Zoa opening- How long is this going to take?

[MantisShrimpMan]

I just got my first coral ever- treehouse of horror zoas. they arrived a day early and I had less time to handle them than I would have liked. With that being said, I started with a Bayers dip, followed by a Polyp Labs Reef Primer dip, followed by a hydrogen peroxide dip, and finally a freshwater dip. Between each I dunked the coral in a container of untreated saltwater. Each dip was probably 1-3 minutes long. Then, I chopped off the "dowel" portion of the frag plug so the disk could sit on my rock work, and placed it in my tank. Unfortunately, it's been 2-3 hours, and the polyps have not extended at all. Given Im new to coral the inevitable question is whether it's dead or just will take more time. Any thoughts?

How long should I expect the polyps to take to open like that?

 

[Reeflix]

i say thats a lot of dips.... give him overnight, thats how long it takes my corals to open. the dips might be the problem if he doest open up. a lot of stress

 

[teela]

Mine took a day or two. I'm also new to the hobby though, and only have experience with one zoa frag!

 

[MantisShrimpMan]

i say thats a lot of dips.... give him overnight, thats how long it takes my corals to open. the dips might be the problem if he doest open up. a lot of stress

Is that to suggest I was stupid for using so many dips? Now you have me worried!

 

[Azedenkae]

I agree with @Reeflix. I just got some zoas two days ago - they opened right away. But I don't dip my corals so they probably were not too stressed out.

 

[Reeflix]

i feel that all the dips are overkill. i do one dip so it gets most of the baddies and less stress for the coral

 

[Just John]

Is that to suggest I was stupid for using so many dips? Now you have me worried!

That's a lot of dips, but it certainly doesn't mean your stupid! A dip with one good dip product should be enough. Just follow the directions on the bottle. They will open. Just give them until tomorrow.

 

[Reeflix]

Is that to suggest I was stupid for using so many dips? Now you have me worried!

i think it will be fine, zoas are pretty hardy. just dont do so many next time

 

[MantisShrimpMan]

I agree with @Reeflix. I just got some zoas two days ago - they opened right away. But I don't dip my corals so they probably were not too stressed out.

i feel that all the dips are overkill. i do one dip so it gets most of the baddies and less stress for the coral

is this to say that a multi dip process was a death sentence???

 

[Reeflix]

no... i think it will be fine but i cant make a promise

 

[JTP424]

is this to say that a multi dip process was a death sentence???

Not a death sentence, maybe just a bit much. Give them time. Give them overnight and see if they open tomorrow. Messing with them any more at this point will cause them more stress.

 

[Azedenkae]

is this to say that a multi dip process was a death sentence???

Yeah, I agree with the others. Not necessarily a death sentence. Just probably more time before they will open.

 

[Reeflix]

leave them alone and maybe feed it once tomorrow. dont do this many dips next time. it should open up within two days

 

[littlebigreef]

It’s worth pointing out THOH are more sensitive than your average zoa. Hopefully it bounces back tomorrow, that’s a heck of a zoa to begin with.

 

[Reefing.with.Rich]

Is that to suggest I was stupid for using so many dips? Now you have me worried!

Yeah I would certainly say so. The coral is already stressed by being shipped so that many dips really has that thing ticked off. They could open up tomm or then could open up a month from now. Only time will tell

 

[Drumstin]

Zoas are thriving in my main tank. I took a frag out and placed in a second tank that I havnt balanced lighting and flow just yet and few weeks later these zoas shrank and then finally closed… put the plug back in main tank several days ago. Took maybe 2 days to open and then they are still tiny. So they are recovering way slower than I expected but heading in the right direction. One thing I have learned is that different zoas act way different. Even if their shape is identical to other colors some are slow slow and some multiply like mad! Good luck man! I’m sure they’ll come around.

 

[Drumstin]

Zoas are thriving in my main tank. I took a frag out and placed in a second tank that I havnt balanced lighting and flow just yet and few weeks later these zoas shrank and then finally closed… put the plug back in main tank several days ago. Took maybe 2 days to open and then they are still tiny. So they are recovering way slower than I expected but heading in the right direction. One thing I have learned is that different zoas act way different. Even if their shape is identical to other colors some are slow slow and some multiply like mad! Good luck man! I’m sure they’ll come around.

Look at them compared to their brothers they were taken from lol.

 

[MantisShrimpMan]

Day 2 update: I can finally relate to why people get annoyed by their tuxedo urchins. Last night I found my urchin had moved the frag, and corrected it. This morning, the urchin had knocked the frag over again it seems. Anyways, the zoa polyps still haven’t opened at all.

I’m worried more and more about the prospect of these being dead.

 

[JTP424]

Day 2 update: I can finally relate to why people get annoyed by their tuxedo urchins. Last night I found my urchin had moved the frag, and corrected it. This morning, the urchin had knocked the frag over again it seems. Anyways, the zoa polyps still haven’t opened at all.

I’m worried more and more about the prospect of these being dead.

If the Urchin moved them they are probably still adjusting, you blow water on Zoas and they'll close.

 

[Drumstin]

I’ve seen zoas that were upside down with no light, microscopic and barely there open up again way later. Don’t give up unless the dissolve.