Why are they doing this

greenhorn reefer

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My colony keeps getting these bulgy heads and sad looking frill, why? I fragged one off and it is now completely normal looking. Also, all of the other zoas in the tank looked fine. However, I moved the the affected ones to a smaller tank and now another colony has several heads that look like that. Que pasa?
 

ciscomania

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i would like to know as well. Some of my zoas have a umbrella shape close to your pic. What would cause zoa to do this?
 

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They have long tentacles. Maybe the flow is too high, that's generally the indication.
 

Captain Jack

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I have these things on 2 of my Zoa colonies. One is randomly growing on my flexible return water pipe??? Is this a coral or a parasite?
 

Steven w

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I have these things on 2 of my Zoa colonies. One is randomly growing on my flexible return water pipe??? Is this a coral or a parasite?
Neither, it's a pest anemone called aiptasia and you will learn to loathe it lol. We all do, several ways to kill it I suggest you read up
 

ChiCity

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I have these things on 2 of my Zoa colonies. One is randomly growing on my flexible return water pipe??? Is this a coral or a parasite?
Aiptasia, and I bet there's more than 2 in your tank if they're posted up on your return nozzle....

My advice, berghia nudibranchs...
They will eradicate every last one!
 

Mikedawg

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I have these things on 2 of my Zoa colonies. One is randomly growing on my flexible return water pipe??? Is this a coral or a parasite?
Yep, aiptasia; get rid of it carefully so that it doesn't release spores into the water and add to the problem.
 

sde1500

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I don't think anyone truly knows why zoas do that. I've heard lighting, flow, all the usual suspects. Some just do it I think. I've had a couple Sunny D's do that, in the same small colony as others that did not. They went back to normal after a couple days. Only a worry if they don't go back to normal.
 
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greenhorn reefer

greenhorn reefer

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A few don't ever change back. The one in the pic is always umbrella'd. If it's flow or lighting I'm fine with that. Thanks.
 

Captain Jack

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Yep, aiptasia; get rid of it carefully so that it doesn't release spores into the water and add to the problem.

Yea, I made the mistake of try to crush them with my fingers...not a good idea [emoji51]. So yea, they have spread, but the kalk paste works good, so I'm gonna just keep hitting them with that as I see them.
 
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greenhorn reefer

greenhorn reefer

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I have noticed some of my other zoas starting to disappear. Looks like there is a sponge growing over/near them. Any ideas?
 

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