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zoa eating spiders


MadReefer13

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MadReefer13

anyone here have experience with these i just found them i my tank. i've been noticing zoas vanishing so did a dip to see what came out and here comes some spiders 492cb4ef-bda5-4b59-902e-c925a0ed63f4_zps

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MadReefer13

Yes they are only on them... I have a local buddy that's said they are them forsure and he's been in hobbie for about 15 years just not a answer back on what to do

There really really small its hard to get a perfect picture sorry...I'm not good at pictures so that's what I got

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Red_Blenny

It looks like zoa spiders to me. I hate them.

 

You can be lucky and hope you got one. If not, you should investigate any other zoa/paly colonies that are acting strage to you.

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MadReefer13

It looks like zoa spiders to me. I hate them.

 

You can be lucky and hope you got one. If not, you should investigate any other zoa/paly colonies that are acting strage to you.

there was more then one ive dipped all frags gonna dip once a week that good?

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If they are only on zoas since zoa spiders are host specific they definitely are the ZOA spiders, best destruction method is simply physically removing them since they often use the actual zoanthids mucous as protection for eggs and offspring, keep up killing adults and it should end after a while. Some worms will kill them but you likely won't have the right worms in your tank. Even predatory flatworms can sometimes be friends.

Also the weakening of the zoas from the spiders is probably why they are being grown over by cyanobacteria as you said in another thread. As they die cuc finished carcasses most likely.

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MadReefer13

what is the best way? to dip? and if so in what?

 

If they are only on zoas since zoa spiders are host specific they definitely are the ZOA spiders, best destruction method is simply physically removing them since they often use the actual zoanthids mucous as protection for eggs and offspring, keep up killing adults and it should end after a while. Some worms will kill them but you likely won't have the right worms in your tank. Even predatory flatworms can sometimes be friends.
Also the weakening of the zoas from the spiders is probably why they are being grown over by cyanobacteria as you said in another thread. As they die cuc finished carcasses most likely.

also thanks your pretty dang smart you help alot

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what is the best way? to dip? and if so in what?

 

 

also thanks your pretty dang smart you help alot

That's very kind for you to say :) I'm glad I could help.
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Red_Blenny

If they are only on zoas since zoa spiders are host specific they definitely are the ZOA spiders, best destruction method is simply physically removing them since they often use the actual zoanthids mucous as protection for eggs and offspring, keep up killing adults and it should end after a while.

 

+1. They survived a bayer dip because I had a spider LIVING INSIDE a zoa. I only realized I had a zoa spider when I saw it crawling out of the zoa's mouth and trying to invade a new one.

 

I'm not sure they're egg laying types. I thought they just give birth to more zoa spiders out of the parent's mouth.........

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MadReefer13

 

+1. They survived a bayer dip because I had a spider LIVING INSIDE a zoa. I only realized I had a zoa spider when I saw it crawling out of the zoa's mouth and trying to invade a new one.

 

I'm not sure they're egg laying types. I thought they just give birth to more zoa spiders out of the parent's mouth.........

i was thinking once a week on my zoas for as long as needed? and bayer seems bee what everyone dose lately.I used just peroxide, but this was also my first dip and in a rush also.So not sure what to use to kill these things the best,and how.Now too look that up thanks for the help guys

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+1. They survived a bayer dip because I had a spider LIVING INSIDE a zoa. I only realized I had a zoa spider when I saw it crawling out of the zoa's mouth and trying to invade a new one.

 

I'm not sure they're egg laying types. I thought they just give birth to more zoa spiders out of the parent's mouth.........

all sea spiders lay eggs, but there are several other developmental strategies after hatching, but they have the eggs coming from their legs, kinda creepy lol

i was thinking once a week on my zoas for as long as needed? and bayer seems bee what everyone dose lately.I used just peroxide, but this was also my first dip and in a rush also.So not sure what to use to kill these things the best,and how.Now too look that up thanks for the help guys

were glad we could help :)
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Partially Submerged

Wow, I can't stand spiders in my house. If they ended up in my corals, that would add a whole new layer of dislike. :D

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Cencalfishguy56

all sea spiders lay eggs, but there are several other developmental strategies after hatching, but they have the eggs coming from their legs, kinda creepy lol

were glad we could help :)

Wow bro, aren't you only 17? You're one smart ass dude haha going places!

It's crazy the shit you find in the ocean lol

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Wow bro, aren't you only 17? You're one smart ass dude haha going places!It's crazy the shit you find in the ocean lol

actually 16 lol.
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This is the quote I like the best...

