What do zoas eat?

121 · 05/04/2012, 12:37 PM

Do you think they can make their own proteins for cell growth from free N, C and P or do they actually need to eat proteins floating in the water column?

kevin32 · 05/04/2012, 12:41 PM

Well some people feed them mysis shrimp. Maybe even tiny pellets too.

aimmia · 05/04/2012, 12:45 PM

my friend feeds his palys betta pellets and they love it. I use cycloopez (sp) and turn off the flow and you can see them close up on the food.

Mel 2038 · 05/04/2012, 12:53 PM

Every once in awhile I feed mine some Baby Brine Shrimp and you can watch them close up on the food.

650-IS350 · 05/04/2012, 01:13 PM

Zoanthids feed via, light.

Palys, Protopalys, Neozoanthids, etc etc. all have prey catching ability and can be fed.

121 · 05/04/2012, 02:21 PM

That's the thing 650-IS250,

It's evident that palys can capture foods directly. Zoas cannot capture large foods directly and I'm presuming that they can only filter feed to obtain nutrients from tiny particles present in the water column. Light feeds the zooxanthellae within the zoanthid polyp.

How does that alone produce the catalyst that zoas need to create more cells for growth?

Zoanthids can only eat tiny molecules that are evenly distributed throughout the water column of a said system. With that in mind, target feeding zoathinds seems pointless as they are slowly sucking up random water. You can't squirt food at a zoa and expect it to absorb anything remotely substantial.

Friday Night · 05/04/2012, 02:38 PM

They eat consistent water parameters

MUCHO REEF · 05/04/2012, 03:47 PM

I agree, target feeding is pointless.

pallidamors · 05/04/2012, 08:04 PM

pretty much good light, good flow, good water

agruetz · 05/04/2012, 09:06 PM

I thought they also filter fed...so targeting them with something like Oyster Feast would be helpful? Or am I incorrect in this?

Dana42078 · 05/04/2012, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Friday Night

They eat consistent water parameters

This right here

MUCHO REEF · 05/07/2012, 05:59 AM

Zoanthids will feed upon and consume Zooplankton, not Phytoplankton.

Zoas rely also on particulate matter, bacteria, organics, some live prey and photosynthesis via their symbiotic zooxanthellae.

Mucho Reef

caudill187 · 05/09/2012, 10:59 PM

Some zoanthids (larger species, and palys) with consume particulate matter in the wild. Those equipped to do so will catch and consume meaty scraps and zooplanton. Most will only consume particles that are much, much smaller than commonly offered by "target" feeders. The smaller palys and zoas will only filter feed organic molecules from the water column. The overwhelming majority of strains rely most heavily on photosythesis - which provides sugars to be used by cellular ribosomes to produce proteins from carbon, nitrogen and sulfur gained through absorption/filter feeding.

05/04/2012, 12:37 PM	#1
121 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 340	What do zoas eat? Do you think they can make their own proteins for cell growth from free N, C and P or do they actually need to eat proteins floating in the water column?

05/04/2012, 01:13 PM	#5
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brisbane, Bay Area Posts: 13,294	Zoanthids feed via, light. Palys, Protopalys, Neozoanthids, etc etc. all have prey catching ability and can be fed. __________________ Charles , AKA " DELSOL650 "

05/04/2012, 02:21 PM	#6
121 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 340	That's the thing 650-IS250, It's evident that palys can capture foods directly. Zoas cannot capture large foods directly and I'm presuming that they can only filter feed to obtain nutrients from tiny particles present in the water column. Light feeds the zooxanthellae within the zoanthid polyp. How does that alone produce the catalyst that zoas need to create more cells for growth? Zoanthids can only eat tiny molecules that are evenly distributed throughout the water column of a said system. With that in mind, target feeding zoathinds seems pointless as they are slowly sucking up random water. You can't squirt food at a zoa and expect it to absorb anything remotely substantial. Last edited by 121; 05/04/2012 at 02:39 PM.

05/04/2012, 03:47 PM	#8
MUCHO REEF Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,350	I agree, target feeding is pointless. __________________ Anyone can build a reef.....the greater challenge......is to grow one. Current Tank Info: 70 gallon zoanthid, Palythoa and Mushroom Reef. Last edited by MUCHO REEF; 05/04/2012 at 03:53 PM.

05/04/2012, 09:06 PM	#10
agruetz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 499	I thought they also filter fed...so targeting them with something like Oyster Feast would be helpful? Or am I incorrect in this? __________________ 27 Gallon Cube w/ 15 Gallon Fuge - 2 Black Clowns, 1 Red Scooter, 1 Queen Conch, 1 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Clam, Faviva, Galixia, Green Star Polyps, Assorted Zoa's and some hermits running around.

05/04/2012, 12:41 PM	#2
kevin32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North OC, 92683 Posts: 593	Well some people feed them mysis shrimp. Maybe even tiny pellets too.

05/04/2012, 12:45 PM	#3
aimmia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 66	my friend feeds his palys betta pellets and they love it. I use cycloopez (sp) and turn off the flow and you can see them close up on the food.

05/04/2012, 12:53 PM	#4
Mel 2038 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bolingbrook,IL Posts: 124	Every once in awhile I feed mine some Baby Brine Shrimp and you can watch them close up on the food.

05/04/2012, 02:38 PM	#7
Friday Night Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Walnut Creek. CA Posts: 2,425	They eat consistent water parameters

05/04/2012, 08:04 PM	#9
pallidamors Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 259	pretty much good light, good flow, good water

05/07/2012, 05:59 AM	#12
MUCHO REEF Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,350	Zoanthids will feed upon and consume Zooplankton, not Phytoplankton. Zoas rely also on particulate matter, bacteria, organics, some live prey and photosynthesis via their symbiotic zooxanthellae. Mucho Reef __________________ Anyone can build a reef.....the greater challenge......is to grow one. Current Tank Info: 70 gallon zoanthid, Palythoa and Mushroom Reef.

05/09/2012, 10:59 PM	#13
caudill187 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 33	Some zoanthids (larger species, and palys) with consume particulate matter in the wild. Those equipped to do so will catch and consume meaty scraps and zooplanton. Most will only consume particles that are much, much smaller than commonly offered by "target" feeders. The smaller palys and zoas will only filter feed organic molecules from the water column. The overwhelming majority of strains rely most heavily on photosythesis - which provides sugars to be used by cellular ribosomes to produce proteins from carbon, nitrogen and sulfur gained through absorption/filter feeding.