WARNING Zoanthid and Palythoa fraggers!

[lilrobb]

I just read up on some stuff for work and found a related wikipedia article:

Some zoanthids contain the highly toxic substance palytoxin. Palytoxin is one of the most toxic organic substances in the world, but there is an ongoing debate over the concentration of this toxin in these animals. However, even in small quantities, the toxin can be fatal should it be ingested or enter the blood stream. If delivered immediately, vasodilators injected into the ventricle of the heart can act as an antidote
In order for this toxin to be dangerous to humans, the average aquarist would need to ingest the zoanthid in sufficient quantities, or brush a recent cut over it. Average handling, propagation and aquarium maintenance is unlikely to pose any danger beyond a localized skin reaction.
Palytoxin is a tumor promoter, and is being studied in relation to signaling pathways in skin cancer genesis. Contrary to common belief, palytoxin can be absorbed through intact skin. The danger of acute poisoning from venomous zoanthids is quite real. An aquarist was poisoned through skin injuries on fingers by a Parazoanthus species, but recovered after 3 days. His zoanthid was found to contain 2-3 milligram of palytoxin per gram. For comparison, the intravenous LD50 dose of palytoxin for a grown man is less than 8 microgram. Thus each gram of the offending zoanthid contained enough venom to kill at least 125 grown men.

Please be careful when fragging your softies!

 

[smallblock]

another reason not to have that crap!!! no offesnse i just dont like em

 

[son of adam]

I love how amazing the danger is in such a cute little suckers. So when the s*** goes down I just tape one of these on the end of an arrow. Right? And shoot it at 250 bad dude. And say eat zoas you dirty.......rat.:lol2:

Eating them is off the menu now.

Thank you for sharing THAT IS CRAZY.

 

[jef4y]

No offense, but is this news to many people? Good info for sure, but more over just another HUGE reason why everyone should really understand what they're putting in their tank. Even the smallest of searches often times helps people out a lot (and eliminates those "I picked up this really cool sebae anemone but now my tank stinks, what gives?" posts).

(and yes, I realize that any sentence that starts out with "no offense" is offensive. Sorry.)

 

[rbredding]

good to post that information.. of course even though people have probably heard that ZOA's are Toxic.. it doesn't mean that they understand HOW toxic...

 

[jef4y]

Very true, great information to put out there if for nothing else but a reminder.

Please disregard my idiotic comment.

I do still stand behind the concept of RESEARCH EVERYTHING beforehand =)

 

[texhorns98]

As I UNDERSTAND it, virtually every species of zoanthid known to be kept by hobbyists is free from anywhere close to these levels. I seem to remember something about a type found in Hawaii or something. This same post pops up every now and again.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

texhorns98;548551 wrote: As I UNDERSTAND it, virtually every species of zoanthid known to be kept by hobbyists is free from anywhere close to these levels. I seem to remember something about a type found in Hawaii or something. This same post pops up every now and again.

Very untrue. Philip Root, who does our fragging meeting, got a little squirt of zoa juice in his eye (at his business, not at our meeting), and he had significant medical issues from it. It is a very real danger.

 

[texhorns98]

Well then, I stand corrected!

 

[markl]

I wear glasses when I frag them. Sometimes gloves but not often.

 

[lilrobb]

A swollen finger is one thing, being BLIND another...
I agree Mark...

 

[weaglereefer]

Makes your tongue go numb if they squirt in your mouth. Less on learned...I now wear goggles and surgical mask...

 

[rbredding]

Rofl really??? Numb tongue?

 

[lilrobb]

I don't see with my tongue, you? LOL

 

[brianjfinn]

I wonder if there have been any cases of anyone actually dying</em> from too much contact with palythoas. It'd just be interesting to know.

 

[jef4y]

If you browse RC, there's about 1 post a week from someone ending up in the hospital after fragging or otherwise messing with Zoanthids. A lot of them are through cuts in hands or even transdermal. Some juice splashes to the lips/face, etc. It's definitely no joke.

 

[mockery]

brianjfinn;548693 wrote: I wonder if there have been any cases of anyone actually dying</em> from too much contact with palythoas. It'd just be interesting to know.

I don't know about people but on RC a guys dog stole a zoa colony off his frag table and died. :sad:

 

[brianjfinn]

Mockery;548829 wrote: I don't know about people but on RC a guys dog stole a zoa colony off his frag table and died. :sad:

Wow. Mental note.

 

[markl]

Mockery;548829 wrote: I don't know about people but on RC a guys dog stole a zoa colony off his frag table and died. :sad:

Must have been karma for stealing some ones corals. j/k

 

[demifelix]

Thanks for the post Robb. I'm new to SW so this really helps to know.