Zoanthids not closing...

[jpc763]

I have a several colonies of zoanthids. Lately I have noticed that one colony in particular does not seem to be thriving anymore. The polyps are small and recessed and the oral opening is jutting out. I have noticed this for a couple of days.
This morning when feeding the coral, I squirted some cyclopeeze on he colony. Normally they close up quickly on the food. Today, they did not close up at all. I touched several with my finger and they still stayed open.
Does anyone have any ideas on what is wrong? (if anything)
I will post pictures tonight.

 

[earlybird]

Lot of this going on right now. Search the colony for nasty hitchers that may be eating or hanging out. If that fails search for white spots or black/discolored spots. Search zoa or zoo pox. Not much info but it seems to be affecting a lot of us and what little info there is, there tends to be a correlation between infections and October-December.

 

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by earlybird
Lot of this going on right now. Search the colony for nasty hitchers that may be eating or hanging out. If that fails search for white spots or black/discolored spots. Search zoa or zoo pox. Not much info but it seems to be affecting a lot of us and what little info there is, there tends to be a correlation between infections and October-December.
Thanks. Will do. Question though. I thought Zoo pox caused the polyps to not open at all. Mine are open and don't close. Can that still be zoo pox?

 

[earlybird]

they never close? Sorry I misunderstood. what about at night or lights off or if you hit them with a powerhead?

 

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by earlybird
they never close? Sorry I misunderstood. what about at night or lights off or if you hit them with a powerhead?
No, they stay open at night (my other ones do sometimes as well). This morning I squirted food into them (usually they close right up on it) and they stayed open. I touched them with my finger and they stayed open.

 

[nycbob]

sounds like dead zoas to me. i hv never heard of polyps not responding. any pics?

 

[jpc763]

Well they respond, they just don't seem to close. Here are 3 pics.
10/2/07

Today - Zoanthids before turkey baster

Today - Zoanthids after spraying water on them with turkey baster

 

[nycbob]

they look fine to me. i wouldnt worry about them not closing since they look pretty healthy.

 

[jpc763]

OK, thanks. Two things I see. First that they have changed color. Second that they have gotten smaller and do not "stand up" as high. Is that a bad sign?

 

[earlybird]

Nope sounds like they are used to your lighting. They generally reach for the light when they need it. They look happy. However, I don't understand why they won't close up. How hard are you hitting them with the baster? I blast them with a maxijet 600 every couple of days and they close right up.

 

[jpc763]

So a few of them closed up last night. I squirted them as if I was cleaning a rock or something. Someone else pointed out that my colony has grown well so I should not worry.