Zoanthids wont open but other coral will

[SpaceReefer]

i bought some zoanthids online, they look healthy but only opened on the first day, after that they have just been closed since. I have tried moving them into low and high flow and low and high light. All other coral look happy and healthy.

 

[OutsideBrian]

Did you acclimate them or dip them before putting them in? Zoas will take their time opening sometimes. Every couple of days you can move them around until you find somewhere they like.

 

[ZoWhat]

yeah. I've wasted a LOT of $$$ on zoas. the more colorful they are the more they seem to melt away when changes happen in the tank.

I LOVE palys. when they get a foothold in your tank, they're a guaranteed money maker bc they can be frag'ed and sold for profit. they hardly melt away. in fact once they grow, they take off and you run out of real estate quick!

your zoas look to be adjusting, not trusting your lighting and water parameters quite yet. hang in there. if you see 1 polyp melting away per week or so....move dem' suckers to lower light

LATELY.... I have a suction cupped acrylic frag rack that suction cups to a sidewall. if I buy zoas I RACK THEM for at least 60 days to allow them to adjust before gluing to any LR

good luck

 

[George81]

Stop moving them, just let them be, they will eventually open up. I know it’s hard but keep your hands outta the tank.
Zoas are virtually indestructible. Mine survived a temp drop down to 63f, I forgot to plug the heater back in after a water change and that temp stayed there for nearly 24hrs. I also had wild ph and alkalinity swings in the same week. I figured they were goners so I dropped the alkalinity from 14 (crappy Kent Salt) down to 9. Which also caused the ph to fluctuate. They survived and have all grown new polyps.
Post your water parameters Incase something is out of whack.

 

[Red1CA]

i have the same issue as you. My frags 7-15 polyps open up nicely but my colony of 30+ doesnt open all the way. definitely leave them alone for a while

 

[flchamp89]

yeah. I've wasted a LOT of $$$ on zoas. the more colorful they are the more they seem to melt away when changes happen in the tank.

I LOVE palys. when they get a foothold in your tank, they're a guaranteed money maker bc they can be frag'ed and sold for profit. they hardly melt away. in fact once they grow, they take off and you run out of real estate quick!

your zoas look to be adjusting, not trusting your lighting and water parameters quite yet. hang in there. if you see 1 polyp melting away per week or so....move dem' suckers to lower light

LATELY.... I have a suction cupped acrylic frag rack that suction cups to a sidewall. if I buy zoas I RACK THEM for at least 60 days to allow them to adjust before gluing to any LR

good luck

Good stuff here. I agree with the paly statement. Paly or zoa that have large polyps seem to do better for me.