New to Palys and Zoas - 2 Questions

[JakeK]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the hobby. I just added my first corals to my BC 29 yesterday.
One of them was a paly that my LFS owner didn't know the name of but looks very similar to a purple people eater.

1. Are all palys, and more specifically those that are morphs of the purple people eater toxic like Palythoa grandis? Picture of paly in question attached.

2. Are the palythoas that are toxic, do they contaminate the entire tank with the toxin so that any interaction with the water could be dangerous?

#2 is extremely important for me to know because I have a 2 year old son who loves the aquarium even when it was cycling, and also because we have pets.

Lastly, after placing the coral in the tank after the a dip in Coral ReVive I washed my hands thoroughly. Later that night when I went to take out my contacts, my left eye started burning when I took the contact out. I left the right contact in just to be safe since I wasn't sure how bad my left was going to get. Lots of burning, a little swelling and later on some shortness of breath, but it seemed to be short-lived. I can be careful around the aquarium, but I can't always safeguard my pets and son 100%, so if the paly has to go, I will sell it. Thanks.

 

[RHunter]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the hobby. I just added my first corals to my BC 29 yesterday.
One of them was a paly that my LFS owner didn't know the name of but looks very similar to a purple people eater.

1. Are all palys, and more specifically those that are morphs of the purple people eater toxic like Palythoa grandis? Picture of paly in question attached.

2. Are the palythoas that are toxic, do they contaminate the entire tank with the toxin so that any interaction with the water could be dangerous?

#2 is extremely important for me to know because I have a 2 year old son who loves the aquarium even when it was cycling, and also because we have pets.

Lastly, after placing the coral in the tank after the a dip in Coral ReVive I washed my hands thoroughly. Later that night when I went to take out my contacts, my left eye started burning when I took the contact out. I left the right contact in just to be safe since I wasn't sure how bad my left was going to get. Lots of burning, a little swelling and later on some shortness of breath, but it seemed to be short-lived. I can be careful around the aquarium, but I can't always safeguard my pets and son 100%, so if the paly has to go, I will sell it. Thanks.

I would not be overly concerned about keeping zoanthids or palythoas.Just use caution, common sense,and safety equipment when handling them. IMO, one should use caution and safety equipment anytime you have your hand in your tank. There are plenty of other nasty's beyond palytoxin that one can come in contact with.
Such as (Mycobacterium marinum)

1. Not all palythoas/zoanthids carry palytoxin. Treat them as if they do. Use gloves when fragging, moving rocks or corals, and while performing maintenance in your tank.
2. Wash your hands (or any other part of your body) thoroughly after having them in your tank.
3. Safeguard your tank from children/pets.

 

[jpa0741]

Your over thinking it. No the water will not be contaminated. Just use cation when handling them, which wont be very often. Oh and dont leave any lay around for the pets or children to eat.:jester:

 

[JakeK]

Thanks for the information. Very helpful for someone new to the hobby. I wasn't sure and I couldn't find anything on the web so I thought i would ask here.

 

[TheDragonMoray]

People Eater varieties do carry toxins or atleast some kind of bacteria. I've been squirted in the eye before and had to get prescription eye drops to cure the infection. If fragging, like everyone says, use caution, I use gloves and safety goggles now. Wash your hands well in warm to hot water to deteriorate any proteins that might be left. Other than that you should be fine. Just don't leave access to these things for pets or children.

 

[ShesEasy]

Just my bit here.... Let's put it this way... I had no clue my mom has a zoa in her tank... Same one you showed infact... I helped her one day with a water change and for me that involved me doing a siphon...me being me all I did was a tube and my mouth.... I got a good mouth full of water.... I'm still alive lol