What makes RFAs release zooxanthellae?

[SauceyReef]

What makes an RFA release its zooxanthellae as opposed to shrinking or melting to die? Is there specific reason this happens?



I’ve had this lovely ultra for around 1.5 years now. It has never once moved since I got it. A few months ago I was getting rid of some aiptasia nearby and accidentally hit the side with some Aiptasia X. It caused the side to burn off. It healed fine after a couple weeks, but it just seems to be shrinking, and a few times a week releasing zooxanthellae. Not sure if there’s anything I can do, but just leave it. I think feeding wouldn’t be best, as my nutrients are high and it catches food from daily feedings.


I’ve had relatively unstable nutrients and wonder if this could be what’s causing this.

 

[Saltyreef]

What makes an RFA release its zooxanthellae as opposed to shrinking or melting to die? Is there specific reason this happens?



I’ve had this lovely ultra for around 1.5 years now. It has never once moved since I got it. A few months ago I was getting rid of some aiptasia nearby and accidentally hit the side with some Aiptasia X. It caused the side to burn off. It healed fine after a couple weeks, but it just seems to be shrinking, and a few times a week releasing zooxanthellae. Not sure if there’s anything I can do, but just leave it. I think feeding wouldn’t be best, as my nutrients are high and it catches food from daily feedings.


I’ve had relatively unstable nutrients and wonder if this could be what’s causing this.

What makes you think its rejecting its zoox as opposed to pooping?

It looks quite colorful to me. Normally it would release zoox as a normal immune response mechanism to stress related things.

 

[SauceyReef]

What makes you think its rejecting its zoox as opposed to pooping?

It looks quite colorful to me. Normally it would release zoox as a normal immune response mechanism to stress related things.

This is a photo of the RFA 6 months ago while it was healthy and happy. It has been shrinking lately, got burned by some Aiptasia X, and "pooping" a few times a week without being fed.

 

[Saltyreef]

This is a photo of the RFA 6 months ago while it was healthy and happy. It has been shrinking lately, got burned by some Aiptasia X, and "pooping" a few times a week without being fed.

Lets see what it looks like

 

[SauceyReef]

Lets see what it looks like

 

[SauceyReef]

 

[Tired]

That looks like poop, yeah. And it still looks healthy to me.

Is it possible it's stuffing itself into a crevice, not actually shrinking up?

That said, they do like to be fed. Try feeding it once or twice a week.

 

[Saltyreef]

Beautiful tank man.

 

[Saltyreef]

That looks like poop, yeah. And it still looks healthy to me.

Is it possible it's stuffing itself into a crevice, not actually shrinking up?

That said, they do like to be fed. Try feeding it once or twice a week.

 

[SauceyReef]

That looks like poop, yeah. And it still looks healthy to me.

Is it possible it's stuffing itself into a crevice, not actually shrinking up?

That said, they do like to be fed. Try feeding it once or twice a week.

Well in the photo you cant see any excrement or zooxanthellae. Next time I see it shooting the waste out, I will get a photo. They have two distinctive looks? It is crazy but its been like 1.5 years and this RFA has really never moved. I wondered if it could be the riccordia bothering it as they get closer, but wouldnt it just move if it was bothered?

When the RFA started looking bad a month or two ago, I made some posts asking how often everyone was feeding. Most people say they barely feed or dont feed at all, so I think I am just going to avoid target feeding much. I was target feeding it a lot before this, and sometimes wonder if I was feeding to much to lead to this. Regardless I have very ample nutrients, so it should be fine.

Beautiful tank man.

Thank you so much!!

 

[Saltyreef]

Well in the photo you cant see any excrement or zooxanthellae. Next time I see it shooting the waste out, I will get a photo. They have two distinctive looks? It is crazy but its been like 1.5 years and this RFA has really never moved. I wondered if it could be the riccordia bothering it as they get closer, but wouldnt it just move if it was bothered?

When the RFA started looking bad a month or two ago, I made some posts asking how often everyone was feeding. Most people say they barely feed or dont feed at all, so I think I am just going to avoid target feeding much. I was target feeding it a lot before this, and sometimes wonder if I was feeding to much to lead to this. Regardless I have very ample nutrients, so it should be fine.

Thank you so much!!

Ime, mushrooms in general will kill anything they touch, but it being a nem, i would not be surprised if it moved away from the danger.

That being said, i do not think a ricordea mushroom being in the vicinity would do any harm.

 

[SauceyReef]

Ime, mushrooms in general will kill anything they touch, but it being a nem, i would not be surprised if it moved away from the danger.

That being said, i do not think a ricordea mushroom being in the vicinity would do any harm.

I am thinking the same thing, but just have been worrying a lot about this one because its always been one of the coolest coral morphs I have ever had.

I've always wondered if RFA's can freely move across the sand bed like they can rock.

 

[Saltyreef]

I am thinking the same thing, but just have been worrying a lot about this one because its always been one of the coolest coral morphs I have ever had.

I've always wondered if RFA's can freely move across the sand bed like they can rock.

Is it rooted to anything under the sand? Like to the rock behind it?

 

[SauceyReef]

Is it rooted to anything under the sand? Like to the rock behind it?

I honestly am not really sure. If I touch it, it sucks into the sand super fast. I imagine it's foot has to be attached to something, right? My fear is that its possible its kind of been locked on whatever it is holding onto, and corals have surrounded so now it can not really move anywhere.

 

[Tired]

They can move across the sandbed, yes. They don't have a 'lock' function- anything they can grab onto, they can let go of.

 

[SauceyReef]

They can move across the sandbed, yes. They don't have a 'lock' function- anything they can grab onto, they can let go of.

That is good to know. I've just had a lot of RFAs with this tank, and never have seen one cross the sand-bed, so wondering if it was possible.

 

[Bucs20fan]

This RFA is recovering nicely! I know you are worried but they are tough little buggars. I had one get in a battle with a galaxea and it still recovered just fine. As for the ricordia, I wouldnt worry, the rfa will win that battle if it happens. Mushrooms are mean, but not that mean.

 

[SauceyReef]

This RFA is recovering nicely! I know you are worried but they are tough little buggars. I had one get in a battle with a galaxea and it still recovered just fine. As for the ricordia, I wouldnt worry, the rfa will win that battle if it happens. Mushrooms are mean, but not that mean.

That is really good to know. I will just let time do its thing, and try to keep the water params as good as possible. Thank you

 

[Saltyreef]

This RFA is recovering nicely! I know you are worried but they are tough little buggars. I had one get in a battle with a galaxea and it still recovered just fine. As for the ricordia, I wouldnt worry, the rfa will win that battle if it happens. Mushrooms are mean, but not that mean.

I havent seen this battle before but i have seen all my mushrooms kill a variety of agressive encrusting and agressive plating corals. Namely my meteorshower, hollywood stunner and jack lepto.

I used to think my stunner was the badest in the hood until jawbreakers popped up next to it and turned half of it into skeleton lol.

 

[SauceyReef]

I havent seen this battle before but i have seen all my mushrooms kill a variety of agressive encrusting and agressive plating corals. Namely my meteorshower, hollywood stunner and jack lepto.

I used to think my stunner was the badest in the hood until jawbreakers popped up next to it and turned half of it into skeleton lol.

I swear I have seen photos of people with RFAs and Riccordia right next to each other with no problems. Aren't they collected in the same areas as well? Here is a beautiful pico reef I follow that has a ton of both.