Toxic Zoo's

[alton]

I have a Juv. Emperator in a 29 gal quarantine tank. I am introducing him slowly but surely to corals. I added some Zoo's Sunday and he did fine the first day but then Tuesday night I noticed him hanging straight up and leaning against the water return pipe. Looked around the tank and notice quite a few Zoo's missing from one of the rocks. When I fed him he ate like nothing was wrong. Last night same thing hanging his head up against the return and missing Zoo's from another rock. I took all the Zoo's out of the tank. When I took the Zoo's out I noticed what was left was on the oppisite side of the branch rock, I guess they were hiding? I fed the Emp. and everything was fine? Are Zoo's drugs to fish who eat them?

[CD]

Are Zoo's drugs to fish who eat them?


No. Species of Palythoa and most related zoanthids have a chemical in them called palytoxin. Palytoxin is a neurotoxin...IOW, the reaction to it generally produces paralysis. There are some fish that prey on zoas (like filefish) and have no reaction to it whatsoever. Other fish can quickly die from eating palys or some zoas. As far as your "Emperator", are you referring to a Emperor Angelfish? If yes, are you keeping this fish in a 29G tank temporarily (QT), or has he/she been moved to a bigger tank (hopefully!)? Emperors are known to nip at LPS, some soft corals like Xenia, and clam mantles, but they usually leave the more noxious soft corals alone. As far as the way this fish has positioned himself at night, this may be his "sleep" position, and nothing to be worried about...especially noting the fact that you say it's eating well when you feed. Do you have LR in your tank? He may be sleeping this way because there is no or not enough live rock to sleep in. Also, there is a possibility that something else is eating the zoas...there are certain types of snails that will eat your zoas.

Wendy

[alexwolf]

Emperor Angelfish are also known as Emperators. :)

[alton]

The fish in question is a Juv. Emperor Angel about 3". I was going to keep him in this tank for a month to make sure he was eating well with no sickness before I placed him in my 155g. The 155g has mostly softies with a few Zoo's, Frogspawn, and two Wesophyllia's which I am betting the Wesophyllia's will have to be removed. I thought it would be better to find out sooner than later to to what he would nip at?

[don-n-sa]

I am going to try a majestic angel in my mixed reef someday and I am interested in how this works out...especially since I will do the opposite of what your are doing.

This is my plan:

While in qt I will introduce nothing but food in the tank. After a few weeks I will move it into my fuge, and again only foods and macro no corals. After a month or two I will move it to the display and hopefully it will not recognize any corals as food.

[alton]

I am not going to introduce anything new to this tank and try the don-n-sa idea. I will keep you up dated.

[CD]

Emperor Angelfish are also known as Emperators.


Thanks, Alex ;)
I've never heard them referred to with that name, so I just thought it was a mis-spelling.

Wendy

[Richard]

Pomacanthus imperator or Imperator or Emperor or Emperator angel

Alton - do you have a grounding probe on that tank? I have found Imperator angels, Emperor angels and Emperator angels to be very sensitive to stray voltage in a tank. They behave similar to what you describe when there is stray voltage also they tend to not eat. If you have a voltmeter check your tank to see if there is any stray voltage.

[alton]

This guy eats great, but I will check the voltage leak by going bare foot and sticking my finger in the tank. Be carefull with grounding probes because if you have a loose neutral, your ground will carry into the tank, I had this problem at Allens house because of the rocky soil he didn't have a good ground at his service so he ended up with 5 volts in his sump. Which shocked him very well. Sorry I got off the subject but I appreciate the in put from everybody

[alton]

Fish was fine last night, wasn't hanging against the return pipe. Swimming around like a normal fish, ate well like always. I have named him Willie Nelson. No voltage in the tank.

[GaryP]

An electrician with a voltage problem. Now that would be a hoot, wouldn't it?

[alton]

Thanks Gary for the confidence? I guess I better retract my statement on checking for stray voltage barefoot! I do not recommend this. But on a serious note before you plug in a grounding probe please check to see that there no voltage present at the receptacle you are plugging into.

[GaryP]

Alton, would you repeat that you told me about the problem with grounding probes and lightning?