ID this Zoa and is that an Aiptasia poking out?

Hi guys! Just got our first little Zoa today and it looks like it has an unwanted hitchhiker. Is that an aiptasia? It only withdraws when we touch it with a tweezers. Best way to kill since it's surrounded by zoa: lemon juice, Joe's juice? And where are people getting the syringes from? Any expertise would be appreciated!

 

The zoa's may be Eagle Eyes. ?? Don't know for sure but I do know that is an aiptasia poking out among them.

 

This is what I do.

Remove pieces from tank.

Dry with paper towel, this will make all polyps totally retract, this allows you to treat the aiptasia and avoid getting kalk on zoanthids.

Put dab of kalk paste directly on aiptasia (yes that is an aiptasia). Allow entire pieces to sit undisturbed 5-10 min without water, except to remove any kalk from surrounding zoanthids with Q-tip if needed. Rinse piece in sm. container of tank water and place back in tank.

Zoanthids are often shipped dry to distributors, so letting them sit out for 5-10 min has no adverse effect. They are also exposed to air for prolonged periods of time during low tide.

 

Thanks reefmonkey... I was thinking it was Eagle Eyes too. I'm sad about the aiptasia hitchhiker!

Thanks Corailline for the very descriptive solution. We were concerned about treating it and having it spread.

I love 3reef! Such quick answers... you guys are the best!

 

Agree with coriallines post. You can leave them out of the water for quite awhile with no problem.

You may have a bit of collateral damage from the kalk paste but the zoo'a will grow back. Trust me, it's better than a tank full of aips.

 

I just saw an older thread with you battling them. How'd it turn out?

 

I tried everything. They won.

The system was tore down before the battle was over though. And not because of them either.

I transferred some stuff from that system to my new 90 and tried to be as careful as possible. Still got them. Tried a few things again including the DIY Zapper but they only spread so I quit messing around and bought some Berghia Nudibranch. They are slowly cleaning out the Aip's.

 

But the kalk paste outside the tank is your best bet. Use it like Corialline said and rinse the frag off good in a tub of tank water before putting it back in the DT.

 

Okey doke. I liked the DIY Zapper. Glad you didn't get the clownfish!