Should I be worried?

[zmazza]

I'm wanting to keep corals and am starting to gear my tank towards the right lighting and power heads and what not. I've started doing some research and every other thread is about toxicity and how dangerous they can be, and I just got done reading a VERY disturbing article on nudibranches :eek2: (I think that is what they are called.) In the thread, a guy had squished one on the glass and within minutes was so weak he couldn't stand. He was rushed to the critical care center and was OK after about an hour.

I really want to keep these corals, but I don't want them to be a health hazard to myself and my family. Am I worried over nothing? Am I making a big deal out of a little situation? What's the worst that has happened? Are the captive corals toxic?

Thanks guys. I just want to make sure I am making the right decision with corals. Especially my favorite, the zoos.

 

[spoon25]

some corals are toxic, some fish are toxic, usually you should try staying away from them types when you have a coral reef tank, most nubis and worms can be very toxic to your tank, and your health, most the time they get sucked up in powerheads or they die from stress and realease toxins in your tank, most corals sps and softies both give off a toxin called poly toxin, which if you have a cut in your hand or whatever and you handle them you could get sick....or even maybe a mushroom or clam lets say and you take from the water without pointinhg them down they could spit water at you and if you get it in your eyes you could get the poly toxins from them and get sick.....most people dont keep nubis in there tank for certain reasons, one they cant feed them enough aptasia which is a nuisenence anenome, or they go to the powerheads and get shredded up and releasing toxins everywhere and killing your whole tank...some fish like the rabbitfish which is very poplular in everryones tank, can also get you sick and if you get caught with there dorsal spine you will know it....these fish are very safe with other fish, but the question that gets me is, why would you have other people stick there hands in your tank....personaqlly i wouldnt worry about anything, and the more research you do before ou purchase a living creature and just throw them in your tank is the best thing you can do to keep them alive and happy, and thriving in your tank...nothing to worry about, everything in our tanks play different roles in survival and just knowing is have the battle in the success of saltwater tanks.....just remember all the cool corals and fish and invertabrates we cant have unless we make the tank a survival ecosystem for them so they survive in our tanks, for example, sea pens, they need about 9 inches of sand to survive, low lighting and cold waters.....not saying there are different types that will survive but they wont be happy unless you cater to its needs....wehich is hard unless you set a tank sepearate froom regular corals and invertabrates

 

[gflat65]

You've read embellished horror stories. Zoas (and Protopalythoa) do have toxins and I have been affected before, but only to the degree of a slightly numb arm and slight dizziness after spending two and a half hours fragging them (disclaimer, though I never have, you should wear gloves when handling them alot-fragging, etc.). I have a rabbitfish and have had lionfish in the past, which are both poisonous. If you respect them, they respect you. No issues with either one. My maroon clown is the most aggressive fish in my tank and I used to get bitten frequently, so I would rate her the worst thing I have to worry about in my tanks. i've been stuck with poisonous urchin on two occasions, too. Aside from a little pain, no issues. You learn to respect them and where they are. I wouldn't worry about the horror stories. If it were that common with all of the fragging that goes on in just Reef Central alone, there'd be peopel falling off like flies in a RAID storm.

What part of Tn are you from? There are clubs in West, Middle, North, East, and Southeast Tn. Pay the appropriate one a visit and you'll find people keeping everything you could be interested in with a ton of knowledge. A club can be the best friend to a reefer (as well as your wallet).

 

[TOURKID]

yeah but some people (very few) are alergic to the toxins and can have very negative effects. I got stung for my first time last month and it scared me sooo bad

i was fine. but it hurt like heck!!

 

[zmazza]

Sounds good. I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't turn around and tell my wife seconds after to call 911... QUICK!

I'm from East TN. Know of any good aquarium societies? I was going to check out the East TN Reef Club sooner or later. They seem to have a great club.

 

[Dastank]

I can't answer you TN question, but I just wanted to agree with the "respect the things in your tank and they'll respect you" comment. Be smart, be cautious, and wear gloves.

I have a tank full of zoos and have had all sorts of "poisonous" creatures. The worst thing that has ever happened to me was getting stung by a bristol worm. Felt kind of like cactus needles. It wasn't that bad and it was my own fault!

 

[gflat65]

Yeah, check out ETRC. They have been around a little longer than we have (MTRC) and have a good group of people.