The Potential of Palytoxins: Do you use PPE?

[Townes_Van_Camp]

My buddy at the LFS just got nailed in the eye. No fragging involved, just moving some zoas to another tank. Instant bacterial infection... Accident or not, from the stories I have heard, Zoas have better aim than half the ppl I went through basic training with...

Musta been army.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Musta been army.

Yes... LOL... That's ok... The Morines always go in first and put the beer on ice anyway.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Yes... LOL... That's ok... The Morines always go in first and put the beer on ice anyway.

My friend, it's almost like you instantly knew what branch you were supposed to micturate upon in retaliation.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

My friend, it's almost like you instantly knew what branch you were supposed to micturate upon in retaliation.

First... this thread is starting to take a hard left. Second, I will tell you a little story which sums it up completely.
My cousin joined the Marines about the same time I joined the Army. He was on a bit of leave with his buddies in TJ. While he was at the bar paying for the next round of drinks, a guy ran up and snatched his wallet out of his hand and ran out of the bar. My cousin, took chase after this guy, running through the streets of TJ. My cousin was gaining on the fool that dared to steal his wallet. Just when he was about to catch him, the guy sensed this and quickly turned around and sucker punched him. Not to be deterred, my cousin resumed the chase. Just then a couple of Policia tackled my cousin. He then exclaimed "Why the **** are you tackling me? That guy stole my wallet!" Their response was, "But senior, you have been stabbed, we saw him turn around and stab you."
While brave and valiant my cousin was, he spent the next week in a Mexican hospital...
OOH! AHH! Go Bulldogs...

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

First... this thread is starting to take a hard left. Second, I will tell you a little story which sums it up completely.
My cousin joined the Marines about the same time I joined the Army. He was on a bit of leave with his buddies in TJ. While he was at the bar paying for the next round of drinks, a guy ran up and snatched his wallet out of his hand and ran out of the bar. My cousin, took chase after this guy, running through the streets of TJ. My cousin was gaining on the fool that dared to steal his wallet. Just when he was about to catch him, the guy sensed this and quickly turned around and sucker punched him. Not to be deterred, my cousin resumed the chase. Just then a couple of Policia tackled my cousin. He then exclaimed "Why the **** are you tackling me? That guy stole my wallet!" Their response was, "But senior, you have been stabbed, we saw him turn around and stab you."
While brave and valiant my cousin was, he spent the next week in a Mexican hospital...
OOH! AHH! Go Bulldogs...

I'm not gonna pile on because that hard left thing. But, as a Marine stationed in Southern California I could tell you some TJ stories that will spin your head. We will save those for over bourbon.

Sorry about the usurpation of your thread OP.

 

[i cant think]

Members of the Zoanthidae family are arguably some of this hobby's most recognized and kept corals. But these guys can pack a punch if you're not careful!

Do you use personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling species of Zoanthidae, specifically Palythoa and Zoanthus?

P.S. This is not an endorsement of any specific practices. It is each reefer's individual responsibility to understand the risks that come with handling any and all sea life and to understand how to maintain their personal health while enjoying their home reefs.

Photo Credit: @Nick Rose

To me, they’re like most other coral where if you work carefully with them they are less likely to harm you. Whereas if you rush with the fragging process they’re more likely to cause harm.
That being said, I do wear glasses and gloves if my hands are covered in cuts (which they normally are if I’ve been working with coral) when I go to frag them.

 

[Lasse]

Close encounter with euphyllia - at least the 4:th degree

Close encounter with 300 kg of living rocks covered by a Protopalythoa spp send me and two co-workers into the ER back in 2001. One of us (we was 4 in the team) only get the mandatory inhalation poisoning, he recovered at home, the other three of us also suffered a subsequent bacterial infection and I had to spend 3 days in hospital with heavy antibiotic treatment. The other had a longer stay at the hospital. Important to say is that the person that did not go to the ER (but should have visit them) was the one of us that use gloves and who washed thoroughly afterwards.

The paly´s maybe the worst but other corals can have strong toxins too.

