Palytoxin Poisoning (Get Well Curt!)

jacquesb said:
Just a thought - IF we are running activated carbon, and have a LOT of water - the poison should be diluted MUCH more than the amount that Curt had to endure? As he actually fragged the zoanthids, and handled them with his hands, right?
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Likely, yes... but still, it doesn't take much! This stuff is intensely toxic. Even with oodles of carbon and lots of water, I would still be very careful.
 
Jeepers Curt. Thats a wake up call for me. We have Palythoa growing like weeds in our rock pools. Must remember to tell my kids to be careful where they put there feet when puddle jumping.
Glad to hear the ordeal is over.
 
Hi had a similar experience about a year ago
I ended up at the accident and emergency at about 12 o clock at night.

In the beginning i just felt sick and light headed then i started to feel pressure on my chest and by the time i got to the hospital about 5 minutes later i was really struggling to breath. Luckily it was a tiny amount of the toxin.

Probably what saved me a trip in an ambulance was i had done some research
on zoos before i purchased and had read about the toxin before hand so i had a heads up when the symptoms started.

The below link stuck in my head (look in general notes on the page)

Zoanthid (Assorted Color) Mushrooms - Zoanthus species
 
Just to add i remember reading an article (reefcentral i believe) where a guy squished a nudibranch on his tank glass, it turned out the nudi eats zoas and therefore carries the toxin, he was also very sick, so be careful what you squish;)
 
did this happen whist working on his tank??? Sorry if this is a dumb question but really interested in knowing so that I can be careful myself
 
timmyus said:
did this happen whist working on his tank??? Sorry if this is a dumb question but really interested in knowing so that I can be careful myself
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Hi Timmyus - no - as far as I understand Mantisfreak was actually fragging zaonthids (sand zoanthids) at the time - while he had some cuts on his hands.... The toxins entered his blood-stream via the open cuts...
 
I think I will rather wear gloves when I have to work with coral or anything in the tank just to be save. Latex gloves are they safe to work in you tank with?
 
The guys at Aqua Concepts unpack corals as they arive wearing gloves... i think its highly adviseable to do the same at home
 
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I had a slightly different situation. My coral propagation trough is easily 3000 gallons (11,356 liters) and roughly 8 or 9 people had been fragging that day. As a result, there was a lot of toxins in the water and I was going to do a massive waterchange. I can do a 750 gallon water change in roughly 5 minutes with the way I have my quarantine facility set up.

I just unfortunately, should have worn gloves since I had open cuts. In fact, I recommend wearing gloves at all times. I was just in a hurry and paid the price.
 
mantisfreak said:
I had a slightly different situation. My coral propagation trough is easily 3000 gallons (11,356 liters) and roughly 8 or 9 people had been fragging that day. As a result, there was a lot of toxins in the water and I was going to do a massive waterchange. I can do a 750 gallon water change in roughly 5 minutes with the way I have my quarantine facility set up.

I just unfortunately, should have worn gloves since I had open cuts. In fact, I recommend wearing gloves at all times. I was just in a hurry and paid the price.
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Unfortunately this is how we learn:p, well glad you well again:thumbup:
 
LOL

BTW, as soon as I have time, I'll put some more dangerous things up regarding reefkeeping to help new people. I've had a fire, experienced severe allergic reactions to corals, been shocked, yada, yada, yada. Basically, I've done this long enough to do everything stupid under the sun. Hopefully, people can learn from my mistakes and not repeat them.
 
mantisfreak said:
LOL

BTW, as soon as I have time, I'll put some more dangerous things up regarding reefkeeping to help new people. I've had a fire, experienced severe allergic reactions to corals, been shocked, yada, yada, yada. Basically, I've done this long enough to do everything stupid under the sun. Hopefully, people can learn from my mistakes and not repeat them.
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Cool, i've had shocks, floods and tried to cut my finger off, i will see if i can dig out some pictures of how not to do things too:blushing:
 
Wow, scary stuff! Getting into marines, I thought I only had to worry about my viper.

Do they only release their toxins when highly agitated or just agitated? Can the toxin get into your blood stream through scabs?
 
gaboon said:
Wow, scary stuff! Getting into marines, I thought I only had to worry about my viper.

Do they only release their toxins when highly agitated or just agitated? Can the toxin get into your blood stream through scabs?
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All the poisonous beasties mentioned tend to be contact only danger, not sure about scabs, but if you are in any doubt, then wear gloves.
 
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