Amphipods eating my Zoas!

[Burke]

Over the last couple days I have noticed my nice growing colony of LA Lakers start to die off. I was quite confused because it was looking so healthy. About an hour ago I went out to let the dogs out and decided to take a peek at the tank. Even with the lights on low I could see something on the my zoas. I turned it on and there was a huge amphipod chowing down on my zoas!! I have one polyp left and put it up on the frag rack to get it out of harms way.

Now here is my question. What fish could I get that would eat these things, but no out compete my mandarin for copepods?
I have a 29g biocube with a lid stocked with a pair of clowns, a green mandarin, a little clown goby, 2 peppermint shrimp, snails and a couple hermit crabs.

I was thinking a wrasse of sorts, not a 6 line, maybe a flasher.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Burke

[demonclownfish]

your mandarin is probably eating the amphipods but if you want something else a sixline would do wonders.

[JMALACHI]

Wow! I didn't know that amphipods cam eat coral. I'll be watching this one to learn from the replies. Good luck!

[MizTanks]

I know that they'll eat sick, dead, dieing and decaying zoa's. But will actually leave healthy zoa's alone.

[schminksbro]

The pods were likely eating dead flesh from zoas that were dieing from an unrelated cause. Amphipods are scavengers not predators. They aid in cleaning up the ocean as well as your tank much like ants do on land.

[rmalone]

I have never seen amphipods kill something healthy same with nassarious snails, but they will both jump on dead or dying tissue. Most ants on the other hand will kill anything they can.

[Burke]

These zoas were perfectly healthy. They started as a frag of 3 and had grown into almost 7, until like two days ago, when I noticed a couple, like not there any more. I have seen zoas die, but this was strange, open big and bright one day to gone the next.


Ive done some searching and other people have had the same issue. :-|

[schminksbro]

Quite common with zoas. I assure you the pods were just cleaning up the mess.

These zoas were perfectly healthy. They started as a frag of 3 and had grown into almost 7, until like two days ago, when I noticed a couple, like not there any more. I have seen zoas die, but this was strange, open big and bright one day to gone the next.


Ive done some searching and other people have had the same issue. :-|

[Burke]

I stuck the remaining 2 up high on the frag rack. Hopefully they make it. They opened up right now so my fingers are crossed.

[Sir Patrick]

High up, on a frag rack, is a good place for them.

[2pairs]

Amphipods won't harm a healthy zoa something else had to harm it first. But if it is a Isopod they will kill anything they can for food. They look like a Amphipod but larger.

[Burke]

Hmm,

This guy was pretty big. All curled up on the zoas it looked to be the size of a fully opened polyp if not larger. For I second I thought, "Why the **** is that zoa opened up that big at 5am?" and then I turned the lights on.

[MizTanks]

These zoas were perfectly healthy. They started as a frag of 3 and had grown into almost 7, until like two days ago, when I noticed a couple, like not there any more. I have seen zoas die, but this was strange, open big and bright one day to gone the next.


Ive done some searching and other people have had the same issue. :-|

Sounds like just about every zoa I've ever tried to keep. Here one day, gone the next. Been trying to figure it out for a long time. I believe it has something to do with my small tank and water changes. Just to stressful for them. Any type of WC in my tank is major :(

[Burke]

I do a 4 gallon or so water change every week in my 29g and everything seems to love it.

I have a bare bottom so I just suck up all the crap on the floor and rock. Apparently I can only stare at the stuff that settles for 7 days :)

And a small update, they opened up earlier and looked happy on the rack.