Amphipods annoying zoa's??

My beautiful zoa colony has been closed for days and I can't figure out why, the only thing I notice is that they are covered in large Amphipods, is it possible they are annoying the zoas or is it something else??

 

You can't really see copepods without a magnifying glass. They are most likely amphipods, these are larger pods that are know to irritate zoanthids.

 

make sure they aren't zoa-eating nudibranches?

 

No they are definatley amphipods, they dont seem to be eating the zoas but definately annoying them.

 

A handful of amphipod species can and will if they run out of food. It's impossible to determine if you have one of those species however, unless you're watching them eat your zoanthids.

 

Will a wrasse eat them?

 

Of the genus Halichoeres or Macropharyngodon, yes. But your tank is really not big enough for either genus.

 

So what do you suggest I do to get rid of them, We were looking at a 6 line wrasse, I thought they ate pods like that

 

Some wrasse will. Yellow wrasse are the most common, but get big. Evolved would be the person to make a wrasse recommendation.

As to eating the zoas, there are mixed feeling on this. Some people say yes, but most experts seem to say no. However, if they annoy them and the zoas don't open, then the zoas may die and then be eaten. So, either way it can be a problem. I've had good luck with flow and a good cleanup crew, to keep detritus from settling between he polyps. I have had issues in the past, that his has solved, but I couldn't say if this is always sufficient though.


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Ah, yes, they will too. Forgot about the Pseudocheilinus genus as I hate them. He'll work for you, but you probably won't be able to add any more fish one he is established.