Palytoxin, prayers needed

jeffrey750750 · Jul 24, 2020

I went to my favorite lfs today, stingray bay in michigan. The owner has lost his vision in one of his eyes, from zoanthids. It didn't squirt in his eye but from touching in some way. He showed me pictures of what it looked like a week ago, pretty bad. He mentioned that in the 35 years of dealing with saltwater this was the first time anything has happened. Just want to throw it out there so please be careful when handling and throw a few prayers his way

hllb · Jul 24, 2020

Oh man! Scary.

Crashnt24 · Jul 24, 2020

I haven't started fragging zoas yet, but I'll keep this in mind. I tend to get lazy and fearless in all areas of my life. Prayers go out for him.

Doctorgori · Jul 24, 2020

yes you gottem

vetteguy53081 · Jul 24, 2020

Vinyl gloves - Always

Flippers4pups · Jul 24, 2020

@jeffrey750750, thank you for the PSA! Prayers for a complete recovery for the owner of stingray Bay!

PPE, goggles, gloves. Hand washing....be careful out there. Palytoxins are very dangerous!

Jedi Knghit · Jul 24, 2020

Yikes, that is one of my favorite stores too. Hopefully he recovers. Did the doctors give him any kind of prognosis on his vision?

Crustaceon · Jul 24, 2020

Eeek!! When I frag anything, I treat it like a surgical operation. I do as much as possible underwater in a plastic tub. It’s better for the corals and safer for me. I hope his vision comes back if possible.

samnaz · Jul 24, 2020

It is surprising to me that having been in the industry 35 years he didn’t know to wear goggles and gloves when handling palys/zoas.

fishguy242 · Jul 24, 2020

always treat all zoas/palys as potentially deadly..all corals for that matter ,be aware of scratches and cuts on self also,
best wishes for a full recovery..

SrBlonde · Jul 24, 2020

Prayers for sure! It the sight loss permanent?

MERKEY · Jul 25, 2020

Prayers sent!

Fourstars · Jul 25, 2020

Nothing happen for 35 years, till it did. I’ve been poisoned by palytoxion before and it’s not fun! Atheists don’t have many “thoughts and prayers“ to send. But I do have sound advise, when fragging or working with zoanthids wear goggles and gloves!

zoaprince · Jul 25, 2020

Crustaceon said:
Eeek!! When I frag anything, I treat it like a surgical operation. I do as much as possible underwater in a plastic tub. It’s better for the corals and safer for me. I hope his vision comes back if possible.

Why is it safer doing it underwater?

jeffrey750750 · Jul 25, 2020

SrBlonde said:
Prayers for sure! It the sight loss permanent?

He mentioned that didn't know as of yet

fishface NJ · Jul 25, 2020

prayers

Crustaceon · Jul 27, 2020

zoaprince said:
Why is it safer doing it underwater?

Prevents getting squirted directly or aerosolizing.

MugenReef95 · Nov 3, 2020

thats crazy i like his little shop has some nice selection

MONTANTK · Nov 6, 2020

A coworker of mine got squirted in the eye by a zoa when he was fragging it. Luckily he didn’t lose his vision but said it felt like someone was pouring hot sauce into his eye for days.

LeftyReefer · Nov 6, 2020

Wow, this has me kind of worried.
I just got my first Zoa a few weeks back... just a single polyp.
A month later, that 1 polyp is now 5 polyps and doesn't seem to be slowing down. At this rate, I'm going to have to frag these constantly to keep them under control.
This hobby has already done major financial damage, I'm not sure I really want to risk physiological damage too. I don't need to go blind for this hobby. it would be pretty hard to enjoy fish and corals not being able to see. Maybe zoas aren't for me after all.