Zoas completely disappearing help

[KurtL]

So I noticed 2 nights ago that i wass missing all 3 of my sunny d's except for a small scrap of flesh on the rock. Now last night I come home and almost all my mohawks are gone like no tissue left nothing. I looked with a flashlight after lights out didnt see anything except this black and white worm that would open its mouth in the water then retracct his head completely inside itself. Im thinking a eunicid worm is eating them? should I try with a blue light? Please help

 

[The_Robert_Loo]

My guess would be a worm or a hitchhiking coa eating nudibranch, any chance you could get a pic of the worm you saw? Maybe some people here would be able to ID the culprit.

 

[KurtL]

Im pretty positive the worm I saw was a filter feeder and he was just minding his own business when I saw him. I dont think nudibranchs or a snail could eat multiple polyps in one night but a worm might.

 

[The_Robert_Loo]

If there are any surviving polyps left on the rock that got eaten, try a coral dip for 5-10 mins and see if anything comes out. I did that when a saw one of my toadstools not looking happy and found a 2 inch bristle worm.

 

[KurtL]

Whatever is eating them is picking them off of frag plugs scattered around the tank. so it could be in any of the rocks

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

nothing could be meana than a little asterina in the morning lol

 

[bimmer01]

I've had plenty of my zoas been eaten by asterina stars so be aware.

 

[KurtL]

Ill try again 2night with a blue light you would think I would see something the first night I looked though

 

[Alex]

I lost all, I repeat all my zoa's. and the only thing I can find are asterinas.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

I'm saying Asterinas also or perhaps a zoa eating nudi I've had both cause problems in my tanks in the past.

 

[smoq]

+1 on asterinas, I've had them and they've messed up whole colonies of zoas.

 

[tentacles]

Im pretty positive the worm I saw was a filter feeder and he was just minding his own business when I saw him. I dont think nudibranchs or a snail could eat multiple polyps in one night but a worm might.

Think again, nudis can take down zoas pretty quickly. Do a dip and inspect for eggs, but also keep an eye out for asterias.




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[KurtL]

Think again, nudis can take down zoas pretty quickly. Do a dip and inspect for eggs, but also keep an eye out for asterias.




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In my experiance nudis that eat zoas will eat them night and day but this only happens at night. Anyway last night I didnt lose anything else. Im still keeping my eyes open though tonight.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

If you have moonlights that is the best way to see whats going on if not then maybe periodically check using a flash light. Do you see any astertinas on your glass or anything? They are in damn near every tank. I took every piece of rock out of my tank inspected thoroughly and I still couldn't get them all because here and there I see them. Any time I find them I pull them out and chuck'em

 

[KathyC]

In my experiance nudis that eat zoas will eat them night and day but this only happens at night. Anyway last night I didnt lose anything else. Im still keeping my eyes open though tonight.

Then I take it you are aware that if it is Nudis - they turn the color of the zoa they are eating, so they can be difficult to spot...especially the smaller ones.
Also nudis can be found on your glass at night sometimes, no idea why, but when I had them long ago, that is how I discovered them.

Best of luck catching whatever is eating yours, I went through it too and lost half of mine a few years ago to the asterinas...and unfortunately many still do not believe that certain types of asterinas can wipe out zoas in record speed

 

[KurtL]

Yes I am fully aware that they change the color of the polyps theyre eating. Pretty cool to see actually. Harlequin shrimp do an excellent job of taking out asterinas but in a larger tank I doubt theyll ever be able to get all of them. Another night without any losses very strange.