How would you prune palythoa?

[HowardCath]

I have a lot of palythoa on major rocks that cannot be removed. They are overgrowing and attacking some candycane coral in that area. Is it possible to prune them by trying to pull off unwanted polyps with a forceps? I doubt I could cut them off easily. They seem very adherent. Would crushed polyps release toxin that could hurt other life in the tank? Thanks for all suggestions.

 

[gsusfreak]

howard,is there a way to remove the candy cane?

 

[HowardCath]

I could move the candy cane, John, but I like where it is and I'd rather take my chances the the high branches would survive being surrounded by the palythoa.

 

[DMBillies]

I'd get a straight slot or other chisel-like device and chip the palys off. If you take it easy, you won't lose too much of the rock and getting every piece of the palys is the only way to make sure they aren't going to grow right back from any remnants.

 

[HowardCath]

I'm afraid that I would destabilize the rocks which are balanced on top and create a major avalanche. I may have to let the hostile takeover just takeover. Anybody think that few well-placed drops of Joe's juice into the mouths might kill, I mean humanely euthanize, the polyps?

 

[fallinapart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12510143#post12510143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardCath
I mean humanely euthanize, the polyps?

Howard, that reminds me of today as Wayne and I were fragging a galaxia coral, my daughter was at my house watching us, her phone rang and it was her mother-in-law and my daughter told here we were gluing animals to rocks, and all she asked was "doesn't it hurt them":eek1: and of course Wayne & I told her it did not hurt us at all:rollface:

Anyway, just a funny story about being humanely kind to corals.

Norman

 

[HowardCath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12515193#post12515193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fallinapart
my daughter told her we were gluing animals to rocks, and all she asked was "doesn't it hurt them":eek1: and of course Wayne & I told her it did not hurt us at all:rollface:


Norman

Well, I hope you animals got yourselves unglued.

 

[loyalty]

joe's juice?

 

[fishdoc11]

Remember that Paly's contain a very potent toxin, palythoa toxin. Be sure to wear gloves and wash well after handling and especially after cutting or fragging them. I agree that in that situation it would be easier just to move the candy cane. If you just kill a few around it, which will be difficult, they will just keep encroaching and you will have to do it over and over.
Chris

 

[NeveSSL]

I've made myself sick twice after fragging zoas by not washing my hands WITH soap. Just rinsing them off doesn't help. Just FWIW. Oh, and just that much knocked me out for about 3 days SOLID. It was pretty crazy!

Brandon

 

[HowardCath]

Thanks, Chris. I was worried whether the toxin could be released into the tank hurting others. Could it?

I pruned a good section last night, wearing gloves, using a forcep to hold each polyp and a scalpel to sever the base at rock line. Nothing else seemed to suffer nearby. I will see how long I can keep up the battle, but the protopalythoa will otherwise take over all the big rocks that I really can't move. It looks good today. I think I won a battle, but winning the war may prove difficult.

 

[HowardCath]

Thanks, Brandon. I just created another clearing. Wore gloves and then washed my hands with one of those alcohol/liquid/gel cleaners. The palys were going to overgrow several other corals.

 

[fishdoc11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12540263#post12540263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardCath
Thanks, Chris. I was worried whether the toxin could be released into the tank hurting others. Could it?

I'm not sure to be honest. Of course that would make sense but the thing that's always talked about is it's effect on the aquarist.........lots of horror stories. Cutting palys or zoanthids shouldn't have the effect say cutting a big leather would have on the other corals.

Chris

 

[NeveSSL]

I think some pics and explanations of your clearing are due, Howard.

Brandon

 

[HowardCath]

Brandon, I hope this link works.

http://picasaweb.google.com/howardcath/2008515AquaPalythoaPruningLg

You'll have to look closely to see that I've done anything, but I actually severed 25 to 35 polyps.

Palytoxin wasn't so bad. By this morning I could actually move most of my fingers again.

 

[NeveSSL]

Awesome, Howard! Thanks for the photos. I've got some bad polyps as well on one of my main rocks, and I'm considering drying it out... I just kind of don't want to because its a big rock in my system!

:lol: Did you really get some toxins in your system?

BTW, what are those angled tweezers called? Those look mean! For bad polyps anyway.

Brandon

 

[HowardCath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12548256#post12548256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
:lol: Did you really get some toxins in your system?

BTW, what are those angled tweezers called? Those look mean! For bad polyps anyway.

Brandon

No toxin effects. One hand felt tingly in a spot, but I really think it was my imagination after hearing so much about it.

I don't know what the tweezers are called, but I can look up getting them if you want. I think they are ENT nasal packing-type forceps. I had a pair of these cross-action forceps in the office that I wasn't using. The advantage is that they open when you squeeze and then clamp down on the polyp and hold it when you release. Probably works the same on nasal polyps, too!