My Zoa and Palytoxin story
- Thread starter hkgar
- Start date
I keep my zoas on island rocks so if I ever dont' want them I just toss the whole rock. I just threw away a softball size rock that had a couple palys that hitchhiked on the back of an urchin. I thought maybe it'd be cool to have them so I glued them to the rock, but later decided I don't want any palys in my tank so I ditched them.
I don't think zoas are anything to worry about. Scrubbing them off with a toothbrush is potentially the worst (as in most dangerous) way imaginable to deal with their removal, second only to boiling the rock perhaps. You say you "knew better" but obviously that wasn't really true! Just chip the rock and ditch it or toss the whole thing next time.
PS - I'm very glad you got through that with minimal complications compared to others' stories.
I don't think zoas are anything to worry about. Scrubbing them off with a toothbrush is potentially the worst (as in most dangerous) way imaginable to deal with their removal, second only to boiling the rock perhaps. You say you "knew better" but obviously that wasn't really true! Just chip the rock and ditch it or toss the whole thing next time.
PS - I'm very glad you got through that with minimal complications compared to others' stories.
Fishkeeper01
New member
Thanks to this post, no one from my LFS told about these risks.
Reefkeepa1
New member
We never had problems with them back in the day. Maybe because we didn't frag as much.
I have had a polytoxin exposure as well.. zi bought a rock with mushrooms on it and it has some palythoas on it.. i gently took them off and thrn a fee hours later i had a major headache. That night in ned i had chills.. fever.. i felt cold but i was boiling hot.. and my heart was racing. It went away after 24 hours thougj.
I agree stores need to have warnings of paly toxin with palythoas and zoas.. They have warnings witj foxface fish and other poison fish but why not paly toxin
I agree stores need to have warnings of paly toxin with palythoas and zoas.. They have warnings witj foxface fish and other poison fish but why not paly toxin
hkgar
Active member
"If you've never heard of palytoxin, you need to know it's a seriously dangerous substance found in some ornamental reef polyps—read about how this toxin kills, and why you’re always better safe than sorry" From:
How and Why to Avoid a Deadly Zoanthid Toxin
How and Why to Avoid a Deadly Zoanthid Toxin
Orsamax
New member
I also had a miniature exposure to palytoxin. I bare-handedly (not a word, I know) moved a rock with some palys on it. I just handled it from the bag I got it in from the store, under water and felt some of the typical mucus that you feel from touching corals. I immediately washed my hands very well with dish soap and went about my day. I didn't have the fever and other things, but I certainly felt tightening in that arm and in my chest/respiration (I'm 33 and have recently had my heart thoroughly checked out for other reasons and it is in excellent health, I work out regularly, and don't have other heart issues that could conflate the matter). Luckily I think I washed most of it off and my exposure was limited. But it does go to show that it is real and gloves are a MUST!
