Zoas Getting Long Stalks And Closing Up

[BamboozleBean]

My zoa stalks have gotten pretty long from this morning.
I don’t have a par meter but I am sure they have enough light.
I’ve had them for about a week on my frag rack and only 2 of them seem to open.
Only time they were all open was the first 2 days I had them.
Here’s my parameters.

 

[BamboozleBean]

Here’s a photo.

 

[Red_Beard]

is there anything in the tank that could irritate them? like a shrimp or something? I have seen mine look like that and watched and the foxface had brushed them with his tail fin.

 

[BamboozleBean]

is there anything in the tank that could irritate them? like a shrimp or something? I have seen mine look like that and watched and the foxface had brushed them with his tail fin.

Nothing that I know of, I have a few hermit crabs but they’re not able to climb on the frag rack.
It’s a very new system so that could be it.

 

[BamboozleBean]

is there anything in the tank that could irritate them? like a shrimp or something? I have seen mine look like that and watched and the foxface had brushed them with his tail fin.

They have also consistently been like that for the last 4-5 days.

 

[Red_Beard]

Constantly is probably a different issue. They may still be acclimating although a week is a bit of time. I wonder if there is something in the water they don't like or possibly something they like that isn't there like iodine. Or maybe lighting. Totally guessing at this point

 

[BamboozleBean]

Constantly is probably a different issue. They may still be acclimating although a week is a bit of time. I wonder if there is something in the water they don't like or possibly something they like that isn't there like iodine. Or maybe lighting. Totally guessing at this point

I might look for an iodine supplement.

 

[Red_Beard]

Good luck, i hope they start to relax and open up for you! I have some that look very similar and some of them seem to be closed up far more frequently than my other types of zoas. Even so, they have totally covered the piece they are on, went from 3 polyps to probly 30 in a few months. Hope that helps!

 

[bigdrew]

I’ve read that Zoas need/prefer iodine. Perhaps if there is an iodine test and then a dosing solution, that may help.

 

[BamboozleBean]

Good luck, i hope they start to relax and open up for you! I have some that look very similar and some of them seem to be closed up far more frequently than my other types of zoas. Even so, they have totally covered the piece they are on, went from 3 polyps to probly 30 in a few months. Hope that helps!

Yes it does thank you.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Hope you get this worked out. Without a clear issue being seen, iodine would be my guess as well

 

[BamboozleBean]

Hope you get this worked out. Without a clear issue being seen, iodine would be my guess as well

Thank you, I’m making my way to my LFS tonight to pick some supplies up.
Hopefully that’s the solution.

 

[Nanorock1970]

@BamboozleBean How did you make out? My Zoas took about 2 weeks to really acclimate. I have had mine for about a year without iodine but I do give them reef roids about 1-3 times a week.

 

[BamboozleBean]

@BamboozleBean How did you make out? My Zoas took about 2 weeks to really acclimate. I have had mine for about a year without iodine but I do give them reef roids about 1-3 times a week.

I’ll check when I get home how they’re doing.
A couple polyps were open this morning, about 4 out of the 11. I spot fed reef roids for the first time the other day, they didn’t really respond much.
But I can see their mouths open sometime so I know they’re eating.
I’m going to get some iodine tonight see if that gives them a jump start.
I don’t think there’s any in the system as I haven’t dosed anything but Seachem Stability.
I’ll see how it goes.

 

[Red_Beard]

Any updates? Hopefully that iodine did the trick!

 

[BamboozleBean]

Any updates? Hopefully that iodine did the trick!

I wound up picking up another cheap zoa frag to see if I could isolate the problem.
Turned out to be an issue with the frag itself.
Other zoas doing great.

 

[Red_Beard]

Good to hear it isn't a tank issue! Like I said though mine are kinda skittish, hopefully they take off and thrive!

 

[BamboozleBean]

Good to hear it isn't a tank issue! Like I said though mine are kinda skittish, hopefully they take off and thrive!

I hope so too, thanks for checking in.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

Not sure if this was asked already but did you dip them?

 

[BamboozleBean]

Not sure if this was asked already but did you dip them?

I did not dip them as they were dipped at the store.