Found out who was eating my zoas!!

Discussion in 'ID This!' started by lynnmw1208, Jul 30, 2011.

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  1. lynnmw1208

    lynnmw1208 Skunk Shrimp

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    So I noticed my zoanthids having bites taking out of them yesterday morning, and to no avail I could not see what it was. so I bought some coral Rx today and dipped all 3 of my zoa frags/colonies and I found the culprit!!

    Is this a fireworm?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    lynnmw1208, Jul 30, 2011
    lynnmw1208, Jul 30, 2011
    #1

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  2. Doratus

    Doratus Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    I don't know but it sure looks nasty. Good going!
     
    Doratus, Jul 30, 2011
    Doratus, Jul 30, 2011
    #2
  3. 1.0reef

    1.0reef Giant Squid

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    that looks like a fireworm to me. pretty color, it would make a good addition to a pest tank
     
    1.0reef, Jul 30, 2011
    1.0reef, Jul 30, 2011
    #3
  4. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Mr. Bill, Jul 30, 2011
    Mr. Bill, Jul 30, 2011
    #4
  5. lynnmw1208

    lynnmw1208 Skunk Shrimp

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    might be because he was eating orange zoanthids :-/
     
    lynnmw1208, Jul 30, 2011
    lynnmw1208, Jul 30, 2011
    #5
  6. Kristiavi

    Kristiavi Coral Banded Shrimp

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    Do people actually make pest tanks? Seems crazy.
     
    Kristiavi, Jul 30, 2011
    Kristiavi, Jul 30, 2011
    #6

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  7. gabbagabbawill

    gabbagabbawill Pajama Cardinal

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    Bristle worms are generally detrivores, however the Hermodice canunculata, AKA fireworm has been known to be predatory on anemones and hard corals, so I suppose it could eat zoas too!
     
    gabbagabbawill, Jul 30, 2011
    gabbagabbawill, Jul 30, 2011
    #7
  8. lynnmw1208

    lynnmw1208 Skunk Shrimp

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    oh yeah this guy pulled a scene from the movie "Alien" when I put the coral into coral Rx. It's was creepy and a half!!:eek:
     
    lynnmw1208, Jul 30, 2011
    lynnmw1208, Jul 30, 2011
    #8
  9. fishdoctors96

    fishdoctors96 Astrea Snail

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    At our store we found one 5 '' long! and it could eat quite a few zoas.
     
    fishdoctors96, Jul 30, 2011
    fishdoctors96, Jul 30, 2011
    #9
  10. m2434

    m2434 Giant Squid

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    Looks more like a juvenile bristle worm to me. Fireworms have white tufts on the sides, those look more like smaller, less "tufty" bristles to me and fireworms are very big. I'm not sure what the scale is, but that thing looks tiny, I don't think it could eat a zoanthid. Bristle worms can be all orange when young, before they gain their grey/orange bi-color, coloration. Most likely just eating detritus around the decaying zoanthids.

    Or it's something else, there are a lot of worms, many look similar. Predatory fireworms are extremely rare though. Here is a worm id page, this may help.
    Worm Hitch Hikers
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2011
    m2434, Jul 31, 2011
    m2434, Jul 31, 2011
    #10
    1 person likes this.
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