Need help from zoas expert

[Aquareef123]

I bought a rock of zoas and they are green zoas. After putting in my tank for 2 weeks, I was shocked to see some of them turned into ugly ducking (circled). Anyone has this experience before?

Some told me they may be hitch hiking zoas that came out after purchase. Some told me these may be burned by aiptasia. Which is true? This doesn't happen to the other zoas I bought but just this rock. Pls help. Thanks.

[ASHWIN]

..i too wanna know! good question bro..

[VelvetAirwaves]

The ones you circled look like hitch hikers, look totally different from the surrounding zoas.

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[JoeyBabooey]

I noticed the same as well at the LFS.. But i just thought to myself if they are a totally different species altogether on the same rock...

Like maybe just maybe the ones your circled are just palys? Can try to frag them off and glue them onto another rock.. The zoas should encrust that lobang that your frag off..

[Aquareef123]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Whatever they are (zoas or palys), they are non-luminous, non-attractive ugly ducking. I just want to make sure that they are indeed hitch hiker and not my zoas turn into these ugly ducking because of water parameter or parasite.

The next question is how to get rid of them? Do I apply joes juice or something on them?

[cool guy]

Hi bro. Those r paly... its common when u buy a wild colony. Take the rock out. N u can pluck those paly out easily. Make sure U wear glove n spec when doin tat. Alternatively, u can bring down tat zoas to iwarna n look for me at my frag room. I can help u remove thos3 paly.

[Aquareef123]

Hi bro. Those r paly... its common when u buy a wild colony. Take the rock out. N u can pluck those paly out easily. Make sure U wear glove n spec when doin tat. Alternatively, u can bring down tat zoas to iwarna n look for me at my frag room. I can help u remove thos3 paly.

Bro,

You must be the guy I met at Iwarna. I'm the guy with a 6ft tank and you helped me chose the elegance and brain coral remember? I'll be starting my Triton dosing this weekend. After I get all the necessary stuff. hehehehe.

As for the paly, i will try to do it myself as a learning experience. Problem is I worry about taking the rock out of water, all the polyps are closed how to I tell which is zoas and which is paly?

Thanks.

[JoeyBabooey]

after they close, you can still sort of tell.. the palys are usually thicker and longer than the zoas you have. get an eyeball on the exact spots to be certain. dont have to rush to get them out at once.. if unsure, put them back, let them open up again, spot the spot and try again.

like what Bro cool guy mentioned, need to stress again that you need safety glasses and gloves to do this... learnt it the scary way.

if you can, try to keep them alive and glue them onto another rock. may not be attractive to you but could be nice to another =) hitchhiker or not, they are still corals...

hope this helps!

[Quas111]

I notice drab colored plays sometimes get nicer. And most get a greenish tinge once mature. Oh and BTW as your light is very blue you won't notice the colors on it at first. Try put it under winter lights and if you are lucky the colors would be a lot nicer too!

[Aquareef123]

Thanks bros for all the informative feedbacks. Now I know they are paly and not pest like aiptasia, I may just leave them alone for now. Hopefully they will color up one day. Thanks again.

[Aquareef123]

Just an update. I removed the rock and tried to get the paly out. It is not as easy as what one might think. After a while, when all the zoas/paly closed up. There was absolutely no way to tell which is which.

Anyway, I'm going to try again tonight. This time I will have my joe's juice ready. hehehehehe