Palytoxins.. no joke

[Mr Cob]

Did some fragging yesterday, well ok... a LOT of fragging for the frag swap this weekend. Made about 50-60 frags of chalices, acans and palys <die palys>.

Since I have been fragging in bulk I have been very careful to wear gloves, but I was a bit careless yesterday. Even though I wore gloves, pretty sure a lot of the palytoxins ended up on my towel that I used throughout the fragging session, which I also hung over my shoulder.

Anyways, around 6pm...a few hours after fragging I started to feel a little nauseous, by 10pm I had broken out in a fever followed by an aching body, coughing, light headed and slight short of breath.

I decided to wait it out and let the fever take its course. I was shivering and every time I would nap I’d wake soak and wet from sweating. Pretty obvious my body was working through something. I was borderline taking a trip to the hospital, probably would have gone if I had chest pains or more difficulty breathing.

Anyways, be careful. Palytoxins are no joke! I have never had a problem in the past but this is definitely something I don’t want to repeat.

Today, I woke around 7am covered in sweat again but I felt much better. Just have an aching body, kind of feel like someone was punching and kicking me all night. Lol

Oh…I couldn’t even look at the tanks this morning. <I’m mad at you coral>

[hobogato]

yikes! that is definitely no fun.

[Zack]

That's crazy! Glad your feeling better!

[350gt]

Idk if it was the toxins that got me.... But I was fragging the other day and I slipped with the blade and sliced my finger... Of course I wasn't wearing any gloves at the time. Well I went to bed that night with my finger in serious pain, enough to think about going to the ER. I didn't but told myself if the pain is really bad in the morning I would.

The next day my finger was swollen and I had real pressure on it. A customer that happens to be a nurse checked it out and said its fine, just infected... My finger felt like it wanted to burst, so I popped the little white bubble that was forming under the skin.. Not the smartest thing to do, but it actually helped after a little while of more pain...


I noticed yesterday I have a little rash on some of my fingers still..... But all pain is gone..

[hobogato]

folks, dont mess around with infections from your fish tank - get them treated.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog...arium-bacteria

[SinisterLou]

Hope you guys are OK, thanks Tony and Rob for posting your battle stories. It helps to teach others that fragging corals shouldn't be taking lightly. I am still freaking out on last weeks story about the steaming paly incident.

[350gt]

And rob, i forgot to say hope you feel better......

I will definitely take better precautions next time I frag....

[grouch]

Glad to see youre feeling better Rob, and don't forget to wear glasses or protective eye lenses I got squirted real good once in the eye and it was not fun at all.

[Mr Cob]

thanks for the replies...feeling better, just a sore body today. It's so easy to think nothing of the risks when fragging. I've been doing it for years...not anymore. I will definitely be more cautious in the future, especially when bulk fragging.

Tony...that's crazy...yeah open wound and coral don't go well together. lol Pee on it...? lol

[FireWater]

Pee on it...? lol

That's funny. Wrong type of incident though.


The bacteria in the systems is nothing to take lightly. I always wear latex or nitrile gloves and wash well afterwards.

Glad you are doing better Rob.