Rick your coral losses are due to RTN, but RTN is a symptom and not a disease in itself, there are many potential causes. It's like saying you have a broken arm, there are an infinite list of potential causes for that, but the end result is the same: your arm hurts.

RTN can most assuredly be caused by stress induced by predation.

When you eliminate the impossible, of whatever remains, regardless of how implausible, the explanation is in there. You think it's implausible that the fish are to blame, for the longest time I held the same view in my tank .. but realistically it cannot be eliminated in either of our tanks. Things don't die for no reason, there is a reason. I'm sorry if you don't like to hear this :p but I'm calling it like I see it: for the longest time you've had inexplicable losses, now we're getting a glimpse of something that could explain other things that previously thought to have no explanation.


I still disagree. Once RTN starts it is it's own little beast.

You can always a catch a fish, it comes down to techniques you employ if the need is there.

Yes it does!

What's toxic to one kind of critter (mammals) might not be for another (fish). Fish have evolved alongside zoannthid for millenia, it's entirely possible they have built up immunity or resistance to the palytoxins that other critters might not have.

It is entirely possible although just speculation as zoanthids have never been proved to contain palytoxin to date, at least according to Coral Magasine.

The fact that fish eat it and don,t die is another step in that direction, that's all. If palytoxine is that toxic, eating it should not be very good for the fish and I seriously doubt that so many species of fish have adapted to it, especialy that blue hippo are not exactly coral eater in nature. Mine don't toutch any of my coral. Amphipods also eat zoanthids as well as many other fish like the filefish and many angelfish....

Tony, I do have to agree. don't like to, but have to. I guess I can't really say what has caused any of my problems. If it was that easy, then myself with the others wouldn't of had these issues this summer.

Funny thing is that the hippo was sniffing around the zoas yesterday, but wasn't munching on them. He basically ate what he wanted, but doesn't seem to like the others. Maybe he got a tummy ache!

Tony, you still taking the 2 bar? Just keep me posted.

I don't think there is an easy answer for many of our issues with our home set-ups. I some times have to use the old saying ' if it's not broken........' but with coral issues we can never be sure what the problem / culprit is. I have a beautiful pick face wrasse that Kien gave me but it is causing issues as well and sadly will be going to a new home in the next week when I catch him. It is just to active and likes to knock things around and cause a rodeo with all the other fish.

As I just posted on another thread, to someone else having the same problem.

It is now day 2, and Dori isn't eating anymore Zoa's... She has hovered over them looking at them, but no more attacking them, not even a little bit.

I am thinking some may be toxic and some may not be... and if that is the case, I think she ate the tasty (non-toxic) ones. If that is the case, I can live with what is left, as they are very pretty.

I have also changed feeding to include a sheet of Nori everyday now, done that for 3 days. Can't say that is the reason, but the fact she is hungry, then why not. So I am now doing 4 auto feedings and one nori feeding per day.

Its been another 4 days, and my hippo still hasn't eaten anymore. SHE HAS STOPPED!!!!

Wierd, but oh well, I guess the zoas I have left will be left alone. Not sure why she ate whole colonies of others and not what is left. But I am happy it stopped.