which corals are not toxic?

K

kath

im honestly kinda getting worried here from what ive been reading on some corals....

zoo's/pallys are toxic to humans?

does anyone have a list of corals that are not toxic?

heres why im asking this

i already have heart problems and honestly i dont think it would be wise for me to keep anything that is toxic in anyway....

am i outta luck on this? should i just do a fish only tank???
 
First off here is my disclaimer-Research, research, research and chat with your doctor before handling corals.

That being said, i really wouldn't get too worked up over it. I know that there are cases of having symptoms of poisoning but it is rare. From my understanding you would really have to have the corals come in direct contact with a wound and even then it is unlikely to affect you. If you wear gloves then you should be fine-but keep in mind that I am in no way a medical doctor :D
 
Kath, reef gloves are the best suggestion for you. Corals are not the only things in the tanks that can cause health problems. Bristle worms, even the bacteria in the water or on rocks and sand can cause problems if you have open wounds or get scratched. Also never ever swallow the water, if you have to siphon, do it manually or with a pump, do not use your mouth.

Back in Ohio a fellow reefer told a story about a friend of his who ended up with some sort of worm internally due to the reef tank. He seemed an honest sort, so I took him at his word but it could have been one of those urban myths.

Point being there is more to worry about than just coral toxins... so take precautions, wear gloves or even eye protection if you have any concerns.
 
Most toxins that corals produce are designed to inhibit growth of their neighbors. Chemical warfare for turf. Only a certain few, like the palythoa / zoa pose an actual danger to humans. Some of the larger carpet anemones can deliver a sting, but unless you're allergic to the toxin, the worst that usually happens is a bad itch. Some of the 'fire corals' (Suborder Milleporina) will sting the dickens out of you, but again, only those who are allergic face any real danger.

If you're careful and wear gloves when handling, and a face shield (or at least safety glasses) when fragging, virtually nothing that you will usually find in a tank is deadly to individuals not predisposed to allergic reactions or cardiac conditions.

In your case, glove up and have fun. (Wearing gloves when working in the tank is something we really should _all_ be doing, but few [myself included] do.) There is probably a greater chance of getting an infection than something cardiac related.
 
ok guys thanks alot i guess reef gloves are going to be the next thing i purchase...
guess i kinda freaked out, heck driving is probably more dangerous than having a salt tank LOL

but i do think i will stay away from the palythoa / zoa's
even thou i really wanted them, this is how i came across the information in the first place

is there a good book by anyone that have details on which corals are toxic and which are not?
 
I wonder if saltwater is like poison... If you start off with small enough doses you can eventually build a resistance..

I drank a lot of saltwater this morning messing with my tank's sump. I just had to pee a lot and other than that I'm feeling dandy. It was from a very new tank though so chances of sucking up some scary funky fish worm are very low. Long story. I wish I could have had someone around to help me out who wouldn't be like "why does this go there, why doesn't this go like that, can fish drink beer... blablabla"

Although I did ask WWM a question about internal filtration for my nano and they said Zoos are toxic... wtf? I've heard of some rarer species of zoos being toxic but I haven't heard that.
 
Kaledrina - Per Wikipedia:

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.[1]

In order for this toxin to be dangerous to humans, the average aquarist would need to ingest the zoanthid in sufficient quantities. Average handling, propogation and aquarium maintenance is unlikely to pose any danger beyond a localized skin reaction.


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My Commentary Below
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In short, be aware of it, be cautious, but don't not keep Zoanthids because of it... I've fragged more than my share of Zoanthids, stupidly with no gloves, and have had no ill effects. If you take some basic precautions (Wear gloves, wear goggles) you should be fine with them.
 
I did my own research when this came up before (some guy's dog died or something). If I remember correctly, the toxin was concentrated in specimens that are not currently kept by aquarists. That's good news for me because my method of fragging zoos and palys and ripping the mat with my fingers (which usually have cuts and abrasions). I've also been sprayed in the face and mouth, which is a little disconcerting. Anemones don't bother me that much, either. In fact, the only thing that really gets to me is frogspawn. :?:

That said, don't go tempting fate. Since you're on the "new to the hobby" thread, try to develop safe habits and good husbandry. You'll get more enjoyment out of the hobby and you'll have fewer "oops" moments. Reef gloves would be a wonderful start.
 
When you say reef gloves, are you talking about the gloves used by scuba divers or is there a type of glove specifically for maintaining tanks? Would normal housecleaning gloves like Playtex work?

TIA

Alise
 
Something like this is nice because you keep your arms dry, too.

I use regular playtex gloves when fragging zoas, with a rubberband around the cuff to keep from taking in so much water. (*edit: buy a new pair specifically dedicated to this purpose.)
 
welp due to some layoffs :( other half lost his job...for the SW tank is on the back burner at this point......but i really want to thank everyone for answering all of my newbie ?s LOL i know ya must get tired of them
i will continue to read this board and learn more and more
that way time comes again for me to be able to set it up ill even know more :) and have a better chance of setting up a tank and keeping it stable without any issues


amy
 
I have a "touch everything" complex, I want to touch all the corals and do on occassion when moving rocks. The only thing thats bothered me is my Condy when some of his tentacles touched my inner arm, it itched for a couple days, and now I'm more careful. Everything else though doesn't bother me. The skin on your fingers and your hands is usually too tough for the stinging cells to penetrate but if you are worried then reef gloves are good. Then you dont' have to worry about getting soap or anything in the tank!
 
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