Cali Kid Corals

Amphipod eating my Zoas?

jacuzzi

jacuzzi

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Random colonies of my zoas are being eaten slowly but surely. Lashes disappear and they slowly melt away after that. I have searched for spiders, nudis, signs of zoa pox and have seen nothing. However the other day I saw a very large pod on the colony in the middle of the night, I have read they can eat zoas and this one was pretty darn big with black stripes across its back. I know I have a very large pod population in my tank my fish are a lawnmower blenny, black cap basslet (very very shy), cleaner shrimp, emerald crab and hermits. How can I tell whats going on? I am strongly leaning towards the pods from what I saw recently but am unsure what to do next. Thanks all.
 
As much as folks discount large ampipods, I've had some demolish small colonies. I have a couple wrasses to take care of the large ones and a mandarin for the small ones.
 
I highly suspect there is another issue with them and the amphipods are eating dying or decaying flesh.
 
nudibranch said:
GreshamH said:
I highly suspect there is another issue with them and the amphipods are eating dying or decaying flesh.
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I agree they most likely are eating detritus in between the polyps.
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That is not what I said so you are not agreeing with me :)

dead and dying flesh is not rally "detritus" ;)
 
I've had NEW healthy colonies added late in the day and get attacked the same night... and literally watched almost 3/4" ampipods ( when stretched out ) tear em apart. THere are a lot of skeptics, but you wont' believe it till you see it for yourself.
 
650-IS350 said:
I've had NEW healthy colonies added late in the day and get attacked the same night... and literally watched almost 3/4" ampipods ( when stretched out ) tear em apart. THere are a lot of skeptics, but you wont' believe it till you see it for yourself.
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You DO wear gloves don't you? That's freak'n scary!

-Gregory
 
I think what you think is healthy may not be so to them ;)

Also, do not forget there are literately thousands of species of amphipods and not all behave the same.
 
I think what you think is healthy may not be so to them Wink

I guess in all my years of keeping specifically Z's and P's I should get a book on how to tell healthy from decaying and melting.
 
I guess so. When you find such a book it would be prudent to post it.
 
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