Palythoa trouble 12/23/09
Just recently got some frags in of some high end Zoanthids and Palythoas.
One frag which was of a very expensive Paly had the coral detach from the plug during shipping and appears to be banged up. Once it was in my tank and it opened it appears to have expunged it's stomach contents. Half a day
later the contents are still sitting on its mouth, I haven't wanted to try and blow it off or anything for fear of agitating it further and making things worse.
<Good>
The rim colors of the Paly appear to be normal and it IS open but I'm wondering whether it's likely to pull through.
<Zoanthids are very tough animals...>
Also if whatever it has done results in color loss around the mouth, will that color likely eventually return or as it begins to propagate will the new polyps have the original coloration?
<Likely to return to colour given propitious circumstances, nutrition>
Thanks again, you guys are awesome!
Adam
<Mmm, read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/CnidIndex2.htm
the first tray at top... re Zoanthids. Bob Fenner>

Xenia and Yellow Polyps...Health  5/16/06 Bob: <James with you today.> I'm a new salt water/reef enthusiast.    I only started three months ago with two tanks... a 20 gallon and a 55 gallon.    I have CoralLife Compact Florescence with dual tubes @ 65 watts (Dual Day Light 6700K/10000K and dual Actinic 420nm/460 nm).    I have moderate to heavy water flow.    I keep pH higher than 8.0, Specific Gravity around 1.025, temperature at 78 F, keep my Copper below 0.25 ppm (one tank is zero, one tank has trace from when I introduced a Blue Tang that had copper medication on it), Ammonia = Zero, Nitrites = Zero and Nitrates > 40 ppm.    I provide Iodine, calcium, vitamins and adjust pH with Carbonates. I have had great success with fish, crabs, shrimp and some invertebrates (urchins).     I introduced a yellow polyp about three weeks ago and it was doing well until this week when it did not seem to open anymore.   I feed them twice a week by squirting with a medicine dropper with commercial phytoplankton.     Since they stopped opening, I squirt them once or twice a day.      They seem to have lost some individual polyps, but they seem to be retracting rather than growing.      They are also darker in color....when I got them they were light yellow, now, they are brownish yellow.    Is this the end for them? Last Sunday, I purchased a Xenia from a local store that is 45 miles away. I have read that Xenias do not do well in transit so I elected to get it from this store.    They do not have guarantees so I picked up one (they said that the coral was mounted only two weeks ago).       They packed them in a double bag but were not very careful about not "crushing" the coral.    When we got home, the coral was "under the rock".    I acclimated it overnight (in the dark).     This morning, the Xenia looks contracted and no movement whatsoever.    There were pieces of it on the surrounding rock (like white spots and some small tissues).       Can you provide some insights as to what is going on.    My understanding is that Xenias do not need to be fed, that they are totally photosynthetic. I appreciate anything you can help me with. <First question before we go any further.  Is the coral in the tank you are getting a copper reading from?  If so, I believe that is your problem. James (Salty Dog)> Noli

Yucky Zoanthus  12/24/05 Gentlemen, <We have ladies here to, careful of what we say, their watching right now! Hello, Adam J with you tonight.> I reserve this writing for just a most urgent matter. <And here I am thinking you just dropped in to say hi, anyway onto the urgent matter at hand.> I just purchased a group of Zoanthus coral polyps from Drs Foster and Smith. It arrived on Tuesday. When I opened it, it smelled really bad. <That's not a good sign.> I pulled it out, and put it in my tank, hoping to save it. This is Thursday, and the corals remain retracted. In addition,  in the areas where the coral seemed damaged during shipping, it was  a white color. Now, that white has spread to a crust that has covered up almost the entire polyp. I have it placed in the mid to upper part of my 55 gal. tank, where I have 2 175W MH lamps, and 2-T5 fluorescents, which run 7 hrs per day. Sufficient water circulation. I tested water this morning, results as follows: <Sounds like this animal suffered some trauma during shipping and that part of the colony is dying off. If you can I would fragment what remains of it look healthy and discard the rest.> Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 10 or less (hard to tell exactly with my Wellfish kit) KH 9.6 DKH PH 7.92 with lights off <This is acceptable, the situation does not sound like your fault at all, this was definitely a "shipping tragedy."> I run an aqua c remora skimmer, Magnum 350 canister with floss only at present), 60# live rock, deep sand bed with plenum, Coralife UV disinfector on canister filter discharge. <Sounds good.> Since it stunk when I got it, do you think it is/was destined to die, or is this white coating a natural reaction, or ? From the reading I have done on the animal, it seemed it was a hardy choice, and a good choice for my first coral. Please advise at your earliest convenience, if there is anything that can be done. <This animal is a very good choice for home aquaria, just sounds as if you got a "dud." I would call the dealer, if I recall correctly Dr. F&S policy should cover this and I believe you may be entitled to a replacement.> Thank you, <Quite Welcome.> Don Laskey <Adam J.>

