What is this stuff while fragging?

[scubakid3]

I was fragging some zoas (with goggles, gloves, a quarantine tank, and iodine dip) and noticed some white stuff coming out of an injured one. I immediately put it in the dip thinking that it might be palytoxin. It is currently by itself in the quarantine tank because I don't want it killing my tank if it is palytoxin. Is that stuff it or am I just being way too paranoid?

 

[A. Grandis]

That's it!

The white mucus that came out of the injured polyp is also where palytoxin is also found. How much? Well, that will depend on the species and on the particular colony as well. Nothing to play with, that's for sure!!!

Zoas store palytoxin in their external mucus too. Some people think the zoas have palytoxin only inside of the polyps. Simply touching the polyps will also give you some consequences. So it doesn't matter what you see, just keep the protection while handling the zoas, please.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1858696

Be informed and be safe!!

Grandis.

 

[terrypercula]

You seem like you are taking the necessary precautions so that's a good start. I've been fortunate enough to not experience palytoxin poisoning but it sounds like nothing to mess with. Now grow them suckers out into colonies. :thumbsup:

 

[Reef Raf]

I was fragging zoas and palys lat night.....wide variety of them. Maybe 10 kinds. I wear glasses and have always relied on those for eye protection. Something gave me the littlest squirt last night and I felt a single drop hit the corner of my eye, went over the top of my glasses rim, I think. It never really HURT....but it definitely had a little prickle to it all night. I constantly have in my head "Keep you mouth closed...keep your mouth closed." I've been sprayed on my face before and you just never know what the polyp might be hitting you with.

Scary.

 

[scubakid3]

Thanks for all the input guys, this stuff is nothing to mess around with. For the next time, I have a huge colony of purple hornets (50+) that I would like to break into little 2-3 polyp frags. What would be the best procedure for doing this? Last time I let them grow onto a frag rack and did it from there.