Id my zoa

[sujith]

ID Request: I have two types of zoas/palys (pictured) and need to know which is the high-risk variety. I unfortunately suffered palytoxin poisoning over the last two days after tank water leaked into my glove while I was mounting them after coral dip. I was wearing a mask, glasses, and gloves, but still got sick. Looking to ID the specific culprit so I can safely remove it from my system.

any advice on which is which and the safest way to dispose of the colony?

 

[Darkxerox]

If you had a sensitivity experience that bad, you should get rid of all of them and avoid that coral family all together. Plenty of other nice corals to choose from!

 

[sujith]

I completely agree now after that experience.

 

[MichaelB]

Beyond a few (named) types of specific Palythoas and some zoas, confirmed by people's experiences with them. There is no way to tell what zoas or Palythoas carry the toxins. Yet it's best to assume that they all do.

To determine that type of thing would involve a full blown medical grade science lab, advanced equipment, and the expertise to do the research. There are millions of zoas snd Palythoas including moprbs. It Probably won't ever be done in a way that would produce a those are bad these are safe list.

Yet as @Darkxerox mentioned if you personally had a reaction to just getting water inside your glove despite all your precautions. Next time could likely be a hospital trip or even deadly to you.

Not to try to scare you here but who knows if you could personally be allergic to them and have lower tolerance. None of those in the pictures are the specific types of Palythoas I mentioned above.

I also recommend you getting rid of them and going after other corals.

 

[tribbitt]

2 looks like a sunny d? or similar. In any case, many different zoas can give you palytoxin poisoning, and we can't tell you for sure which zoa of yours did it.

Do not recommend playing with zoas if you had such a bad time with such limited exposure. It will only get worse as you develop sensitivity to it. I have been poisoned multiple times--- I'm sure I've shed a few brain cells as a result.

For now, after washing hands thoroughly, surgeon scrub with an acidic or basic solution (which will cause PTX to degrade rapidly): vinegar, for example.

Turn off skimmer if you touch the zoas, please, as it can aerosolize tank water with PTX. Getting poisoned sucks, but poisoning your family sucks even more.

 

[Invictus]

I agree that those are all zoas and not palys. Many people would be happy to take them off your hands, as it sounds like you may have a particular sensitivity that you shouldn’t risk.

 

[iani]

Question to what type of symptoms you had after exposure. I agree I would get rid of them all.

 

[sujith]

It started as a faint, prickling heat beneath my fingernails—nothing more than a nuisance at first. But by nightfall, that burn had cooled into a chilling numbness that crept steadily up my arm. I woke the next morning feeling as though a lead weight had been lashed to my shoulder, only for the mystery to deepen on day two when the muscle cramps began seizing my legs.

 

[iani]

It started as a faint, prickling heat beneath my fingernails—nothing more than a nuisance at first. But by nightfall, that burn had cooled into a chilling numbness that crept steadily up my arm. I woke the next morning feeling as though a lead weight had been lashed to my shoulder, only for the mystery to deepen on day two when the muscle cramps began seizing my legs.

Sounds scary. Hope you are feeling better.

 

[PjFish]

Yikes!! did you get checked out by medical staff or call your Doctor? With pain going up the arm it’s definitely advisable!!

 

[sujith]

Yes I wrote this post after I recovered. Thanks for checking!