Sincerely Lasse

​

 

[Outlaw Corals]

Look’s like No and No are in the lead

 

[NanoNana]

My buddy at the LFS just got nailed in the eye. No fragging involved, just moving some zoas to another tank. Instant bacterial infection... Accident or not, from the stories I have heard, Zoas have better aim than half the ppl I went through basic training with...

My other near miss was when I dropped the magnetic screen lid too quickly and got a perfect splash shot in the mouth. Growing up, my dad (who is also a marine just to get in on the service branch wars) called me Annie Oakley but I got nothing on my tank’s aim.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Close encounter with euphyllia - at least the 4:th degree

Close encounter with 300 kg of living rocks covered by a Protopalythoa spp send me and two co-workers into the ER back in 2001. One of us (we was 4 in the team) only get the mandatory inhalation poisoning, he recovered at home, the other three of us also suffered a subsequent bacterial infection and I had to spend 3 days in hospital with heavy antibiotic treatment. The other had a longer stay at the hospital. Important to say is that the person that did not go to the ER (but should have visit them) was the one of us that use gloves and who washed thoroughly afterwards.

The paly´s maybe the worst but other corals can have strong toxins too.

Sincerely Lasse

​

That is good to know they can do that!

 

[Reefer Matt]

I used to, but just rely on my prescription glasses for eye protection now. I don’t keep any of the so called “Death Palys”, but I frag zoas and palys frequently. I do recommend newer Reefers wear ppe with zoas and palys until they get familiar with them.

 

[Gman83]

It depends. If I'm doing general stuff, I have shoulder length gloves that I will wear. If the clown seems aggressive on that day I'll wear them. Things like gluing frags I don't because I need my more dexterity in my fingers. I don't frag my own coral yet, but if I did I would wear mouth and nose covering.

 

[Dburr1014]

I had a hugh colony of cinnamon palys.
When I switched tanks I thinned them out down to a 1/2 dozen as they grow everywhere.
I did the procedure outside with full mask and gloves. I don't think the cinnamon palys have a big punch but they still squirted all over my pants and shoes. I tried to avoid the mess but it was impossible. I just wet down my pants and shoes after to hope to wash anything away.

Here is me handling without gloves. This was after the fact and posting a picture just to give them away locally.
I think once there all closed up it's fine but I would never frag without gloves and a face shield.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I had a hugh colony of cinnamon palys.
When I switched tanks I thinned them out down to a 1/2 dozen as they grow everywhere.
I did the procedure outside with full mask and gloves. I don't think the cinnamon palys have a big punch but they still squirted all over my pants and shoes. I tried to avoid the mess but it was impossible. I just wet down my pants and shoes after to hope to wash anything away.

Here is me handling without gloves. This was after the fact and posting a picture just to give them away locally.
I think once there all closed up it's fine but I would never frag without gloves and a face shield.

Interesting, those didn't cause you any harm!

 

[Dburr1014]

Interesting, those didn't cause you any harm!

Nope.
But when handling like ripping then off a rock, they pop! It's like they just squirt water everywhere. Water flew a couple feet, it's kinda comical. You can see in their picture that they look swollen but when they pop they flatten right out so all of that is water. Or maybe water and toxin I don't know what it is.

 

[soreefed]

I wear gloves anytime I handle coral or live rock. I actually use gloves anytime I touch stuff that’s been in the tank.

The smell alone is worth using gloves, and plus the peace of mind that I’m not gunna rub some bad stuff on my eyes or elsewhere

 

[shakacuz]

for zoa's? if fragging, gloves, goggles, mask. if handling, just gloves. i don't keep paly's due to their toxin, but have been more open to keeping them due to having adequate precautions.

 

[merkmerk73]

My PPE is not keeping zoas or palys.

I just don't trust myself and I have young kids.

Whenever I do tank stuff I end up just ADD'ing all over the place and I won't stick to a Walter White style routine.

 

[encrustingacro]

Palythoa are not in the family Zoanthidae; they are in the family Sphenopidae

 

[merkmerk73]

Zoas can have palytoxin.