts doing it. They all seem to be expelling brown stuff at different times.

 

[Ladipyg]

Getting rid of nasty stuff...as long as they are keeping their color and staying nice and plump I wouldn't worry about it. I've dipped with peroxide many times and sometimes they do that afterwards but recover.

 

[dtpollard]

It is poop. They expell the contents of their stomachs? sometimes when they are stressed. They should be fine. Mine do it from time to time.

 

[kev2me]

My girlfriend, who does the tank feeding for the fish, just informed me about 25% of the polyps were chowing down on mysis a couple days ago, so I guess that would explain it.

 

[MitchReef]

"Why are my goochsters pooping?" That just sounds WRONG!!!!

 

[kev2me]

Yeah, it grabbed some attention though so I could get some answers, didn't it

 

[gooch Verified Sponsor]

"Why are my goochsters pooping?" That just sounds WRONG!!!!

My wife would say they are just like me........always pooping.

 

[roshi719]

the brown stuff is the zooanthellae algae that they feed off of. since they were used to higher light they had a large population of it inside them. Then you moved them suddenly to the bottom of the tank where there is less light, so they are getting rid of the extra algae that they can't support without the bright light. There could be some poop mixed in with it, but my guess would be that most of it is just extra algae. I bet the tangs in the tank are loving it though.

 

[MitchReef]

the brown stuff is the zooanthellae algae that they feed off of. since they were used to higher light they had a large population of it inside them. Then you moved them suddenly to the bottom of the tank where there is less light, so they are getting rid of the extra algae that they can't support without the bright light. There could be some poop mixed in with it, but my guess would be that most of it is just extra algae. I bet the tangs in the tank are loving it though.

Very insightful observation Roshi....makes PERFECT sense....

 

[flricordia]

My girlfriend, who does the tank feeding for the fish, just informed me about 25% of the polyps were chowing down on mysis a couple days ago, so I guess that would explain it.

yes, I have several zoa types that poop a day or two after feeding them. Those Goochesters are hungry little brats too always greedily taking what they can grab.