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My StuffCurrent articles in progressA mated pair of Cleaner Shrimp. Over heated Zoa's during shipping Water Quality for the salt aquarium Reef Links
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Overheated Zoa's during shipping.
Here are a few shots of some Zoanthids that I ordered in the summer of 2008. I had chatted with a fella about a colony of Zoanthids he was looking to part with because it was taking up too much room in his tank. Since we are both in the same state, UPS is next day delivery, so I decided this would be the best and cheapest way to go. Here is the shot that sold me on them. A beautiful colony of Zoanthids!
I forgot to check with the person I bought them from to make sure they would be OK during transit and I take full responsibility for how they arrived. I know better and should have insisted that ice packs travel with the Zoa's. These Zoanthids were basically cooked in transit and I lost most of them. I am not mad at the fella I bought them from and this web page is not to bash him due to the condition of the Zoanthids when they arrived. I saw an opportunity to show how to save overheated Zoanthids and since I have a means to share the information, I am posting this information so others may benefit. The next two shots are of the Zoa's still in the bag being acclimated. Upon arrival the temperature of the water in the bag was 97 degrees F. When ever you order items make sure they are going to be shipped in properly heated or cooled containers, depending on your climate and the climate they will be traveling through. Due to the high heat of the bag water, I acclimated these very slow. I was worried about having them in the high temp. water for longer than necessary and decided to shoot for two hours. I added two tablespoons of my tank water to the bag every 15 minutes and tested the water temp to make sure I was not bringing them down in temp. too fast, but fast enough to help relieve any discomfort the animals may have been in.
Here are a few shots of the Zoa's the day after they arrived. The high heat really took it's toll and I could tell right away that there would be some die off; to what extent was the question. I kinda figured the zooxanthellae that lives within the Zoa's would also have some die off and would start to be expelled by the Zoa's, so I pumped up the level of Phytoplankton in the tank by adding four tablespoons above my normal addition. I also increased my normal addition of Seachem's Reef Plus to two tablespoons twice a week instead of once a week.
Here's one of the frags that was loose in the bag. Most of the frags that broke loose from the rock during shipping did not survive. I attached them to rocks with Super Glue Gel so they would not be free floating in the tank.
Here is a photo that was taken 7-25-2008 of the main colony rock. There was quite a bit of die off, but some of the Zoa's have hung on. This rock is getting Furan 2 dips to treat the fungus that is on the outside flesh of the animal and to aid in healing. Most of the skirts had died off, but now they are starting to regrow and there appears to be a bit of color starting to come back near the mouth of the Zoa's
I will keep this page updated as the Zoa's progress. |
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