Palytoxin?
- Thread starter gspence2109
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Zeal
2500 Club Member
I always wear gloves whenever I put my hand in the tank and I really think it needs to be stressed in this hobby. I use gloves that are used to put your arm into cows butt lol... worth the money
OP
OP
gspence2109
Community Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2018
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 52
Sorry I did not check back in with you all. I am ok. I don't know what happened but the chest tightness and difficulty breathing subsided completely after about 40 hours. I did have medical personnel check me out and they said that if it is Palytoxin I would need to just "ride it out". My blood pressure was 153/ 93 which I have never had in my life. My normal BP has always been around 123/ 78. I feel great now and have purchased a set of rubber gloves to handle all my corals from now on. Just a heads up, I moved my Zoas from one end of the tank to the other and grabbed it from the sides of the Frag post it is on. I must have had it in my grasp for only 5 seconds maybe. Please be careful handling this stuff. I guess seeing the guy at my local store handle them without gloves gave me a sense of security.... I didn't even think about the possibility of Palytoxin absorbed through my skin. I love this hobby and I think the Zoas were just letting me know to respect them by giving me a little taste of their defense system. Thank you all who responded !!
Glad you’re ok!
It is definitely smart to take precautions (like wearing rubber gloves) but I have never heard of palytoxin being transmitted through the skin, especially if you just grabbed the frag plug. Would you mind posting a picture of the zoas in question?
Last edited:
dsfirstsltwater
Community Member
- Joined
- May 2, 2018
- Messages
- 30
- Reaction score
- 26
Glad you're ok man [emoji846]. Nature and her defenses are amazing though... Gloves for me whenever I handle anything in my tank.
And your skin does absorb things... especially when wet.
PanchoG
The Force will be with you. Always.
Glad you are good and back home. Safety is always first, I will buy gloves now. A picture of your zoas will be greatly appreciated.
OP
OP
gspence2109
Community Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2018
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 52
You said it brother !! Worst feeling in the world....
For people who have a good relationship with their primary care doctor, or are seen in a large group like Kaiser, Aetna, etc. that have consolidated medical records, have your PCP make a note on your chart that you are close to Palytoxin. They can list this as a medical condition. This is easy to do and can help a ER doc if you are unconscious and also make them more prone to believe you since some of us live 1000 miles from the ocean and even further from a place where Palytoxin is abundant in nature.
People with venomous reptiles do this for their own good, even if they do not keep antivenom.
People with venomous reptiles do this for their own good, even if they do not keep antivenom.
OP
OP
gspence2109
Community Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2018
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 52
Lunar Mike
Community Member
That stuff is no joke. I have been sick for sure, twice. Both times I felt flu symptoms without fever for 24 hours+. Major palpitations and rapid heart beat.
One time we moved a large reef that had a Paly back wall. I think they almost died(unhappy) on the move and released toxins.
Another time I was fragging Paly and got slime(a lot) all over my hands for a few minutes. It either absorbed through the skin or was airborne. That time I also had more pressure and shooting pains in the chest/heart.
I actually suffer from a heart(M. valve) condition and palpitations(regularly) it could have been fatal IMO.
Maybe some do not notice it because they have been exposed so much and built a tolerance.
Either way, there's a clear indicator, rapid heart beat or palpitations. I recommend anyone sees the ER if they experience those or feel flu like.
I chose not to seek medical attention, I deal with the same heart problems daily(18 years now) and can let it go without panicking(anxiety) myself, making it worse.
One time we moved a large reef that had a Paly back wall. I think they almost died(unhappy) on the move and released toxins.
Another time I was fragging Paly and got slime(a lot) all over my hands for a few minutes. It either absorbed through the skin or was airborne. That time I also had more pressure and shooting pains in the chest/heart.
I actually suffer from a heart(M. valve) condition and palpitations(regularly) it could have been fatal IMO.
Maybe some do not notice it because they have been exposed so much and built a tolerance.
Either way, there's a clear indicator, rapid heart beat or palpitations. I recommend anyone sees the ER if they experience those or feel flu like.
I chose not to seek medical attention, I deal with the same heart problems daily(18 years now) and can let it go without panicking(anxiety) myself, making it worse.
PanchoG
The Force will be with you. Always.
Here is a pic of the Zoas.
Thank you!
Flexin
Well-Known Member
Of course I have those...
OriginalUserName
Valuable Member
I have a SWAG that it is either morph specific OR it's something that is more common in wild zoas. It reminds me of poison dart frogs. In the wild they are very dangerous. They eat a certain species of ant and that is how they build up the toxins. Dart frogs in captivity are not poisonous. It doesn't make sense that some of us are just immune.
It would be nice if one of the larger wholesalers did some basic research on this. Take a few samples of captive strains, a few wild caught strains etc. and send to a lab for analysis.
OP
OP
gspence2109
Community Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2018
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 52
thank you!
OP
OP
gspence2109
Community Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2018
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 52
Thank you!
