oceania Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Hi All, I'm new to this hobby. While doing my research, I came across some sites which warned reefers to exercise caution when hadling ZOAs due to the presence of deadly Palytoxin. Frm wht I read, Playtoxin is present in species of zoanthids from the genus Palythoa (which include P. caribbea, P. grandis , P. mammillosa, P. nigricans, and P. texaensis). Though the toxin has to enter your bloodstream directly in order to cause a serious reaction. I'm not sure of the scientific name of ZOAa like Sunflower and Peacock's Eye. Would appreciate if anyone can clarify if they below under the Palythoa family. Thanks, Oceania Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Reefer yikai Posted December 3, 2010 Senior Reefer Share Posted December 3, 2010 Hi All, I'm new to this hobby. While doing my research, I came across some sites which warned reefers to exercise caution when hadling ZOAs due to the presence of deadly Palytoxin. Frm wht I read, Playtoxin is present in species of zoanthids from the genus Palythoa (which include P. caribbea, P. grandis , P. mammillosa, P. nigricans, and P. texaensis). Though the toxin has to enter your bloodstream directly in order to cause a serious reaction. I'm not sure of the scientific name of ZOAa like Sunflower and Peacock's Eye. Would appreciate if anyone can clarify if they below under the Palythoa family. Thanks, Oceania peacock eye, sunflower etc are just fancy names given to the zoas by hobbyists. much like cultivars. u know like grapes? Vitis vinifera var. red globe, or var. thomson's seedless as with zoanthids. zoanthus sp. var sunflower. zoanthids are under the palythoa family and also have palytoxin. but it's quite over-rated lah and unless you eat the zoas or have a big cut and drip copious amounts of zoa juice into the wound, you will be fine. just wear gloves and don't touch them if you have cuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceania Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 peacock eye, sunflower etc are just fancy names given to the zoas by hobbyists. much like cultivars. u know like grapes? Vitis vinifera var. red globe, or var. thomson's seedless as with zoanthids. zoanthus sp. var sunflower. zoanthids are under the palythoa family and also have palytoxin. but it's quite over-rated lah and unless you eat the zoas or have a big cut and drip copious amounts of zoa juice into the wound, you will be fine. just wear gloves and don't touch them if you have cuts. Thanks Bro for the clarification. Therefore if you have any ZOAs with glove, it is still considered safe to keep them right? What happens when a ZOA dies? Will any toxin be released into the tank and kill the rest of the LS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member LaW Posted December 3, 2010 SRC Member Share Posted December 3, 2010 like what lemon suggested, they do contain some toxic. some of these byproducts are even used for anti-cancer drugs. that being said, wear proper gears while handling them, especially during fragging. avoid them during open wounds and towards the eyes. i have a friend that his eyes got infected bad from the "juice" of paly while fragging them. so take note on that for the eyes. and when zoa dies, they simply melt off. so far when some of my zoa dies, my other soft, LPS and SPS corals are not affected. but take note that different tank got different type of "event/chain-reaction" in conclusion, it is very safe to own zoas but not safe to the eyes while fragging. Quote If a man could beat his own fantasy. Then to only breed in captivity. Then its pointless. Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. || Tank: 78" x 30" x 30" || Sump: 48" x 22" x 20" || Lights: PowerModule 10 X 80W|| Returns: 2 x HF32 || || Skimmer: BubbleKing Supermarin 300 || Wavemaker: 3 x 6100 & 1 x 6200, 2 x Wavebox 6212, WavySea || || FR: 2 x FR150 || NR: Sulphur Denitrator || CR: RM Custom Made 8" || KR: Deltec KM500 || TopUp: Tunze Osmolator 3155 || || UV: Coralife 12X 36W || Ozonizer: Sanders C200|| Controller: GHL Profilux Plus II Ex || Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceania Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share Posted December 4, 2010 like what lemon suggested, they do contain some toxic. some of these byproducts are even used for anti-cancer drugs. that being said, wear proper gears while handling them, especially during fragging. avoid them during open wounds and towards the eyes. i have a friend that his eyes got infected bad from the "juice" of paly while fragging them. so take note on that for the eyes. and when zoa dies, they simply melt off. so far when some of my zoa dies, my other soft, LPS and SPS corals are not affected. but take note that different tank got different type of "event/chain-reaction" in conclusion, it is very safe to own zoas but not safe to the eyes while fragging. Ok understood! Many thanks for the clarification! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuEl Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Hope this thread will be helpful to other reefers. What we last need is a reefer getting hospitalized due to palytoxin. Before we know it, zoanthids will be banned. Quote Always something more important than fish. http://reefbuilders.com/2012/03/08/sps-pico-reef/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedricang Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 What bros mention is worth adhere to, I have been fragging zoas for quite a while and notice the effect when I accidentally make a bad cut that cause the zoas body fluid to ooze out, i can feel a burning sensation and at times a little uncomfort. But if you got a completely healed zoas frag or colony, they are safe unless you unknowingly damage the tissue and get in conotact with the toxic juice from the zoas. Quote Treat others the way you wanna be treated... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member straydum Posted December 8, 2010 SRC Member Share Posted December 8, 2010 i remember reading on a foreign forum once, one guy was hospitalized when he accidentally pressed against or squashed his zoas for normal handling, gloves are probably the safest way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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