Zoa garden ravaged by spiders

[Keko21]

i was really proud of my zoa garden which had been growing amazingly for about two years. So much so they were actually crawling up the back wall in some spots.

About a month ago i noticed some small frags dying off. Then the bigger colonies started to melt away. I couldn’t figure out what was going on- if i had a spike in my parameters, if my rodi was not giving me 0 TDS, if my crabs were going rogue.

Found the problem today….zoa spiders. Despite dipping everything they somehow made it in and just wrecked the garden in a few weeks. Sometimes this hobby is brutal…

Before:

After:

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Dang - no need for a microscope with those. Brutal indeed!

 

[eliaslikesfish]

dang, my jaw literally dropped when i saw the after picture… sorry man.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Man I hate spiders

 

[LARedstickreefer]

So where did these come from? How long would they take to show themselves?

-Matt

 

[NonstopSoda]

im so sorry, that zoa garden was beautiful...

 

[crazyfishmom]

Ugh! So sorry! I had zoa eating nudibranches for a short period of time and they wreaked havoc on a couple of mini colonies but I might cry if they had gotten to so many beautiful pieces. Crossing fingers that they recover for you!

 

[Keko21]

im so sorry, that zoa garden was beautiful...

I only noticed the first one today and tweezed out about 6. Apparently they can go into the polyp and you may not even k ow they are there. I didnt know what was happening everything just started dying.

As you can see though some of the palys made it- im guessing those are the toxic ones lol

 

[OrionN]

I was thinking of taken my QT system down, but I see Zoa will need QT just like SPS prior to introduce to my DT.
I am sorry about your Zoas garden nut I am soo glad that I read this thread.
Good luck. Please update on how and if you solve this problem.
Sorry again.

 

[Grey Ghost]

New fear unlocked

 

[vetteguy53081]

i was really proud of my zoa garden which had been growing amazingly for about two years. So much so they were actually crawling up the back wall in some spots.

About a month ago i noticed some small frags dying off. Then the bigger colonies started to melt away. I couldn’t figure out what was going on- if i had a spike in my parameters, if my rodi was not giving me 0 TDS, if my crabs were going rogue.

Found the problem today….zoa spiders. Despite dipping everything they somehow made it in and just wrecked the garden in a few weeks. Sometimes this hobby is brutal…

Before:

After:

Not the spiders. No matter how you battle them, they seem to re-emerge likely from eggs which are super tiny. These are often introduced as a hitchhiker. Dipping new coral is best prevention. While dips do work, you may have to repeat several times and coralRX works well.
Also, a Six Line Wrasse and Melanurus Wrasse are well known to eat these spiders and keep in mind they borrow into the mouths of each polyp. Often you can suck many up with a turkey baster

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Wow, I am so sorry that happened to your zoas!

 

[Keko21]

Does anyone know if they need the zoas to survive? They are obviously not touching the palys likely because of the palytoxin, but can i just remove what remains of my dead zoas, wait a bit and start over?

The only silver lining here is that Im starting a new tank soon from scratch, but good to know for the future as well.

 

[kyreefville]

Not gonna lie after seeing this I’m terrified. Everywhere I look I’m like is that a spider. Today I even made paly retract because I thought there was a spider. Then I spent 15 minutes looking at baby starfish wondering is that a spider.

 

[Keko21]

Not gonna lie after seeing this I’m terrified. Everywhere I look I’m like is that a spider. Today I even made paly retract because I thought there was a spider. Then I spent 15 minutes looking at baby starfish wondering is that a spider.

IM doing the same thing now. I've pulled about 30 or more out of the tank so far but I haven't see any in a few days. Im waiting to make sure before getting any more zoas.

 

[kyreefville]

Ok who spent to much time today looking at a piece of algae and seeing only spider legs? No fibbing!

 

[wjm6449]

Not the spiders. No matter how you battle them, they seem to re-emerge likely from eggs which are super tiny. These are often introduced as a hitchhiker. Dipping new coral is best prevention. While dips do work, you may have to repeat several times and coralRX works well.
Also, a Six Line Wrasse and Melanurus Wrasse are well known to eat these spiders and keep in mind they borrow into the mouths of each polyp. Often you can suck many up with a turkey baster

Another reason I love my 6 line *******

 

[Tamberav]

@Arcadiareef

Wernt you looking for a Zoa eating pest?

 

[Dierks]

IM doing the same thing now. I've pulled about 30 or more out of the tank so far but I haven't see any in a few days. Im waiting to make sure before getting any more zoas.

If you can ship I would buy some of those spiders! Let me know!

 

[kyreefville]

If you can ship I would buy some of those spiders! Let me know!

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.