Palytoxin question

[Atela]

There is a lot of valuable info here in the zoanthid forum regarding palytoxin poison. I could read all day long and still not find information regarding it's effects on other tank inhabitants.

While doing a little rearranging in my 34g aquarium, I decided to uproot a frag of palys to relocate them elsewhere. They had only been in the spot for a couple of weeks, but one of the palys had already attached itself to the foundation. When I gave the frag a good tug, that particular paly had ripped in half, immediately secreting it's fluid. I quickly placed the frag into a small cup of tank water and set it aside.

If this toxin is one of the most deadliest know to man, just how safe is it on other tank inhabitants such as fish and invertibrets? Is it safe to place the frag with the injured polyp back into the tank, or should I leave it out for a day?

 

[A. Grandis]

Yes, it is probably safe to place the frag back in the tank. No worries about that.
I've had many times injured polyps of all types into the tanks with fishes and inverts and never had any problem.
I would suggest to make sure you've got a good skimmer running 24/7. That could be in great part why no one ever noticed any fishes or invertebrates with palytoxin poisoning.
Many of us nowadays have a good size skimmer. At least I've never heard about such.
The use of iodine could help to prevent bacterial infection and faster healing of the injured polyp, so dip it before you return it to the system.
I believe no one really knows what would be the symptoms of palytoxin in other inverts or fishes.
Let's see if someone else post about it...
Good luck!

Grandis.

 

[Atela]

Thank you Grandis. I do have a skimmer running 24/7. Will drop some iodine in the cup.

 

[tent boy]

Very good advice from Grandis

 

[A. Grandis]

:thumbsup: