jnj97
Active Member
Yesterday we switched everything from tge 55 into the 125 and today I have a bad headache, my body hurts and I've been nauseous. I need done advice here. I think I just might throw them out.
Had anyone ever gotten sick from these????
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Oh no... how long has it ben since the tank switch?
recess62
Well-Known Member
I am an MD. I would contact your states poison control center and ask them for advice. The ER would do the same since I am sure they have never seen palytoxin poisoning. I am not a toxicologist but I think your symptoms are too far removed from the exposure to be due to palytoxin. The poison control center will give you very conservative advice based on information in their database. Let us know how you fair
tel:1-800-222-1222 Is is the number for NY
tel:1-800-222-1222 Is is the number for NY
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jnj97
Active Member
Since March I've been experience flank pain. My kidneys and liver were actually shutting down for an unknown reason. (February we switched from a 20 to a 55). My hands,are always on the tank though. I hand feed most of the fish and critters in there. I've had pain off and on for about a year that doctors can't explain.
Today I feel a truck ran me over today my body hurts so bad. And my hands are numb (well it feels like I don't have hands lol
Today I feel a truck ran me over today my body hurts so bad. And my hands are numb (well it feels like I don't have hands lol
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yup @Tahoe61 you know the lingo.
I had these, and got rid of them. Very invasive.
Lesson learned.........wear GLOVES!!!
A paste of Baking Soda and water will neutralize a toxic sting. I've used this on jelly fish bites, and it reduced the swelling, pain, and itch.
Human urine will also neutralize the toxic sting from Urchins and Fire Coral.
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jnj97
Active Member
Thank you
I haven't but they sure are a p.i.t.a. Invasive lil buggers [emoji35]
Sistawolf
Valuable Member
Please explain what it is your talking about? Are these just normal zoas? All zoas or specific ones
Nano Reef Q
Community Member
Here is one handlers opinion on types to avoid:
Read the long post by trawkins:
https://www.planetzoa.com/blogs/tip-of-the-day/9342179-palytoxin-data-sheet
Read the long post by trawkins:
- *Palythoa Grandis is the bad one. Google has accurate pictures.
*Powderless nitrile gloves are sufficient, heavy duty recommended
*wear eye protection when working with any zoa (especially above water)
*actual threat of common zoos (ornamental, small headed) is extremely low. Even after being well-exposed, they are rarely a threat. You may get some tingling or numbness (usually not threatening) if you do have exposure.
*cutting zoas underwater does not increase your chances of getting exposed in most cases. The only thing is that palytoxin is environmentally stable. It will stay in the water until you remove it or it becomes denatured over time. The worst part about it is that it slightly increases your chance of exposure purely because it may get on you, and not washing your hands/arms before eating may expose you.
*any kind of cut or compromise in your skin only allows stings to get the toxin in, it will not enter you through the water unless you are actively bleeding.
*all zoas "have lethal levels of palytoxin". Do your best not to chew and swallow a whole colony and your actual risk for mortality is EXTREMELY low.
*read on for more details, I love this marine science stuff. Plus i get to work with P.Grandis and all kinds of zoas on the reg
I can ask my boss about the kind we keep, but I'm almost completely sure its P. Grandis that are the most deadly. The large headed Palys are known to be the worst, but there are one or two specific species that are really bad. We use long sleeve gloves and sealed goggles, and masks/respirators when working with these specifically, and do not sell them to anyone but verified expert reef-keepers. Cutting these particular ones, or pressuring them above water can cause the toxin to be aerosolized and ingested through the lungs (this is actually dangerous). The toxin can affect you if it is released into water and you have fresh, wet cuts (the toxin in solution will not permeate skin, it only get to you in water if you are stung by the coral in the water). Palytoxin is the second most deadly, naturally-occurring, organic compound on earth (it is a neurotoxin) and these Palys definitely have the capacity to kill you with minimal contact. But do not fear, the ugly ones are the deadly ones and also the least common in this trade. Palytoxin must be introduced to the blood to take effect, this is done by contacting a blood vessel to a Palythoa mucous membrane, or being stung (P. Grandis can sting through bare skin a fair amount of time, with greater or lesser degrees of toxin delivery) (also, papercuts dont count unless you are actively bleeding). Most of the prettier ornamental zoas offer very little risk. They only can be damaging if you ingest a significant amount of slime or parts, touch them to a bleeding wound, or work with them for a very long time. If it is P. Grandis that im thinking about, touching them unprotected can lead to (depending on the success of delivery) both major or minor symptoms (numbness, temporary paralysis, heart/breathing problems and general pain - death). Otherwise, most other zoas are basically harmless. There is always potential to be sensitive to palytoxin, and touching even the harmless zoas can produce very mild symptoms (which are not in the slightest life threatening (usually its just some tingling sensation that lasts a few hours)). My friend however, who has worked for several years ungloved around these "harmless" zoas, actually has developed erosion in his joints from exposure.
DO NOT let this stop you from owning zoas, some of the prettiest things in the sea.
https://www.planetzoa.com/blogs/tip-of-the-day/9342179-palytoxin-data-sheet
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Grandis and mind blowing palys sent me to the ER last year when I fragged them. Yes, I was wearing gloves and eye protection. I've since removed all the larger palys from my system and I have a bunch of regular zoas in the sump I'm slowly selling off. I'd probably just keep the regular zoas as I don't really think they are a real danger from my experience but official orders from the wife say they need to be gone and I don't want to push it as my tank lease is short right now.
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jnj97
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We took them out of the tank last night. I'm still in pain and I have a doc appt made.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6431a4.htm
This is a good page to print out me have handy in case you have to go to the hospital or dr.
I have the same ones in my tank, green button polyps.
They do not actually sting, it is thought it is the slime that's contians the toxins. The toxins are then able to be absorbed through the skin, no open wound required (someone mentioned treating a sting, that is why I mentioned this).
I have had similar symptoms after accidentally touching them and getting the slime on me. I do agree with saltwaterpicaso, it is the same feeling as Lyme disease (I have had Lyme since March 2012).
This is a good page to print out me have handy in case you have to go to the hospital or dr.
I have the same ones in my tank, green button polyps.
They do not actually sting, it is thought it is the slime that's contians the toxins. The toxins are then able to be absorbed through the skin, no open wound required (someone mentioned treating a sting, that is why I mentioned this).
I have had similar symptoms after accidentally touching them and getting the slime on me. I do agree with saltwaterpicaso, it is the same feeling as Lyme disease (I have had Lyme since March 2012).
