Help identifying

FTWjoe · Oct 21, 2015

Brand new member of this awesome hobby. I recently purchased a coral from a LFS but have been given 2 different answers from 2 different LFS as to the name of the coral. One answer was Texas Trash Paly and the other was Candy Cane Coral. Can anyone tell me what it is?

evolved · Oct 21, 2015

They're palys, but they're also pretty upset right now (and not very open).

FTWjoe · Oct 21, 2015

I read that the Texas Paly is more of a nuisance in your tank than anything else. I've read everything from poisoning the tank to taking it over. Any thoughts?

melypr1985 · Oct 21, 2015

not so much poisoning the tank. they have a strong paly toxin that can poison you if your not careful with it. They can be quite a nuisance in your tank if left to their own devices. Try to isolate them to one rock away from the others so they have a harder time taking over.
I agree those are texas trash palys and they arn't very happy.

FTWjoe · Oct 21, 2015

They've had a hard life. My daughter decided to clean the tank while I was in the garage and she broke it off the platform it was glued on. So I pulled it from the tank fearing the toxins and put it on a rock in a Tupperware bowl floating in the tank to help with temp. I run an air hose to the side to oxygenate it. Not sure if that's the right thing to do but I figured it was better thank potentially poisoning the tank or trashing it

FTWjoe · Oct 21, 2015

Is the toxin something to worry about? I am just starting out so my knowledge of saving a tank is only so much

melypr1985 · Oct 21, 2015

FTWjoe said:
They've had a hard life. My daughter decided to clean the tank while I was in the garage and she broke it off the platform it was glued on. So I pulled it from the tank fearing the toxins and put it on a rock in a Tupperware bowl floating in the tank to help with temp. I run an air hose to the side to oxygenate it. Not sure if that's the right thing to do but I figured it was better thank potentially poisoning the tank or trashing it

It was a good idea, but i doubt those two palys could trash your tank if they died. If the flesh of the paly was broken at all during the cleaning you probably put yourself at more risk by touching it. The toxin is harmful to people and your pets. Basically, if you break the tissue's surface (like with fragging), make sure your wearing eye protection and gloves. Dont get it in your mouth. Dont let your dog eat one if it falls on the floor for some reason. And dont boil your live rock for any reason at all (people have before) dont do it. its bad.

They wont hurt you just being in the tank and just by touching them. I just want to advise caution. The main concern is for when you frag them by cutting into them.