Natural Zoa fragging itself?

[Testy123]

Woke up today to see this dude chilling and attached to some rock at the bottom of my tank. Wasn't there a couple days ago. At first I wondered if somehow a Majano (which ive never seen in person to ID confirm) has been crawling around my tank for months unnoticed but then I realised this looks identical to one of my bigger zoa colonies. And yes the main colony has thick, long stalks like this dude. Exact same colouration etc and it has me wondering - is this just a detached Zoa that got torn off, blew around, landed here and attached and will recolonise on its own? Or actually a Majano.

Not the best photo sorry as my phone hates trying to focus through the glass and lights. Also included a photo of the main colony which is taken from top down so colour looks different to the rogue polyp but front on they are identical colours. Thanks all

 

[KrisReef]

Mojano's are not pretty.

 

[Testy123]

Mojano's are not pretty.

The most knowledge i have of Mojano is via Google images which show some green ones but they didnt look like this. I just was surprised to wake up and see a perfectly attached presumably-Zoa appear out of nowhere as a single polyp. And wanted to make Sure thats what it was and not some pest.

 

[smacrophylia]

it definitely happens and while floating around in the tank, getting trapped between rock and sandbed is highly likely giving it time to attach and then peak out from under for some light

 

[KrisReef]

The most knowledge i have of Mojano is via Google images which show some green ones but they didnt look like this. I just was surprised to wake up and see a perfectly attached presumably-Zoa appear out of nowhere as a single polyp. And wanted to make Sure thats what it was and not some pest.

My experience with zoas is limited, but "natural Frags" are not uncommon in aquarium settings. Some hard corals and leathers are fairly good at spreading themselves about.

Mojano's, when they show up people generally ask if they are an ugly zoa or some kind of bubble tip anemone, but with inspection the Mojo's are fairly bland/ ugly compared to what you have.

 

[Testy123]

it definitely happens and while floating around in the tank, getting trapped between rock and sandbed is highly likely giving it time to attach and then peak out from under for some light

So very cool. Perfect spot for a new colony to start up too!

 

[VintageReefer]

Not a pest. That’s a zoa and they get knocked loose by snails, hermits, and even currents. They blow around and land, attach, and will multiply. Congrats!

 

[acroholicanonymous]

I have a few zoas that detached from cleanings or crabs that settled down in weird spots on the tank. I will usually try and scrape them up if I can and glue them down to frag plugs to give away. The ones I don’t get to I just let them grow out where they are.