Zoanthid stripper?

Avi · 08/03/2006, 07:03 AM

Suddenly, there's something in my reef that's taken a liking to the taste of zoanthids. All the fish in the tank are well-reconized as being "reef safe." The only one that's even mildly suspicious of being otherwise is the Chevron Tang, though Tangs are generally considered vegetarians.

Some of the zoanthids in the tank have literally been stripped off of the rock that they were spreading so nicely on...right down to the rock underneath them. The best I can tell, this is most often done during the night. I've never seen anything in the tank do anything like this while the lights are on.

Does anyone have some experience with this kind of destruction? Might the Chevron Tang have done something like that? Or should I suspect that there's some crab hitchhiker that's been in the tank for a long time and suddenly decided to consider zoanthids food? Thanks

pmui · 08/03/2006, 07:11 AM

what is your current list of inhabitants in the tank?

Avi · 08/03/2006, 07:21 AM

There's a mated pair of False Perculas, a Scott's Wrasse, an Exquisite Wrasse, Banguii Cardinal, Squamapinnis Anthias, two Mandarins and a Scooter Blenny, a Swallowtail Angel, Royal Gramma, a Shrimp Goby and a Diamond Goby.

There are two Sally Lightfoot Crabs, some Linckia Starfish along with Blue-legged and Scarlet Hermits and snails and that's it.

pmui · 08/03/2006, 07:29 AM

I would say it's the Angel that's eating your zoos. I have 2 angels in my tank (Koran, Regal) they both pick clean all my rock that were once full of zoos.

blface · 08/03/2006, 07:32 AM

I would guess it's the angel also. I have known quite a few fellow reefers whose "reef safe" angels all of a sudden had a taste for zoas. Have you looked for zoa eating nudies??

Travis L. Stevens · 08/03/2006, 07:56 AM

I would either say the Angel, the Sally Lightfoot Crabs, or an unkown predator. Most likely a Eunicid Worm. Also, check for the well known zoanthid pests such as Sundial Snails and Zoanthid Eating Nudibranchs. And lastly, check for hydroids hiding in among the polyps. I had an outbreak of Digitate Hydroids that nearly wiped out all of my zoanthids. All of my colonies are about half the size they were or smaller.

gallivanmk · 08/03/2006, 07:58 AM

A swallowtail angel should not have done that. Korans, Regals, Pygmies, etc., but I don't see it being the swallowtail. Especially not at night. I would grab a flashlight and check out the zoas at night and see if you find anything in/or on them.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/03/2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gallivanmk
A swallowtail angel should not have done that. Korans, Regals, Pygmies, etc., but I don't see it being the swallowtail. Especially not at night. I would grab a flashlight and check out the zoas at night and see if you find anything in/or on them.

I don't think it was the angelfish either, but out of every fish that was listed, it would be more likely to do it than any of the others. Though I highly doubt it did. I'm leaning more towards a Eunicid Worm though.

Avi · 08/03/2006, 02:16 PM

I'll check it out tonight...as late as possible. There are "moonlights" on the tank but, of necessary, I'll use a flashlight as well. The idea of a worm like that doing the damage makes sense since the damage is down to the rock. I doubt that a fish would even finish off the encrustation of the zoanthid colony.

pmui · 08/03/2006, 02:39 PM

mine has.

bpd964 · 08/03/2006, 02:52 PM

My purple tang had lunch on 2 new zoo heads I added to the tank.. The plug barely hit the bottom before the tang was finished. Clean to the rock..

Avi · 08/03/2006, 06:22 PM

pmui...bpd964....Did you actually see your fish eat the zoanthids?

By the way, I'm more inclined to believed it's a Eunicid Worm. I just took a look at what they look like...about three weeks ago, I did look into the tank well after the lights were out and say one of those. Until now, I thought it was some, more or less, innocent bristle worm, though it's size was surprising.

Now...How to catch that monster?

