New to zoas. Venomous question.

[Flyride95]

Hello guys. I was doing some research on a new coral the zoas. I've seen a ton of these guys any they look pretty hardy. But I read a bit about them containing the 2nd most deadliest venom. How would I know if the ones I'm looking at have this venom and how would I manage them? Like I know you wear gloves to move them around but I read that it makes the fumes coming off your tank deadly. I may be over reacting I know but I figured it wouldn't hurt tto ask some of you seasoned reefers. Thank you!

[Gseclipse02]

when you play with your tank just be sure to wash your hands twice afterwards .... if you start to get dizzy when fragging stop eat and rest ....

[ElChicano]

Not all zoanthids and palythoas contain palytoxin. however, only a skilled marine biologist will be able to tell what has them and what doesn't so you have to assume all zoa colonies contain the poison.

Yes, some people can have a reaction with just skin contact of the poison. However, EVERYONE is suseptable when it enters the body either orally, inhalation though an open wound or eye socket etc. I've read quite a few stories of people almost dying from steam inhalation when boiling a zoo colony, a squirt into the eyes, mouth and cuts on fingers.

you want to be as safe as possible, be very careful handling zoanthid colonies. They release the chemical when stressed and it combines with their slime coat. Stress can be induced by poor water quality, a fish nibbling on the colony, or you the fragger cutting a colony up and remounting.

Bottom line: while I have not read any accounts of death, a lot of people develop permanent asthsma after exposure. Its no joke.

[alton]

I had a Juvenile Imperator Angel eat several Zoo's one time and then swam upside down for an hour.

[Flyride95]

Lmao did he ever eat zoas again?

[Scutterborn]

I had a Juvenile Imperator Angel eat several Zoo's one time and then swam upside down for an hour.

Lol! Maybe he was just getting his "daily dose"!


- Ben -

[hobogato]

exposure is no fun. here are three dumb mistakes that hopefully you wont make (as i did)

1. splattering in your eye of zoa/paly bits, rock fragments or dust, or water/slime while cutting frags (yep, eye protection really is important when fragging)
2. scratches or cuts on your hand while rearranging a tank with zoas/palys (yep, gloves are probably a good idea too)
3. and the coup de grace, opening the superglue tube by pulling off the lid with your teeth while glueing down zoa/paly frags (yep, pretty dumb, i know noone else here opens glue that way)

the toxins from different types of zoas/palys vary in amount and toxicity. some simptoms for me included metallic taste in mouth, extreme headache, nausea, dizziness. luckily, for me it did not trigger anaphylactic shock, but that is a real possibility. if you are exposed, dont take it lightly.

[Flyride95]

So you have to use protection when you go into your tank for misc or when you touch a zoa frag?

[hobogato]

some people will not put their hands in thier tank without wearing long gloves. there are various reasons including prevention of exposure to toxins. if you have scratches or wounds of any kind, this is probably the safest practice whether or not you have zoas/palys in the tank. there have been many claims of nasty bacterial infections of wounds after working in fresh and salt water aquaria. also, many people believe that the oils on our hands (as well as anything else that may be there) can be harmfull to the critters in the tank.

[hobogato]

that being said, i would bet many of us dont wear gloves.