Zoos!!

[cmoresps]

Anthony my friend, how are things?

Wanted to ask the expert about a posting I saw where a dog at some zoos (looked like palythoa), and apparently died from their toxin. I have been doing some reading on zoo toxicity, but had an experience back when I was just starting to reef (before I even knew about sps, man was I missing out!). My fowl crashed, I had to stick my queen in my quasi reef, I did not have many corals, but had some small zoos(dont know the species name=(). I put some eggcrate to keep the queen away from the zoos, the fish won and mowed the whole colony flat. The fish went on to live for several more years.

Clearly there must be differing amounts of toxicity in zoos. I wanted to propogate those I just got (do they spread rapidly? They are the ultra colorful kind off of Bryan's website), but I dont want to adversly the loves of my life, the acroporidaes! (By the way I just picked up the most smoking purple humilis I have ever seen! This sucker is actually double sided, grew like a fat fan or clover). I have attached a pic of my pride and joy, acroporidae radioactus (the name says it all)

My big problem now, I need a much bigger tank!!

One last thing my friend, is there anywhere you know of to get ultra colorful sps? I have been looking around and picking them up when I can, there are a lot of places to get frags (Ora has some sweet ones if I can find who someone who sells them), always looking....:eek2:

peace out

[Anthony Calfo]

Cheers, bud :)

Going well over here with hope for you the same.



"I had to stick my queen in my quasi-reef, I did not have many corals, but had some small zoos(dont know the species name=(). I put some eggcrate to keep the queen away from the zoos, the fish won and mowed the whole colony flat. The fish went on to live for several more years."



Indeed.... not surprising at all for angels. They are high predators on many noxious reef invertebrates not the least of which are cnidarians and sponges. They eat numerous stinging and/or "toxic" species.



"Clearly there must be differing amounts of toxicity in zoos."



Agreed likely... but also different tolerances to palytoxin and the like by various animals above and below the water.


"I wanted to propagate those I just got (do they spread rapidly? They are the ultra colorful kind off of Bryan's website), but I dont want to adversly the loves of my life, the acroporidaes!"


Display versus farming are two different techniques. To compromise the two in a display you will have to finesse water quality perhaps a little better (more frequent water changes, ensure strong water flow, skimming and/or reg use of carbon/polyflters, etc). My preference is not not mix very competitive groups when growth is the primary goal though. As far as the "speed" of growth for your polyps... it varies. But all will grow faster if they can/are target fed organismally. Some of the smaller polyped zoanthus species aren't as frisky to eat meaty foods as larger polyped (proto-)Palythoa's though

"One last thing my friend, is there anywhere you know of to get ultra colorful sps?"

I actually don't have a current favorite place right now. So many folks are selling colorful frags on the 'Net. Do call ORA and simply ask them to refer you to their closest dealer if you like their stock. Some of Walt Smith's cultured stock has been gorgeous too. Have you peeked at Harbor Aquatics inventory?

Best regards, Anthony :)