Bugs possibly eating zoas?

bnano · 11/16/2012, 09:16 PM

I'm new to the SW world and so I've been watching my small collection of new zoas pretty closely and worrying that something is going to wipe them away in the night without my know how but I managed to spot a pest today and it's WAY TOO small to take a picture of.

They look sort of like copepods (which I do have in my tank already) but they walk flat across and around the zoas rather than curled like the copepods usually do. Several of them are a bright green but the rest are that translucent grey color. They look like they have 8 legs with 6 on one end and the last set on the other but I can't exactly tell the head from the end cause they have antennas on both end and lastly I noticed at least one of them has claws.

What on earth are these things and why are they hiding around the zoanthids? GAH! I'm super worried!! lol. Should I go ahead and dip?

A. Grandis · 11/16/2012, 10:32 PM

Are they eating/damaging/irritating the polyps?
If the polyps are hurt or closed because of them, yes, dipping would be good.

They could be amphipods. They are normally small (some are big!!!) crustaceans. Some species do eat zoanthids.
Some other species of amphipods are herbivores and won't damage the polyps. They can live among them without any problems at all. If the polyps are open normally during the day and if they look healthy, nothing to worry about.

Hard to know what it is for sure without a picture.
Good luck!

Grandis.

cowboy fan · 11/23/2012, 11:30 PM

I'm new too. When I saw my first nudi I thought I was the coolest thing. Looked like a little centipeed but bright. So I guess they change colors to blend with your zoa. They eat the skirts off. And they multiply like cancer. So dip all your zoas. I just use water. Leave it in the water for 5 mins then shake it in the same water vigorously for a few seconds. You'll see those suckers floating everywhere. How you'll know you have them is your zoa polyp will be closed when lights are on. And the centers are bright neon. Means they're in distress. So dip! And always dip anything new from anyone or anywhere.

bnano · 11/25/2012, 04:21 PM

Thanks guys but I ended up having a tank crash over Thanksgiving weekend because a friend didn't check my tank like I asked and the heater malfunctioned. So I guess the nudibranches are the least of my worries. If they're in there, they're dead. lol.

A. Grandis · 11/25/2012, 04:57 PM

I'm sorry for the crash!
Hope the tank gets better!

Grandis.

cowboy fan · 11/26/2012, 12:17 AM

That's what friends are for right

good luck with the new tank. !!

11/16/2012, 09:16 PM	#1
bnano Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Detroit/Miami Posts: 14	Bugs possibly eating zoas? I'm new to the SW world and so I've been watching my small collection of new zoas pretty closely and worrying that something is going to wipe them away in the night without my know how but I managed to spot a pest today and it's WAY TOO small to take a picture of. They look sort of like copepods (which I do have in my tank already) but they walk flat across and around the zoas rather than curled like the copepods usually do. Several of them are a bright green but the rest are that translucent grey color. They look like they have 8 legs with 6 on one end and the last set on the other but I can't exactly tell the head from the end cause they have antennas on both end and lastly I noticed at least one of them has claws. What on earth are these things and why are they hiding around the zoanthids? GAH! I'm super worried!! lol. Should I go ahead and dip?

11/25/2012, 04:57 PM	#5
A. Grandis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu Posts: 3,418	I'm sorry for the crash! Hope the tank gets better! Grandis. __________________ Cartoon names + 1-5 polyps on white plugs = easy money!!! Really? Try to become a reefer, not a "plugger", please! Don't forget that LEDs are actually the shop lights nowadays!! Try HOT5s!

11/16/2012, 10:32 PM	#2
A. Grandis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu Posts: 3,418	Are they eating/damaging/irritating the polyps? If the polyps are hurt or closed because of them, yes, dipping would be good. They could be amphipods. They are normally small (some are big!!!) crustaceans. Some species do eat zoanthids. Some other species of amphipods are herbivores and won't damage the polyps. They can live among them without any problems at all. If the polyps are open normally during the day and if they look healthy, nothing to worry about. Hard to know what it is for sure without a picture. Good luck! Grandis.

11/23/2012, 11:30 PM	#3
cowboy fan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 19	I'm new too. When I saw my first nudi I thought I was the coolest thing. Looked like a little centipeed but bright. So I guess they change colors to blend with your zoa. They eat the skirts off. And they multiply like cancer. So dip all your zoas. I just use water. Leave it in the water for 5 mins then shake it in the same water vigorously for a few seconds. You'll see those suckers floating everywhere. How you'll know you have them is your zoa polyp will be closed when lights are on. And the centers are bright neon. Means they're in distress. So dip! And always dip anything new from anyone or anywhere.

11/25/2012, 04:21 PM	#4
bnano Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Detroit/Miami Posts: 14	Thanks guys but I ended up having a tank crash over Thanksgiving weekend because a friend didn't check my tank like I asked and the heater malfunctioned. So I guess the nudibranches are the least of my worries. If they're in there, they're dead. lol.

11/26/2012, 12:17 AM	#6
cowboy fan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 19	That's what friends are for right good luck with the new tank. !!