palythoa splitting?

[SuperXdude]

More than likely button polyp. One of mine is splitting I believe.

I thought it was dying yesterday morning, it looked all drab and down.

Now I can see it's bigger, almost like a "8" shape, or getting to that.

Please tell me it's probably splitting and these things don't turn into "8"s before they die. :shock:


SuperXdude

PS I would post a pic, but it's location in new tank is way out of camera range, until I figure out wtf it is doing.

[matt]

If this thing does die, it may release a toxin into your tank; I'm actually not sure if they release it when dying. I'm sure you can find out; Eric Borneman's book would have that info. But, palythoas have a POWERFUL neuro toxin; in fact, I think lots of tropical indigenous people used to use palythoas to make poison tip darts. (Now they probably use valium) There's an old thread on reefcentral about some guy who handled one with a cut, had a bad reaction and almost croaked....

[Instar]

Palythoa reproduce by budding from an extension of the foot. It will make a little paly polyp. They can alter shape in response to things in the enviroment or food they capture during the day. They are phototropic so they open and close in response to the light/dark. If one does look like its dying, get it out of your tank. It will get all mucoid-slimmy looking and like its decaying if its dying. Matt is right on, they are hazardous to you and your tank mates. Best to use gloves and definitely do not try to do anything to it in the tank. Manipulate it in a little container and then back into the main tank to avoid toxins in the tank water. Some species of palythoa are lethal at very low doses of the paly toxin. BTW, Zooanthids are related organisms, but, much much less toxic. Use some kind of rubber gloves. Bio-Supply houses sell them in shoe box size, 100 gloves/box. They are disposable. Get powder free ones.

[GaryP]

Anthony Calfo has some funny stories about fragging Palythoa in his book. He put the scalpel he was using in his mouth and couldn't taste anything for several days. I don't mean to make light of what could have been a lethal situation but you really need to read it. It will give you a lot of respect for these guys.

Gary