Zoa Mouth Issue during feeding

Benga · Jun 8, 2020

I'm trying to figure out why this one zoa in particular does this with it's mouth when feeding. Almost all my other zoas eat like normal. It's like the mouth is prolapsing and if I turn on flow then I'll see a lot of mucus coming off this zoa.

Feeding a mix of roids, poly booster and aminos. Sorry I couldn't get a white light shot, had connectivity issues with the AI

ahiggins · Jun 8, 2020

Hopefully some others will chime in but imo you’re not feeding them you’re just irritating them. If it only does that during “feeding”...there’s your answer.
Out of all the corals I’ve had over the years, I’ve never seen a single zoa or paly eat except the super grandis. And even then, not well.

Benga · Jun 9, 2020

ahiggins said:
Hopefully some others will chime in but imo you’re not feeding them you’re just irritating them. If it only does that during “feeding”...there’s your answer.
Out of all the corals I’ve had over the years, I’ve never seen a single zoa or paly eat except the super grandis. And even then, not well.

Interesting, I can definitely agree with that specific zoa that's misbehaving but most others will take the food in and close. That's a good feeding response right? Or could it be that it's closing to avoid irritant near its mouth?

ahiggins · Jun 9, 2020

Benga said:
Interesting, I can definitely agree with that specific zoa that's misbehaving but most others will take the food in and close. That's a good feeding response right? Or could it be that it's closing to avoid irritant near its mouth?

It more likely it’s getting irritated and closing in my opinion. Zoas and palys don’t need “fed” in the traditional way. They get all they need from proper water and dissolved nutrients

Benga · Jun 9, 2020

Bumping hoping for some more opinions on this?

HuduVudu · Jun 9, 2020

I have never fed zoas nor have I ever seen them "eat". I am 100% certain that they are purely photosynthetic.

Hallowhead · Jun 9, 2020

I've read multiple articles of people feeding reef roids directly and I too feed directly but I will agree everyone looks irritated from being fed. I am following along for more answers

Benga · Jun 10, 2020

Dang I'm a fool for not doing proper research before hand... I thought i was doing good by "feeding" zoas instead i was just feeding nutrient and my chaeto..