What is happening to zoas, are them going inside out?

[MikeCRK]

Hi, a very quick post

All my corals are doing great, but yesterday I noticed that one zoa has its mouth sticking out (purple). I thought something got stuck, but nope. Today second head is the same and the previous one got a bit better.

Can you advice?

Here is the problematic one:

Here is a photo of more to show the others are great (the one with the issue is for a month in the tank, it was two heads at start, water is stable).

Thank you!

 

[MikeCRK]

bounce

the image of all did not went through:

water:

NH3/4: 0.8
NO2: 0.05
NO3: 10
PO4: 0.03
KH: 8

 

[LordofCinder]

corals are living animals, they can open and close and get "moody" for a few days..... maybe a critter walked past it a moment ago... it could be any reason why it will close, but if everything in the tank is good and normal, they will always open up again shortly.

 

[WestMI-Reefer]

Mine

corals are living animals, they can open and close and get "moody" for a few days..... maybe a critter walked past it a moment ago... it could be any reason why it will close, but if everything in the tank is good and normal, they will always open up again shortly.

agree. Thats what mine look nice after a hermit, that doesn’t care, walked on it lol. I wouldn’t be too worried. The rest of the heads look healthy

 

[MikeCRK]

 

[MikeCRK]

@LordofCinder @WestMI-Reefer

Agree but have a look how bizarre it is. Like mushroom growing on top of it!

 

[LordofCinder]

That is pretty weird, I'm sorry I can't help, I really hope someone can advise, I'm very curious. Good luck

 

[WestMI-Reefer]

@LordofCinder @WestMI-Reefer

Agree but have a look how bizarre it is. Like mushroom growing on top of it!

Woah! Disregard my first comment, I didn’t notice that at first glance. I’ve never seen that before.

 

[EricR]

Kinda looks like a whole 'nother polyp detached and landed in the center of that one zoa -- freaky

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi, a very quick post

All my corals are doing great, but yesterday I noticed that one zoa has its mouth sticking out (purple). I thought something got stuck, but nope. Today second head is the same and the previous one got a bit better.

Can you advice?

Here is the problematic one:

View attachment 3111401

Here is a photo of more to show the others are great (the one with the issue is for a month in the tank, it was two heads at start, water is stable).

Thank you!

This is not a mood swing but your zoas are expelling their zooxanthallae which is due to stress. Stress can be from too much flow and even light as well as lack of nutrients from photosynthesis. When this occurs, there is bleaching of color to follow in which yours seem slightly flushed.
Flow should be enough to keep waste off of them which also will stress them. If you take a turkey baster and give them GENTLE blasts and see dust appearance coming off of them, flow is inadequate
These are a Couple of mine under moderate light and flow:

 

[MikeCRK]

Flow should be enough to keep waste off of them which also will stress them. If you take a turkey baster and give them GENTLE blasts and see dust appearance coming off of them, flow is inadequate

Hi,

I did use baster (yesterday, when it came in on the first one and today on both) but this thing does not come off and there was nothing coming out from them either.

Edit: I was also thinking at first it is zooxanthallae but seen it and this one is not even close. I was thinking pooping but wow that would have to be more extreme than day after night out and kebab with extra hot sauce on the way back home...

Those were perfectly fine (it was two head only when I got it, now it is five). There are 4 other zoas nearby - all perfect and two palys - also fine. Same flow (moderate-low), same light.

This thing comes on two out of four heads (it was one yesterday only).

All surrounding ones are in a perfect shape!

getting there with my ones they need to grow more.