Strange Zoa
 

Hello All,

I bought what I presumed was a Zoa but it seems to be struggling and growing strange (see photo) can anyone advise? These large stringy heads seem to be growing all aroud my tank now:hmm2:

Im using a Fluval Reef LED and zoas about mid way - Gonipora and Xenia seem fine but this just dies not seem to be doing well.

Any advice from someone with more experience is greatly appreciated

The large stringy heads are pests called aiptasia and need to be pulled out. Do you have gloves? The zoanthids can release a toxin, so I'd recommend wearing them while you're down there pulling the weeds.

So Aiptasia, not fun and very deadly to other corals. That colony is doomed if you don’t get them out.
The best (albeit it might kill the colony) method to remove the Aiptasia, is to move pieces of coral rubble right on top of the Aiptasia. They should detach from the zoa rock to climb on top of the coral rubble. Once they do that, remove the coral rubble and let it dry out for 5 days.

Repeat for each Aiptasia anemone.


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Oh man what a fool! I knew they weren’t right but could not identify online.

Thank you for your help - Would Apitasia X be a worthwhile purchase? I could pull these couple out in the interim? I have no LFS unfortunately so have to purchase things online!

No LFS??? Where do you live?

I’ve never used Aiptasia X, so I can’t comment.

I’ve used manjano probes, they do not work. The most effective way of removal I have ever found was the one I described above.
Hopefully some other member might have a better experience.


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Aiptasia X us very effective. Saying this from personal experience!


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I had great luck with peppermint shrimp, but you need two or more to get them to work, i had one for month and she was not eating aptaisia , i got a second one , next morning all aptaisia was gone.