Zoa Pox?

[PaulSalley3099]

Hi guys,

This rather bland Zoa colony arrived free on a piece of live rock. I have noticed little white "nodes" on their "arms", just want to make sure this doesnt look like Zoa pox to those in the know. Also are they ever likely to regain colour? Are they a danger to my other Zoa's if they have pox?

Cheers for any advice,

Paul.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Is it on the stalk as well?

 

[Haoayu]

The colony looks too healthy to be having zoa pox - especially those, they're very invasive and hardy, ime - normally pox are more noticeable when the polyps are closed; it'll look like it has ick/white pimples. And from my experience, pox can spread to other zoas. Also, these palys are quite toxic (slime) so please handle them with common sense.

The color that you see under "whites" is what you're getting - they're considered as weeds or trash to some zoas collectors. That's said, they grow very fast and will bother your other corals (LPS) when agitated/stressed. I've seen them sold as "arctic ice paly", and looks somewhat nice/green under "blues" - long term exposure to actinic with cause the green color to slightly morph. Hope that helps.

 

[PaulSalley3099]

Hi guys, thank you for the advice and good to know, especially how toxic they are, (just finished manoeuvring the rock with bare hands to get this shot :/)

If i wanted to get rid of them, so they dont take over and effect my other coral, how could i go about it, (whilst keeping the rock, and ideally the other corals living on it?

Cheers

Paul.

 

[PaulSalley3099]

To clarify, the only thing on the rock is what piggy backed in with it, (I'm not a coral murderer) but if i want to keep these under control, what the best way to go about it?

 

[zoaprince]

Hi guys, thank you for the advice and good to know, especially how toxic they are, (just finished manoeuvring the rock with bare hands to get this shot :/)

If i wanted to get rid of them, so they dont take over and effect my other coral, how could i go about it, (whilst keeping the rock, and ideally the other corals living on it?

Cheers

Paul.

that looks like substrate on the stalks. Palys tend to incorporate substrate into their stalks.

 

[Haoayu]

Hi guys, thank you for the advice and good to know, especially how toxic they are, (just finished manoeuvring the rock with bare hands to get this shot :/)

If i wanted to get rid of them, so they dont take over and effect my other coral, how could i go about it, (whilst keeping the rock, and ideally the other corals living on it?

Cheers

Paul.

in general, handle all corals with respect and use some common sense - if you're not wearing gloves when handling zoas/palys, make sure your hands doesn't have open wounds, and wash thoroughly with soap after; and if you're wearing gloves, don't rub your eyes or touch anything with the gloves on. :)

if you search in the forum or google for intank paly removals, there a few methods - injecting alk paste, vinegar, hot water, or manually with a tweezer - i'm sure there are others but those come to mind. ime, whichever way you decide on doing, do it in small amount at a time, you will know when you're doing too much when neighboring corals, especially lps, look ticked off b/c of the toxin released. have carbon ready or run it during the removal. hope that helps.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

You could try and cut that piece of rock off the rest of the rock. Than put it somewhere on your sand bed

 

[Haoayu]

To clarify, the only thing on the rock is what piggy backed in with it, (I'm not a coral murderer) but if i want to keep these under control, what the best way to go about it?

To keep it under control and from taking over your rock, imo, best way to go is try to cut it off the rock and mount it on an island, like smaller rock of its own.

 

[PaulSalley3099]

Thanks guys. I have fragged the corals I want to keep off the rock, and have bleach / boiled the rock to remove the unwanted polyps, outside vented wearing gloves and mask. Turns out they are the dangerous sought as Haoayu points out, (bottom middle) so better be safe than sorry. If Im not happy with the bleach / boil result I'll just bin the rock and replace it.

Thanks again