help id-parasite found on zoa

Hello, I have just located this little guy on top of one of my zoa's. For the last week or so several of my zoa and pally frag's have been completely closed up and I just found this on one of the polyps. I actually seen this a few times but it blended in so well with the polyp that I thought it was part of the polyp. it is about 1/4in long and has brightly colored tenticles along it's back.

Please let me know what this is. I sucked it out of the tank and have it in a cup currently. I'm no expert but I'm sure it's bad and should be destroyed correct? Also could my elegance coral has been closed up for a week and it is near these corals. Could this guy be the reason? Thanks for your help.

 

Nudibranch it'll eat your zoas/palys, get it out, dip your zoas/palys, and look for eggs.

As for the elgance i don't think the nudi will affect it, as nudis are highly specialized feeders and typically only eat one type of food. IMO its a coral that can do fine for a long period of time then all of the sudden decline, its one of the harder corals to keep and i believe it should be left in the ocean.

 

unfortunetly some of the zoa's are attached to the rock.

 

i've only seen one and it's only been in this one localized area apparantly attacking only these 2 zoa/pally colonies. The other colonies show no signs of stress or closure. Am I best to just observe and hope no eggs were laid?
thanks again

 

Chances are VERY good that it's a zoanthid eating nudibranch.

You will need to manually remove them and inspect for eggs routinely.

Google "images of zoanthid eating nudibranch egges" so you know what to look for.

 

ya after looking closer in the area it did look like some eggs had been laid next to the zoa's. i sucked up as many as I could with a baster. hopefully i can keep on top of em.

 

KILL THEM, KILL THEM WITH FIRE!!!!!!!! Do not let them hatch!!!! you will regret it. I have fought Montipora eating nudibranches for the past 2 years... finally had to get rid of all my montis so they would not be in my new tank.