Something growing on my Zoa

[matt52592]

Hard to see but looks like little dandelions. The heads aren't completely opened cause I just turned on the light. Any help is much appreciated.

[Tenor]

Algae. Pick it off per tweezer

[CCDillon]

They are actually a type of hydroid. It is said they sting and while I think they do, it seems coral can just deal with it after a little bit. I had some in a zoa colony and after a few weeks of the zoas looking the tiniest bit mad, they opened up normally after that. I still tweeze them off every now and then though, and be sure to tweeze at the base of the hydroid to get the "roots" and all, otherwise they will grow back.