Zoas not opening

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

For almost a week now my zoas have all closed and barely open. Opening are maybe 10% of polyps. Nothing has been added in over a month. Water tested before changing Sunday with all results in normal parameters. The only thing I've noticed is an increase of spaghetti worms. It also looks like the worms are on around the base and polyps. The worms are striped with beige as the base and dark bands every few mm. I tried the water change and also blowing off with a turkey baster. I'm considering dipping in bayer today if no change. At docs so no pictures. Any ideas from the limited information provided?

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

Also, all other corals are fine. Tank is a year old and everything else is going fine.

TreyC2010 · Aug 12, 2015

I had the same issue and couldn't figure it out. Then I saw the shrimp I just added eating my Zoas and palys... I know you said you didn't add anything but just wanted to share that.

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

Anything is appreciated. My crabs will walk over them, irritating them in the process. Plus things can change. Things could discover they are tasty suddenly.

Cgschulz · Aug 12, 2015

It's hard to say by just that just keep a eye open for anything that could be constantly pestering them and look then over good to see if there is any sines of pests or disease starting on them and picks would help to determine what is going on when u can get have them up. Good luck

Reef_Box · Aug 12, 2015

Look for vermetid snails. They irritate my palys and zoas sometimes.

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

This is the best pic I could get. As you can also see some of the polyps have opened. I'm still contemplating a bayer dip.

Reef_Box · Aug 12, 2015

Looks to me like you have a bunch of vermetid snails extended under the colony. Those will cause your zoas to retract.

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

ok. i had thought they were just spaghetti worms.

twilliard · Aug 12, 2015

Out on a limb but what lighting are you using?
I ask this because the lower polyps are open but the top is struggling

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

I was thinking (so you know there is trouble, but don't worry, I'm not hurt yet), how do you tell the difference between spaghetti worms and vermetid snails? For the Vermetids I always looked for the short tube they came from, or actually just the short tube. I believe they also leave the mucous nets, but i'm not positive about that. Spaghetti worms just seemed to be string worms coming out of the sand.

@Reef_Box, I'm not disputing your call, just trying to wrap my head around it and understand the difference.

ian

Chris Adams · Aug 12, 2015

retiredsailor said:
ok. i had thought they were just spaghetti worms.

Yes those look like spagetti worms to me also. Vermetid release mucus string into current and create a tube like structure

missed your post above you are correct

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

@twilliard, I am using Reef Radiance LED's at about 50% for white and blue. Also, that particularly clump is probably my most successful, having been there for over six months. Additionally, only the green polyps open at all. The orange ones, on that clump, haven't opened. I've got a decent picture on my IPAD i'll load in a moment.

Chris Adams · Aug 12, 2015

good link for id
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

This is an older photo, but from better days. It's grown in more since then.

twilliard · Aug 12, 2015

retiredsailor said:
This is an older photo, but from better days. It's grown in more since then.

Yes I see now.
Irritation but I think it is spaghetti worm irritation.
Vermatid snails sends out strands of mucous that flows in the water column.
Also some zoes will do better than others even in my tank. Just the way it goes!
If you are feeding your tank good then just let it be cause I think if you dip it may cause more unwanted stress.

hybridazn · Aug 12, 2015

Do a dip with bayer, that will do wonders. Plus it will show you if any pests are bothering them. After the dip try to scrap off the vermetid snails with your fingernail or a screw driver is what I use.

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

@twilliard I welcome not dipping. Some of them have grown onto the live rock and I didn't look forward to separating them. I fed my corals via broadcast two days ago, and regular feedings for the fish have been going on as normal. I will stick to the turkey baster cleaning of the zoas then. Hopefully that will help them.

Are there any suggestions in the meantime of other, in-tank, steps I could take?

twilliard · Aug 12, 2015

retiredsailor said:
@twilliard I welcome not dipping. Some of them have grown onto the live rock and I didn't look forward to separating them. I fed my corals via broadcast two days ago, and regular feedings for the fish have been going on as normal. I will stick to the turkey baster cleaning of the zoas then. Hopefully that will help them.

Are there any suggestions in the meantime of other, in-tank, steps I could take?

Honestly I would let them be.
One thing you can do if it's the worm bothering them is to superglue that particular hole so it has to find somewhere else to go

retiredsailor · Aug 12, 2015

I'll have to take a good look around to see if I can find any particular origin points for the worms/vermetids.

Also, the picture below, pasted from the lionfishlair entry on spaghetti worm is almost exactly what I am seeing on some of the frags.

Thanks for the help everyone. I have to admit, this is causing way too much stress and anxiety on me. I am just really scared all my zoas are going to just up and die on me. Patience is not one of my strong suits.

ian