Umbrella Syndrome Possible Causes?

Evan West · Sep 21, 2016

Okay so I have a few zoas that are experiencing this and i cannot seem to find any solid articles on possible causes, Ive read that its to do with light or flow for the most part but no definite causes. Has anyone had this issue and fixed it? What was it for you?

Babygecko1233 · Sep 22, 2016

None of my zoas have done this yet.... I asked my boss and he said it could just be the metabalism of the zoa...try placing it a little higher in the tanks...not to high if you have LEDS..this will put them in shock.. Other then that it doesnt harm the zoas...

Sabellafella · Sep 22, 2016

Possible causes? Sticking hand intank =)

Evan West · Sep 22, 2016

Sabellafella said:
Possible causes? Sticking hand intank =)

Hmmm well that is necessary sometimes :confused:

Sabellafella · Sep 22, 2016

Evan West said:
Hmmm well that is necessary sometimes :confused:

Its common in every tank for zoas to umbrella for a short amount of time. If there withering away, then dip them nd hope for the best. If they look healthy, growing, nice and colorfull, then leave em be! Regardless if there streching and whatnot.

Fragzilla · Sep 24, 2016

I believe it's from a sudden unexpected reduction in light intensity.

I also noticed that hydrogen peroxide dosing gets them back to normal. I'm not sure if it's the added O2 or the fact the waters been clarified that makes the difference, I could argue a case for both.

My theory is that if the polyp is metabolising under normal lighting conditions and then the light is suddenly reduced the zoox doesn't produce the oxygen the Zoa needs to metabolise properly. This stalls the zoas metabolism and causes the Zoa to push all the zoox up and creates the dome shape. It can't go back to normal until the O2 has been provided. It's stuck in motion.

I've had zoa frags do this previously and still grow normal polyps from the original single umbrella shape polyp.

A. grandis · Oct 2, 2016

That is one of the mysteries of keeping zoanthids, nominatively Zoathus spp.

Well, here is a list of things we should keep in mind: :confused:

1) Lack of light or too much light. More towards low light and low flow at the same time.
2) Sudden changes in the water chemistry, temperature and flow. Higher temperatures, specially!
3) The use of activated carbon and/or GFO. BTW I don't recommend GFO at all!!
4) Internal muscles atrophied due to lack of use, to collect food particles from water column.
Regular feeding could help PREVENT the syndrome.
5) Perhaps an internal pathogen in some cases? Don't ask me what pathogen!!
6) Natural part of their metabolism. A way to clean themselves, like pooping, or before expel zooxanthellae.
7) Irritators!!! Some times the polyps are irritated by organisms living around their bases and they develop weird shapes, like umbrella syndrome. Look for amphipods and hydroids around their bases, specially at night!!! Normally, if that is the case, it would happen with more than one polyp though!

Do I have to say that the combination of 2 or more of the above list could do it too?

Most of the time the umbrella syndrome doesn't last too long when the system is well taken care of. With the list above in mind we can see what one needs to do to help their Zoanthus to get it's natural appearance faster.
Some times just giving it a bit more water flow is all the polyps need to come back to it's natural appearance. or perhaps adjusting the temperature.

I've never seen a polyp perish because of umbrella syndrome and they normally recover from it in a couple of days or so. Normally it happens in one or two polyps, not the whole colony.
;)

Grandis.