Zoas, poisonous?

[wfrost]

I just read that Zoas are very poisonous, is this true? and are they poison to the touch are do you have to eat them or what.

 

[TOYTEK]

yes, they(some) are poisonous, read this: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=158730

 

[Philip Root]

I have only been to the doctor 4 times in the last year, 2 trips of them were from zoas.

 

[kiran523]

Philip, we would have to sleep in our tanks to get the exposure that you get

Seriously, if you do have sensitive skin make sure and wear gloves (and some type of eye protection preferably) when handling zoanthids or palys. It's always better to err on the side of safety.

 

[Philip Root]

It got in to my eyes. Other than that they are not as toxic as some would like you to think. There has never been a recorded human death from them in the US and there was 32 people killed from vending machines last year.

 

[greenbean36191]

Other than in Hawai'ian legends I don't think there has ever been a recorded human death from them anywhere. Given their popularity that says a lot. Some can give you some nasty and potentially life-threatening reactions, but you have to damage the polyp and then get the juice into a cut or a mucous membrane. Just don't lick them and wear gloves (and maybe some goggles ) when you frag them and you'll be fine.

Given the paranoia around zoas, people would probably never stick their hands in their tanks again if they realized how many other animals are known to have palytoxin.

 

[Nitroq2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10462308#post10462308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Philip Root
32 people killed from vending machines last year.

I gotta hear the story behind some of these. LOL