Help on Zoanthus

[Zappy Kiwi]

Hi all,

Have some questions on zoanthus (colony polyps). Not sure if I post in the correct section of the forum as couldn't find any discussion on colony polyps. (if post wrongly. moderator pls move the thread to the correct section )

A week ago, I bought a colony polyp (green colour). Everything was ok, the polyps expanded fully. Until yesterday, I start to see a small nudibranch on the zoanthus. I did a search in this forum and realised that the nudibranch feeds on the zoo, and I quickly removed that bugger. I also did FW dip twice, each session abt 10-15min (yesterday and today) and shake the rock vigorously. Nothing come out thought, except a bristleworm.

Then I found a strange thingy today (with numerous stripped tenacles) residing in the zoo rock. (refer to pic). Looks like octupus legs. Could it be a hydroid? Couldn't find any picture matching the thingy online. Is this thingy bad or good? Will it feed on the zoos?? Pls advice.

-Should I ignore it (ie left it there)?

-Pull it out using tweezer? (tried once, but the bugger shrink back into its hiding place.

-continue with FW (or other kinds of dips)?

Thanks in advance!!

The picture is taken abt an hr after the FW dip, hence, some of the polyps are still not open.

[jacobus]

is it like a hairy worm ? only the "hair" very thick ? ...any way .. just to play safe ... just take it out lor..

[hammerhd]

should be a brittle star

[Zappy Kiwi]

Thks for the reply. But what is a hairy worm? Act, I want to ID this thingy (if possible) to know if it is good or bad. Bcos, I suppect there may be more than 1 of such thingy among the zoo.

Oh, this thingy actually survive the FW dips I performed twice. This may b that the thingy has a 'wormhole' to hide, making it even more difficult to catch..

[WaNeR]

cant see the pic clearly

could it be aiptasia?

[Zappy Kiwi]

Oh aiptasia, I nv thought of that. But on second thoughts, aiptasia are always seen with its tenacles and its crown (or body) (or so I believe). But for this thingy. all I see is it moving tenacles. I nv see its 'body' before, hence all the more it makes me curious (and panic if it is bad)...

Oh, more description on the thingy

Its tenacles do not necessary cluster together. I rem once I saw the tenacles, surrounding a few polyps, like an octupus on its prey. But those polyps are still okay and opening fully.

[WaNeR]

cant really do much as cant get to see the pic clearly

[Zappy Kiwi]

Here's another pic, with my nightlight on and torchlight shinning on the thingy. As u can see, only its tenacles are visible.

Anyone has any ideal wat this thingy is? Will it feed on zoos, like nudibranch?

[Zappy Kiwi]

Here's another picture taken with the night lights. Any reefer with experience in zoanthus can advise whether is hitchhiker is good or bad?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[jacobus]

ok ... i know what it is ... but i dun know the name ... all i know that it wiped out half my GSP colony... just 1 worm... it was wat i was trying to describe.. haha .. pardon me for the poor descriptive skills.. umm ya.. remove it soon ... once its out .. you should get what i meant.. haha..

[Zappy Kiwi]

ok ... i know what it is ... but i dun know the name ... all i know that it wiped out half my GSP colony... just 1 worm... it was wat i was trying to describe.. haha .. pardon me for the poor descriptive skills.. umm ya.. remove it soon ... once its out .. you should get what i meant.. haha..

Hmm.. u sure is this thingy? Dun frighten me lah.. didn't know it is so destructive..

How did it wipe out half your GSP colony? By consuming it?

I realise it's inpossible to put it out... The thingy u see are it's tenacles. It shuns when I tried to catch it. Some more I realise it has so many many various holes to slide out... wanna use glue to stick the thingy also dunno where to apply.

I had a feeling that this thingy of mine is actually the spaghetti worm.

ZoaID.com See the link for more details. This webby contains many information on Zoanthids. (Types and colours, predators etc...click on the Gallery link on the left side. Good website!)

It is labelled as an "IRRITATER", not a "PREDATOR". Most probably it's slithering tenacles irritates the polyps until it won't open and die of eventually. Funny thing is, I have seen this thingy sliding its tenacles on my zoa polys but they (the polys) dun close up... Think my zoa polys may be immune to its irritation. Think I will continue to monitor the thingy (I have found 2 in all) to see whether it will disturb the polyps or not.

Anyone with zoanthids had this spaghetti worm hiding inside?? Dun think that I am the only one...

[jacobus]

haha .. wipe out half becoz i was too blur to realise until 2 -3 weeks later.. at first i tot it was part of the GSP coz it was green ... until i realise tt i was in diff positions then i took it out .. i dunno la ... hopefully someone can advise..

[MapleReef]

Definitely NOT a Spaghetti Worm...more like a Predator...Zoanthid Eating Spiders. Check out this deifinition of Irritators and Predators of Zoanthids....

http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384

Top row...extreme Right picture

BTW...nice sized colony. What's the asking price for a colony o fthis size?

HTH,

Maple Reef