Palytoxin - Again

accline · May 1, 2018

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ium-coral-nearly-killed-her-family/566576002/

Anything wrong with this story, or are we not taking things serious enough? Do we think there are ways this toxin can get into our systems more easily than we originally thought?

LuizW13 · May 1, 2018

That's literally the only thing that keeps me from getting some sweet zoas.

Greybeard · May 1, 2018

Eh.

Palyanthids are easy, pretty, grow well (sometimes too well!)... I've had paly colonies in one tank or another since I first started keeping corals, in the mid 80's. There's a big colony of mint green palys in my tank now.

Palytoxin can only become airborne if WE do something to put it there. Say... taking a colony out of the water and brushing at it with a toothbrush, or boiling it.

Be aware of the possibility, take reasonable precautions (gloves, or better yet, tongs... eye protection, wash your hands, etc), and don't do anything stupid. The risk is manageable.

Flexin · May 1, 2018

We had a thread just a few days ago where the person wanted to boil rocks from their existing tank to clean them. Then we explained not to and why, so they thought boiling them on the grill outside would be safer... Hopefully they listened...

Lunger50 · May 1, 2018

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/toxic-coral-blamed-for-sickening-gatineau-family-1.4633810

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/city-of-gatineau-help-coral-palytoxin-poison-1.4635311

accline · May 1, 2018

So do the toxins wipe the fish? And, what makes the paly release the toxin in the first place. I have some Palys and picked them up in my tank when they got knocked over. Immediately washed my hands and have used gloves ever since.

DanTer · May 1, 2018

I believe they need to be physically damaged to release said toxin. I could be wrong. I have always touched and moved zoas and palys in my tank. I have transferred them to and from multiple tanks. My cleaner shrimp seems to step on them as often as possible. Never had any issues.

accline · May 1, 2018

So I read the Canadian stories and am really confused. They are quarantining this guy’s house. Did the toxin go airborne or did I miss something? Also if it gets on something, say a countertop, does it stay poisonous? What about those who frag Paly’s? I must admit, I’m very curious about this, especially if the poison is the most deadly known to man. I’m reading “The Hot Zone” with my son, and this stuff is about as scary to me. That book is about Ebola and Marburg virus, but they originate in Africa. They aren’t sitting in my den.

Lazys Coral House · May 1, 2018

My emperator angel eats Zoanthids. I have made a few thousand Zoa frags and never experienced anything. Knock on wood. I do wear glasses and latex gloves. Why is their so few cases of this with the many millions of zoas made yearly by hobbyists and retailers? I noticed when using my frag saw their is a fine (hard to see but there) mist of water around it/me that I must be breathing (which I don’t like). Why have I never experienced any symptoms? Maybe designer zoas don’t have or have very little of the palytoxin.

Bayareareefer18 · May 1, 2018

Following along

Since my tank is mid cycle my dad recently sent me some news story form the UK I believe. According to the story the guys dogs had sick symptoms and then the family ended up with the same. Said something about him taking some rocks for some reason or another. Can't remember at the moment but by assumption was maybe he just did something stupid??

My thought process is same as others. Obviously we know there is a danger here so precautions should be taken but what about all the reefers always fragging and selling these high end zoas....

drawman · May 1, 2018

lazylivin said:
My emperator angel eats Zoanthids. I have made a few thousand Zoa frags and never experienced anything. Knock on wood. I do wear glasses and latex gloves. Why is their so few cases of this with the many millions of zoas made yearly by hobbyists and retailers? I noticed when using my frag saw their is a fine (hard to see but there) mist of water around it/me that I must be breathing (which I don’t like). Why have I never experienced any symptoms? Maybe designer zoas don’t have or have very little of the palytoxin.

I believe it is the generally uglier looking palys that have the more concentrated doses of palytoxin. The more attractive zoas have it but in far less quantity so that may be why.

Also with parasites being so common and this woman being unaware of palytoxin it could easily be that her fish died from common parasites and/or husbandry issues. FWIW I don't keep palys/zoas because of this risk and I like hard coral much more.

Flexin · May 2, 2018

Here is more info

samnaz · May 2, 2018

Because of this stuff, I've never fragged zoas/palys and never will. Shocking that so many people do it and so often, yet poisonings seem pretty uncommon. I assume most people are taking the proper precautions.

KJAG · May 2, 2018

Risk is overhyped. Gloves and a pair of sunglasses. A bandana around your face if your extra cautious. Don’t boil your rocks.

K. Steven · May 2, 2018

Wash your hands with hot water after fragging them and don't frag with open cuts or wounds.

Tony arellano · May 20, 2018

I was affected by the palytoxin and it took my eyesight from my right eye.

Billdogg · May 20, 2018

I was exposed doing something along the lines of what Julian was doing - tearing down a tank to set up another. This tank was overrun with green palys and although I was aware that there could be issues I had never, in 25 or so years of reef keeping, had a problem.

Cost me a trip to the Urgent Care - boy did their eyes get big! - a visit to my PCP, and a week off work.

The risk is real. Please take proper precautions!!!!

Lasse · May 20, 2018

2001 I and three of my co-workers was moving 300 kg of LS from one aquarium into a newly opened Public aquarium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The LS was covered with palys. We only moved them in the air for a couple of minutes. the toxin was clearly airborne - all of us get poisoned and was very sick during the following night. Some persons on second flor (above the aquarium) was also poisoned. Three of us get bacteria (or another flesh eating organism) into open wounds at our hands and ended up at hospital. IMO the toxin is related to some mikroorganisms living together with the palys/zoas and all of the contradicting stories about not dangerous or very dangerous comes from the fact if your palys/zoas is infected with this microorganism or not. nd you will never have the answer before its to late. Be careful - look at all palys/zoas as they have this microorganism.

Sincerely Lasse