Questions regarding Zoanthids  12/17/05 Happy Holidays Crew! <And to you and yours> I recently ordered online some assorted Zoanthus for color in my 250 gallon FOWLR.  The first attempt resulted in the online e-tailer making a mistake and shipping the two rocks with Zoos 2nd day air instead of next day as they were supposed to.  As everyone knows we are in the middle of winter, and by the time the shipment arrived the bag was brown, not a lot of water in there and it was cold to the touch. <Yikes...> I was instructed to go through an abbreviated acclimation process and try to rehabilitate the specimens (which I did).  In addition to the acclimation process, I made an iodine dip to try to help. The first night, one of the two rocks faired relatively well and although it did not show but muted grayish/green colors, they did open and seemed to be trying at least.  The other rock was miserable and the polyps were literally disintegrating.  The online store (reputable I might add) offered to ship a replacement order free of cost including shipping charges.  The next day I received the replacement order, only to find larger rocks covered with Zoos; however they were in brown stinky water and it was cold to the touch as well.  The only heat pack in the large Styrofoam box was not warm at all and not even in a place where it would have done much good anyway. <Likely either not activated thoroughly before placing, and/or the box had insufficient oxygen to "keep it going">   I acclimated the Zoos and did the same iodine dip as a final process.  These Zoos have been in the tank and only about a handful of polyps have half heartedly opened, again with not much color.  I placed all of the Sea Mats up high with PC lights (about 500 watts, 10,000 K, white and actinics), and plenty of flow (aquarium has about 20X flow rate). Question:  do you think the Zoos can recover and thrive, or do you think they are a goner.   <Only time can/will tell> The first shipment that arrived late has only been in 24 hours and the second shipment only about 6 hours, so I know it is still early, but since the bag and water smelled rotten and they are not opening, I wonder if they are doomed.  The closed polyps are kind of like eraser heads with the top being a little plumper than the base and are a greenish/gray color.  In addition, I have seen my hermit crabs occasionally picking at them, which I thought was rather strange. Your comments recommendations are greatly appreciated.   Regards, Steven <For "more expensive" organisms such as these, searching locally (from clubs, specialty stores) where you can see what you're getting is strongly advised. Zoanthids are particularly noxious, especially when "shaken, not stirred" in being handled. Do take care to wash your hands thoroughly if in the tank, handling... and not move the acclimation water into your main/mixed system/s. Bob Fenner>

- Palythoa w/ white dots - Hi, Bought some Palythoa on Sunday the 6th today is the 10th I have noticed some small white spots on about 4-5 out side polyps only that the white spots are on the edges of the polyps ,what might be causing this in just a few days.. some say it could be from bumping it , ruff handling.. rest look great.. Ph.8.2,salinity 1.023,alk 9 dKH, Mag 1330,calcium 280.. (low) lights 65 watt each 10,000k and 1 blue actinic on for about 8 hrs day. <Sounds like it may be getting stung by something, hard to say without a picture but likely nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye on it! -Kevin> thanks Scott