Zoas and not so rapid transit

[Sazarac]

Hi all,

I'm going to receive my very first frag pack in the mail this week. And my first zoas. They may be in transit for 3 days. I have some questions on how to deal with mailed livestock.

1. How do I acclimate corals that have been in transit that long?
2. Dips? What type and how long?
2. If the specimens are unmounted when (i.e. should I do it right away or wait) and how should they be mounted?
3. Once in the display tank should they be settled temporarily or moved immediately to their permanently location?
4. Is there a way of determining the best location for particular types/colors of zoas?

I have a biocube 29 which has been setup for a little over a year now. The the stock pump has been replaced with a maxijet 1200 and I've added a nano koralia. Lights are stock (36w 10,000k and 36w actinic). Any feedback and advice would be greatly appreciated. :toothy5:

Sazarac

 

[ficklefins]

1.1 Start off by floating the bag to get them back up to temp.

1.2 Examine the frags while they are in the bag to check for nasties so you know what you have to deal with.

2. Here is an example of Mucho's Iodine dip he posted on RC.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1248&highlight=spotlight

3. Mount them at the start if you can, last resort would be to place them in a breeder box.

4. Once acclimated, dipped, mounted place them lower in the tank or on your sand bed. You have some good space in the front of your rock work that would also allow you to keep an eye on them.

5. After a bit of time ( say 3 weeks) look at your polyps and check for stalk extension. If they extend up towards the light making a trumpet shape then you know they are ready to be moved up a bit. Final placement is a factor flow and light, with palys and zoas preferring different levels of each. There is no easy way to tell but take some time after each move to determine if they are happy or not. Keep in mind that they will do best in a stable environment.

Good luck

 

[fly guy]

Ill add a #6 to fins list

6. Dont ever ship live animals for three days. personally i wont accept anyone to ship to me anything but overnight, nor will i ever ship anything to anyone else anything but overnight.

 

[Russellaqua]

Ill add a #6 to fins list

6. Dont ever ship live animals for three days. personally i wont accept anyone to ship to me anything but overnight, nor will i ever ship anything to anyone else anything but overnight. I have this OCD disorder and need everything to survive EVERY time.

I agree whole-heartedly. These are live animals that will be slowly using up oxygen and sitting in a bag that is becoming ever more contaminated with their own waste. Being mainly photosynthetic they're also not really being fed for 3 days. This will put a lot of stress on them.

 

[Sazarac]

I did say they MAY be in transit for 3 days, the corals are being shipped 2nd day, however, out here in the boonies, it's POSSIBLE they will be delayed as we seem to the last stop for UPS.

I've read on several other forums that 2nd day shipping was pretty standard on SOME livestock. So I factored that in my consideration when accepting a 2nd day shipping, with not a little nail biting :? Fish stores don't get EVERYthing overnight. I can't expect to either. I also factored in this sellers feedback, as he's been doing it a while.

But I've got to take the leap of faith the first time out and trust that SOMEone knows what they are doing. Then do the best *I* can by the critters once they are in my care. Which is why I posted this question. Nice reply ficklefins BTW, thanks. That's exactly the sort of advice I need. I don't have a breeder box, could I use Tupperware with holes?

Saz

 

[ficklefins]

Saz,

I have sent 2nd day without any issues, but I have also received 2nd day and had everything dead. It really depends on your source and if the person you purchased them from is reputable. If you have a good source then you will received some slightly stressed frags that will recover in due time. Keep us updated.

Like I said. The breeder box approach is last case scenario because you will reduce flow to your zoas which helps to minimize any fungus or other issues. You really want to mount them at the start. I really like Super Glue Gel for normal users like you and me, and home depot now sells it in 4 packs.

Cyanoacrylate gel

 

[Sazarac]

I'm crossing my fingers for the former! I would hate for my first foray into purchasing online to be a bad one, for me AND the livestock! I'm only doing this out of desperation. There ARE no LFS out here, and the closest (over an hour away) have no selection. (shrug) What's an addict going to do?

I will certainly do an update once I've received them. In the meantime, I worry. (sigh)

I like having plans B, C AND D ready just in case. A breeder box, or like contraption would be one of those. I hope I won't need it, 'sides I have a Q tank if I really need to remove them. I have super glue gel. I've done a really simple frag with a candy cane. However, this is flesh I'm gluing, correct? Do I, or SHOULD I do this in, or out of the water? And I just glue the flesh of the zoa directly onto the mount (LR)? Again thanks for the info!

Saz

Saz,

I have sent 2nd day without any issues, but I have also received 2nd day and had everything dead. It really depends on your source and if the person you purchased them from is reputable. If you have a good source then you will received some slightly stressed frags that will recover in due time. Keep us updated.

