Jonathan Presseau
Active Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2015
- Messages
- 146
- Reaction score
- 54
Hey All,
Let me preface this by saying that I have read that Sexy Shrimp could pose a risk to Zoa's, but never proven. I decided to make this tank a Zoa/Paly garden after we committed to the Sexy Shrimp.
I also would like to say that I believe all of my corals are Zoa's even though half have been sold to me as Paly's. According to a lecture I attended at RAP Julian Sprung mentions that most are Zoanthus and not Palythoa. Pretty sure Nuclear Greens and Purple Deaths are the common Paly's that people actually have, most of the others are ugly and grow like weeds. I have neither. Therefore, I cannot say that this goes for Paly's (perhaps the toxin levels would hurt the Sexy Shrimp since they are much higher in Palythoa than Zoanthus).
I have a newly growing Zoa/Paly garden with 65 frags and counting. Tank is several months old, but only stocked 2-3 months. I added 5 Sexy Shrimp and 2 Pom Pom crabs about a week after the cycle and Zoa's/Paly's a few weeks following. I then added a cleanup crew about a month after. 2 of the dominant Sexy Shrimp remained after being together awhile - the others died off. Both Pom Pom still remain and 1 has already laid eggs.
The 2 Sexy Shrimp were keeping it real for awhile not showing any signs of eating the Zoa's. They enjoy dancing around them as if they are hosting. Well, after having the CUC for awhile I believe the food supply for the Sexy Shrimp dwindled to the point they found it easier to simply nibble on the fringes of the Zoa's. I noticed 10 days ago my nicer Zoa's only showing half the fringe. I had thought they were simply closed, but after looking more closely it appeared they were gone. Half the polyp would have the fringe open and the other half nothing. This appeared on 3 of my oldest Zoa's. Needless to say I have been very concerned as these ones were always wide open. Water quality good, no signs of pox, no signs of pests like nudi's. Spot feed every other day. Just could not figure out what was going on. I was even at RAP this past weekend and spoke with Julian Sprung about it. Failed to mention to him that I have Sexy Shrimp.
Well, yesterday I was staring at the tank prior to feeding and I noticed a Sexy Shrimp sitting on top of my small Scrambled Eggs colony which previously showed no signs of harm and he was very clearly eating the skirt! I had both of them out of the tank within 3 minutes and into my larger tank. When the Scrambled Eggs opened back up sure enough the skirt was gone from that exact location.
Guys, absolutely do not added Sexy Shrimps to a Zoa only tank even if you think you are overfeeding it like I did. I think they found that the enjoyed the taste of the skirts like I enjoy cookies and ice cream after dinner.
I really hope the skirts grow back.
Hope this helps.
Let me preface this by saying that I have read that Sexy Shrimp could pose a risk to Zoa's, but never proven. I decided to make this tank a Zoa/Paly garden after we committed to the Sexy Shrimp.
I also would like to say that I believe all of my corals are Zoa's even though half have been sold to me as Paly's. According to a lecture I attended at RAP Julian Sprung mentions that most are Zoanthus and not Palythoa. Pretty sure Nuclear Greens and Purple Deaths are the common Paly's that people actually have, most of the others are ugly and grow like weeds. I have neither. Therefore, I cannot say that this goes for Paly's (perhaps the toxin levels would hurt the Sexy Shrimp since they are much higher in Palythoa than Zoanthus).
I have a newly growing Zoa/Paly garden with 65 frags and counting. Tank is several months old, but only stocked 2-3 months. I added 5 Sexy Shrimp and 2 Pom Pom crabs about a week after the cycle and Zoa's/Paly's a few weeks following. I then added a cleanup crew about a month after. 2 of the dominant Sexy Shrimp remained after being together awhile - the others died off. Both Pom Pom still remain and 1 has already laid eggs.
The 2 Sexy Shrimp were keeping it real for awhile not showing any signs of eating the Zoa's. They enjoy dancing around them as if they are hosting. Well, after having the CUC for awhile I believe the food supply for the Sexy Shrimp dwindled to the point they found it easier to simply nibble on the fringes of the Zoa's. I noticed 10 days ago my nicer Zoa's only showing half the fringe. I had thought they were simply closed, but after looking more closely it appeared they were gone. Half the polyp would have the fringe open and the other half nothing. This appeared on 3 of my oldest Zoa's. Needless to say I have been very concerned as these ones were always wide open. Water quality good, no signs of pox, no signs of pests like nudi's. Spot feed every other day. Just could not figure out what was going on. I was even at RAP this past weekend and spoke with Julian Sprung about it. Failed to mention to him that I have Sexy Shrimp.
Well, yesterday I was staring at the tank prior to feeding and I noticed a Sexy Shrimp sitting on top of my small Scrambled Eggs colony which previously showed no signs of harm and he was very clearly eating the skirt! I had both of them out of the tank within 3 minutes and into my larger tank. When the Scrambled Eggs opened back up sure enough the skirt was gone from that exact location.
Guys, absolutely do not added Sexy Shrimps to a Zoa only tank even if you think you are overfeeding it like I did. I think they found that the enjoyed the taste of the skirts like I enjoy cookies and ice cream after dinner.
I really hope the skirts grow back.
Hope this helps.