 

"Leave the coral in your quarantine system for an additional 3 months before moving back to your aquarium"

 

I am pretty sure NOBODY in the trade is doing this! Sounds like these might be harder to get rid of than nudis, but perhaps much less common.

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This is the quote I like the best...

 

"Leave the coral in your quarantine system for an additional 3 months before moving back to your aquarium"

 

I am pretty sure NOBODY in the trade is doing this! Sounds like these might be harder to get rid of than nudis, but perhaps much less common.

that's why its actually better just to stick to a strict kill at sight policy. No breeders no new ones, no more invasion.
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  • 3 weeks later...
MadReefer13

So I been thinking about these spiders and they seem hella hard to get to them gone.kinda just saying screw it zoas are gone sucks cuz have about ten diffrent kinds that are nice nice already and was what my tank was gonna focus on but whatever.so what I'm wondering will they get my other corals or will the die when the demolish my zoas as they seem to be doing to some but some seem untouched

I also have been looking in tank a hell of a lot and I haven't seen one in tank just when I dipped

Nd the zoas I dipped two kinds on same rock are only ones they seem to be getting no others just my garrila nippple and eagle eyes so far but there like all the way gone and there were over a hundred zoas on that one rock

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To my knowledge they are obligated to eat zoanthids. But there are many species of sea spider, some aren't so host dependent as others, the less host specific species are definitely a worst case scenario as that will mean they can feast on a greater variety of polyps. Sorry what's been happening to your zoas, did you say the dipping helped? If that did help that would be quite rare, since quite a few of the really bad ones protect themselves by living inside the zoanthid in early life stages. They have so little information made about them that it's frustrating.

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MadReefer13

To my knowledge they are obligated to eat zoanthids. But there are many species of sea spider, some aren't so host dependent as others, the less host specific species are definitely a worst case scenario as that will mean they can feast on a greater variety of polyps. Sorry what's been happening to your zoas, did you say the dipping helped? If that did help that would be quite rare, since quite a few of the really bad ones protect themselves by living inside the zoanthid in early life stages. They have so little information made about them that it's frustrating.

yes vary frustrating and no the dip dident help they toke out the two collonies alreay. They do stay in the zoas and keep them closed I only got four out when I dipped them
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yes vary frustrating and no the dip dident help they toke out the two collonies alreay. They do stay in the zoas and keep them closed I only got four out when I dipped them

oh, sorry to be all grim right now, but I don't think any of your badly infested zoas can even make it, no matter how good of treatment you try. Let me explain, even though you are killing adults on sight, assuming my guess is correct this is a very prolific species of sea spider, each adult probably is laying dozens apon dozens of eggs each with parasitic offspring. It only in that case would take a few females to cause this nightmare. When the eggs are hatching the larvae are burrowing in the zoas tissue and feeding on the ZOA, one individual spider baby isn't too dangerous but since there is/ could be dozens their destruction is much greater. Since they are living in the tissues themselves they are protected from any medicines the ZOA will likely die before the spider if you really go all out with the medicines. There will be more, you might have to just kill the visibly infected zoas ( they are doomed anyways), and quarantine like mad. I'm sorry, but that is what I am seeing as the only viable solution.

Second opinions are nice though

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MadReefer13

Ya think tanks being changed to sps and lps only and letting the zoas just go as they do. My sps are getting big and growing great anyway I guess

oh, sorry to be all grim right now, but I don't think any of your badly infested zoas can even make it, no matter how good of treatment you try. Let me explain, even though you are killing adults on sight, assuming my guess is correct this is a very prolific species of sea spider, each adult probably is laying dozens apon dozens of eggs each with parasitic offspring. It only in that case would take a few females to cause this nightmare. When the eggs are hatching the larvae are burrowing in the zoas tissue and feeding on the ZOA, one individual spider baby isn't too dangerous but since there is/ could be dozens their destruction is much greater. Since they are living in the tissues themselves they are protected from any medicines the ZOA will likely die before the spider if you really go all out with the medicines. There will be more, you might have to just kill the visibly infected zoas ( they are doomed anyways), and quarantine like mad. I'm sorry, but that is what I am seeing as the only viable solution.

Second opinions are nice though

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Ya think tanks being changed to sps and lps only and letting the zoas just go as they do. My sps are getting big and growing great anyway I guess

you might be able to salvage a few of the zoas, just first look for visible sickness.
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I had one, posted pics of it in my thread, if you want to check it out. Fortunately I only had hte one, so far no others. I keep a close watch.

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