Like I said. The breeder box approach is last case scenario because you will reduce flow to your zoas which helps to minimize any fungus or other issues. You really want to mount them at the start. I really like Super Glue Gel for normal users like you and me, and home depot now sells it in 4 packs.

Cyanoacrylate gel

 

[ficklefins]

Dry off the mount surface and polyp base with a paper towel. Then apply as much glue as is needed to cover the entire polyp base. Push the polyp onto the glue and make sure that that the tops of the polyps are not covered. Super glue creates some heat so hold the polyps in the water (best case scenario rest them in the sump) for a 5 minute time frame keeping them out of high flow. After that place them on the sand bed and keep an eye on them.

 

[Sazarac]

Ok, stupid question, can I hold the polyp with my bare hands, or should I use something? I image it will be small and slippery. The candy cane was a breeze, it had a "handle" heh heh. I didn't realize super glue caused heat! I'll definitely bear that in mind. I don't have a sump, however I can turn the pumps off for bit.

I forgot to ask about feeding the newcomers. When, or should, I attempt to feed them? I have mysis. And I just got some selcon. I can see why you are a Super DUPER moderator. You're being very helpful! :thumbleft:

Saz

Dry off the mount surface and polyp base with a paper towel. Then apply as much glue as is needed to cover the entire polyp base. Push the polyp onto the glue and make sure that that the tops of the polyps are not covered. Super glue creates some heat so hold the polyps in the water (best case scenario rest them in the sump) for a 5 minute time frame keeping them out of high flow. After that place them on the sand bed and keep an eye on them.

 

[Sazarac]

Update

It got the frags yesterday. It turned into a 3 day delivery.
I got 3 zoas and a mushroom. Two zoas are fully open, the purple is still closed, the mushroom melted. Which really surprised me, I thought it would have been the toughest one.
All were mounted.

Saz

 

[Texas]

I'm in east Texas and I only do overnight shipping.I put to much money into frags just to have them die because I was to cheap for overnight shipping.Trust me overnight is the only way to go.Where about in Texas are you.I'm always open for trades.

 

[Sazarac]

This was my first foray into online purchasing. I wasn't being "cheap". I simply paid a set amount of money, there was no break down. The mushroom was a freebie, so I'm not upset, well, I AM, but what are ya gonna do? Oh, I know! Overnight next time! Right?

I'm near Dayton. I have nothing to trade yet. But I'm always open to buy!
Right now though, I need to make sure the zoas don't get eaten by the sexy shrimp. These are "test" zoas.

The purples STILL haven't opened. Is that normal? How would I know if they were dead?

Saz

I'm in east Texas and I only do overnight shipping.I put to much money into frags just to have them die because I was to cheap for overnight shipping.Trust me overnight is the only way to go.Where about in Texas are you.I'm always open for trades.

 

[Texas]

I wasn't say you was cheap.I am just saying when I buy I like to buy alot at once to make the shipping worth while.I have even lost stuff that was shipped overnight.Anyways overnight is the only way I want anything shipped to me now.What purple was it?Purple death?Give it some time it might open.Where is Dayton?Let me know what your looking for I because I can hook you up!Also my sexy shrimp doesn't mess with a thing.

 

[Sazarac]

Heh, were my ruffled feathers showing? I did read it's best to buy a lot like you said, to make the shipping worth while.

I have no idea which purples. This was a "grab bag". The bag said Purple Zoas...I asked for names, but never got any. (shrug) What I got he called peachs and blues and purples. The peach ones have white lips and tan skirts, the blues really look pale green to me, with bright orange centers and brown skirts. The peach ones are about the size of a pencil eraser, the blues are ittle bitty. Can't say much about the purple since they haven't opened yet.

I'm not looking for anything at the moment. I like for things to settle down before I buy anything else. If this zoas work out, then some more would be nice. I like candy canes and mushrooms. I guess I AM looking for interesting 'shrooms'.

I'm in the sticks, between Mont Belvieu and Dayton. Middle of nowhere. UPS gets here after dark sometimes. It think we're about last on their route. Where are you?

I hope the sexy's don't touch them, 'specially since I MAY (crossed fingers) have some more. I have babies EVERYwhere.:toothy7:

Saz

I wasn't say you was cheap.I am just saying when I buy I like to buy alot at once to make the shipping worth while.I have even lost stuff that was shipped overnight.Anyways overnight is the only way I want anything shipped to me now.What purple was it?Purple death?Give it some time it might open.Where is Dayton?Let me know what your looking for I because I can hook you up!Also my sexy shrimp doesn't mess with a thing.