[Joaco]

Hi everyone,
I'm having some concern with a zoanthid I'm keeping.
I have read Eric Borneman's online article at Aquarium.net about zoanthids:

http://www.aquarium.net/0198/0198_1.shtml


The problem is that this zoanthid started to close some polyps about 4 days ago, I first thought it was because the cleaner shrimps where walking over it, but a little group of polyps stayed closed.
When the polyps are closed, you can see white things that look like small protuberances (please see pic below).

From what I read on the above article, my guess is it could be the bacterial due to maybe coral handling (I have been moving them this week)


quote:
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In terms of disease, zoanthids are quite sturdy animals. They may succumb to jelly-type infections, especially if a polyp are colony area has been subjected to injury. There is also a common ailment that affects zoanthids that appears as a white cheesy growth usually seen on the outside of the polps stalk. This area is most likely a microorganism, though I have not seen any mention of what or if it has been identified. This should be a relatively easy process. The result of this infection is that the polyps becomes very soft and deteriorates entirely. It can continue to spread to nearby polyps, the entire colony, and even other colonies in the aquarium. This particular type infection seems specific to zoanthids, and neighboring colonies may react adversely when such a situation is occurring within a tank, even if they are not directly affected. The communication of individuals within a colony is sometimes eerie, as the stolons ( through either ring canal systems or other intercommunicative structures) act like rapid telephone transfer, alerting the entire colony that something is amiss. The result is a colony that remains totally or partially closed even when a few lone individuals are affected. This behavior is also seen when certain polyps are exposed to noxious stimuli or injury. Freshwater dips, brief iodine dips as outlined in numerous articles and resources, and the topical application of a fairly insoluble antibiotic paste such as Erythromycin may be the treatment of choice for such infections. It would be ideal to treat any bacterial infection with a stronger antibiotic topical paste, such as Neomycin or Kanamycin in a hospital tank. Removal of the potentially contagious infection from the tank is but an added benefit to the entire system.

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Sounds like my case, but I wanted to ask you to be sure.
Anyone had this before, or can confirm it?

The pics below show the coral with closed polyps (before the MH go on) so you can see the white protuberances on the polyps.

My idea is to do a freshwater dip to see if it improves, if not, then I'm going to give it an antibiotic bath, will have to see what I have at home. What do you think?
Thanks for the help

Joaco

[Joaco]

This pic I found on another post, it's not mine. But since I couldnt take a clear pic of mine, I thought I would use this one in case it matters to ID the exact type. My polyps have darker brown tentacles, and the oral disk is more blue/lavander.

[Joaco]

I'm attaching some more pics, Eric Borneman is helping me out already

[Joaco]

I just took it outside the tank and placed it in a shallow plastic container to check for what you asked for.
The yellowish mass in the center was easily removed with a wet cotton Q-Tip, the texture was like soft jelly (please see pic).
The zoanthid tissue below that is very firm, as well as all other polyps in the colony, even the ones that are very covered by the white protuberances, which are hard in texture. I tried to scrubb them off, but they are hard and attached to the polyps.
One of the things that look like cysts (or protuberances) did burst when I tried to scrubb it off, and a little white worm-like thing came out. It wasn't a worm though, just looked like one (I hope this is not getting too confusing).
As far as behaviour, the polyps with few cysts on the stay open during the day, the ones that are now heavily covered stay closed all the time. You can tell whatever it is, it's spreading to adjacent polyps, in the form of what look like white cysts.
I will try to attach some more pics.

[Joaco]

after the cleaning...

[Joaco]

they looked like this 3 days ago:

[Joaco]

it's spreading faster than I thought, from 2 small areas now it covers a larger center area (pic taken with actinics on only)

[SurfsUP]

Hey Joaco, that's my zoans. It's nice to know that I have a fan of my zoan pic. I never had the baterial problems with my zoans. The only problem that I had is crabs eating my zoans and a case of bryosis that kill that nice rock that was covered with the pictured zoans. Here is a pic of the same rock with a different zoan. Damn bryosis, I'm still trying to fight the sh!t and still can't get it under control. Anyone know of the tang that will eat it?

[Mikeman]

wow nice zoos surfsup, where did you get them, and what kind of lighting are they in?

sorry Joaco, can't help you