Zoa's Stinging

[Thisseemsfishy]

Do Zoa's sting?

I was doing a couple of things in my tank last night, and a frag of Zoa's fell into my hammer. Thinking the hammer would've stung the Zoa's...BUT the Zoa's didn't flinch, and the hammer looked horrible.

 

[Chris Lakies]

Zoanthids have one of the most potant organic toxins known.......palytoxin

 

[Thisseemsfishy]

But can they sting by touching another coral? I thought they release toxins if their stressed?

 

[Chris Lakies]

Im sure the other coral tried stinging it and in turn it released toxin

 

[RDHDDRAGON]

Yes they can sting others, and bad. I had a 6" pagoda cup fall on a 2" patch of zoas and it killed all but 6 little flowers on the pagoda.

It can hurt you too, be very careful. Never smash a nudibranch with your fingers, if he is the zoa eating one he could likely be full of the palytoxin. Google it, some very interesting stories on it.