Zoas Shedding?

hig789 · Jul 21, 2015

I have found quit a few topics on this with no real solution or cause for it.

I have two frags that are shedding a layer of skin it looks like. My RPE have been in the tank for a few weeks I dipped them in Bayer and revive before putting them in. And I dipped them last week in revive again since they were still doing it. Some either just don't open at all or look like they open way too much and some look perfectly fine. Moved them around to different places but nothin has changed.

Now another frag I got last week is doing it.

Parameters:
Nitrates- 0-.25
CA- 420
Alk- 8.3
Ph - 8.2
Temp - solid 79.3
Salinity - 1.026

Weekly 10-20% water changes.

Should I dip them again or just let em be for a while?

I figure they are stressed but I don't want to cause them more stress.

Lockridge49 · Jul 21, 2015

Do you have any pictures ?

hig789 · Jul 22, 2015

Lockridge49 said:
Do you have any pictures ?

Yeah. Sorry my lights are off by the time I get home from work this week. You can see it on the very back one. It's like the outside layer of skin is coming off.

hig789 · Jul 24, 2015

Here's a better pic. They are looking a little better than they were I think but they still look terrible IMO.

AK1LL1N · Jul 14, 2019

Ever figure anything out about that problem?

ahiggins · Jul 14, 2019

I’ve had palys do that (zoas not so much). Increase flow and don’t touch/move them. If it looks like their shed is strangling them, use a small tweezer to pull it off. As for the umbrella/stretching part it seems like they want more light and more nitrates. I’ve seen low nutrient system success with them but the vast majority have success with 5-10 nitrates. I’ve ran with happy softies as high as 15-20 at times in the past.