Translucent Sack Around a Zoa

[Sububer]

Hi,

 

Within the last two hours, a translucent sack formed around one of my zoanthid polyps.

 

 

Anyone know what this is?

 

Thanks,

-Jeff

 

[mitten_reef]

If you're talking about the polyp, and not the white blob to the side. It looks to me like the polyp just closes up. My zoas do that from times to times.

 

Many things can cause the polyps to close up, change in water parameters, feeding, physical disturbance, etc. it's a way for the polyp to 'reset' or protect itself.

 

I wouldn't be too worried unless it goes on for hours.

[Sububer]

Thanks, but I'm pretty sure it's a translucent sack around the polyp, not just a closed polyp.

[ReefWeeds]

Looks like the polyp closed up to me. Some have more translucent flesh than others.

[Dylan.N]

That's just what closed zoas look like.

[Sububer]

I quarrantined it for a bit and the translucent sack disappeared. It looks like this now:

 

 

So, I'm pretty sure it's not just a closed zoa. Still curious about this if anyone knows what the translucent sack is in the original post.

 

Thanks!

[Mariaface]

See the vertical lines on both images, showing the pattern of its flesh? The first is when the zoa closes up and inflates (more translucent, lines stretch out), and potentially slimes over - getting rid of whatever's irritating it. The second it is starting to move back into its normal shape. Are you sure that's not what you're seeing?

[Elizabeth94]

Yep, just a closed zoa polyp.

[Sububer]

Cool - thanks for the explanation, Mariaface.

I didn't know they puffed up like that.