08/03/2006, 07:03 AM	#1
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Zoanthid stripper? Suddenly, there's something in my reef that's taken a liking to the taste of zoanthids. All the fish in the tank are well-reconized as being "reef safe." The only one that's even mildly suspicious of being otherwise is the Chevron Tang, though Tangs are generally considered vegetarians. Some of the zoanthids in the tank have literally been stripped off of the rock that they were spreading so nicely on...right down to the rock underneath them. The best I can tell, this is most often done during the night. I've never seen anything in the tank do anything like this while the lights are on. Does anyone have some experience with this kind of destruction? Might the Chevron Tang have done something like that? Or should I suspect that there's some crab hitchhiker that's been in the tank for a long time and suddenly decided to consider zoanthids food? Thanks __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

08/03/2006, 07:11 AM	#2
pmui Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Union, NJ /NY Posts: 606	what is your current list of inhabitants in the tank? __________________ edit: url's are not permitted in signatures. Current Tank Info: 120Gal w/ 30 gal. sump. (4)VHO

08/03/2006, 07:21 AM	#3
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	There's a mated pair of False Perculas, a Scott's Wrasse, an Exquisite Wrasse, Banguii Cardinal, Squamapinnis Anthias, two Mandarins and a Scooter Blenny, a Swallowtail Angel, Royal Gramma, a Shrimp Goby and a Diamond Goby. There are two Sally Lightfoot Crabs, some Linckia Starfish along with Blue-legged and Scarlet Hermits and snails and that's it. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

08/03/2006, 07:29 AM	#4
pmui Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Union, NJ /NY Posts: 606	I would say it's the Angel that's eating your zoos. I have 2 angels in my tank (Koran, Regal) they both pick clean all my rock that were once full of zoos. __________________ edit: url's are not permitted in signatures. Current Tank Info: 120Gal w/ 30 gal. sump. (4)VHO

08/03/2006, 07:56 AM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	I would either say the Angel, the Sally Lightfoot Crabs, or an unkown predator. Most likely a Eunicid Worm. Also, check for the well known zoanthid pests such as Sundial Snails and Zoanthid Eating Nudibranchs. And lastly, check for hydroids hiding in among the polyps. I had an outbreak of Digitate Hydroids that nearly wiped out all of my zoanthids. All of my colonies are about half the size they were or smaller. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/03/2006, 07:32 AM	#5
blface Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: meeechigan Posts: 958	I would guess it's the angel also. I have known quite a few fellow reefers whose "reef safe" angels all of a sudden had a taste for zoas. Have you looked for zoa eating nudies??

08/03/2006, 07:58 AM	#7
gallivanmk Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 663	A swallowtail angel should not have done that. Korans, Regals, Pygmies, etc., but I don't see it being the swallowtail. Especially not at night. I would grab a flashlight and check out the zoas at night and see if you find anything in/or on them.

08/03/2006, 02:16 PM	#9
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I'll check it out tonight...as late as possible. There are "moonlights" on the tank but, of necessary, I'll use a flashlight as well. The idea of a worm like that doing the damage makes sense since the damage is down to the rock. I doubt that a fish would even finish off the encrustation of the zoanthid colony. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

08/03/2006, 02:39 PM	#10
pmui Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Union, NJ /NY Posts: 606	mine has. __________________ edit: url's are not permitted in signatures. Current Tank Info: 120Gal w/ 30 gal. sump. (4)VHO

08/03/2006, 02:52 PM	#11
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	My purple tang had lunch on 2 new zoo heads I added to the tank.. The plug barely hit the bottom before the tang was finished. Clean to the rock..

08/03/2006, 06:22 PM	#12
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	pmui...bpd964....Did you actually see your fish eat the zoanthids? By the way, I'm more inclined to believed it's a Eunicid Worm. I just took a look at what they look like...about three weeks ago, I did look into the tank well after the lights were out and say one of those. Until now, I thought it was some, more or less, innocent bristle worm, though it's size was surprising. Now...How to catch that monster? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR Last edited by Avi; 08/03/2006 at 06:51 PM.