AMPHIPODS harming my zoas.... PLEASE HELP

islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Alright, I have a coral only tank for now and noticed large amphipods running around. I noticed one eating or atleast looks like eating one of my new polyps beginning to grow. I just thought it was there just hanging out. The next day the polyps no longer there! So maybe I thought it was a fluke and just watched the tank, I notice more polyps being eaten?

For some reason the my ne polyps look weird? They seem to have a skinny base and the tips like a ballon? Is there a parasite by chance? But its only the developing polyps. Please help
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
well never heard about amphipods eating zoas but you might have a nudibranch.... does are polyps eaters they look like this



how to kill them ill link the thread
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I agree, I have never heard of amphipods eating zoos before either. The nudibranch that Eddy gave you the pic of would be my bet as well.
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Ed,

No its amphipods for sure. I wish I had my camera! Some zoas are now having a thick trunk (how they are regularly) and the top of them is now a small tube just like when filter feeders come out of (smaller feather duster like). But these amphipods are getting BIG!
What fish eats these by chance? PLEASE help. Thanks
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
WELL without pics we cant help but do the dip that dip will kill anything ..pods , amphipods, bristle worms, bristle star(serpent stars) everything except zoas cause they are hardy...

eddy
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
nice reading there - i like WWM the crew over there does a good job
i believe though that your pod problem is actually a zoa problem anyway. zoas secrete a lot of mucus and collect a lot of detritus in their colony and the pods may be feeding on that and incidentally irritating or maybe even consuming some zoas. i believe though that a healthy colony could withstand the attack of the killer pods........try placing them where they get a lot more current this will do two things pods aren't very good swimmers so they won't be able to hold on, and two, it will help the zoa colony to clean itself off removing what is probably attracting the pods......JMO
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Islandcreation,

In my experience, pods come and go, usually there is this explosion of pods and then it dwindles to less and less until you don't see them anymore...

If you need population control, pick up a 12 or 6 line wrasse, they will hunt down the larger pods and feast on them...

I once witnessed a sudden movement like a cat stalking a mouse; my six line wrasse literally focused and pounched on a really large pod...

As he caught the pod in his mouth, he shook it like a pitbull, I was literally with my mouth open when I saw this spectacle...

Ever since that my pods have always been in check, they hide....

MG
 
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