I had bubble algae on one of my three zoanthid frags, so I needed to take it out and clean it. All three frag have grown considerably since going into my quarantine tank about four weeks ago. I decided I would go ahead and get all three out and use the opportunity to separate and make some additional frags.
This would be my first experience in doing frags. I was nervous dealing with the zoas because of palytoxin, with “one of the world’s deadliest toxins” and “no antidote” floating through my brain. I had sweated it out when doing the original coral dip and had not enjoyed the experience. So today I almost backed out of doing anything but decided I could handle it. I was wrong.
I opened a window and partially lifted a shop door and pointed a fan out the door to get a cross breeze through my shop (where my quarantine tanks are), put on an N95 mask, a face shield, and nintrile gloves and set to work. All I can say is the job didn't go as smoothly as it does on the videos I watch.
I mean, it wasn’t a horrible frag job but if I was a zoa and I had any palytoxin to release, I would have released it. There was scraping and cutting and polyps holding on for dear life. I was on the second zoa with a smear of brown goop (PALYTOXIN! (probably not)) on my gloves and on the frag plug and a scalpel 1/16 of an inch from my goop-smeared (PALYTOXIN! (probably not)) 3mm gloved finger, my glasses fogged up, the song by Deadboy & The Elephanmen: “Stop, I’m Already Deaaad” running through my brain, and I realized I wasn't having any fun at all. Instead I was seriously concerned about what I was doing and what it might do to me. To each his own, not trying to panic anyone else, make your own decision, but zoas and palys are off the table for me. I realize the risk is minimal, but it takes the joy out of the hobby for me.
So, assuming I’m alive tomorrow (about 85% joking) my question: any other items of the reef world that are as risky? Any other corals I should avoid because it requires hazmat gear to work with? Or fish? I'd like to be able to handle any coral without gearing up to work with them. I don't mean a sting or a nip, I'm asking about you-could-become-seriously-ill-and/or-die items.
Thanks for any replies.
This would be my first experience in doing frags. I was nervous dealing with the zoas because of palytoxin, with “one of the world’s deadliest toxins” and “no antidote” floating through my brain. I had sweated it out when doing the original coral dip and had not enjoyed the experience. So today I almost backed out of doing anything but decided I could handle it. I was wrong.
I opened a window and partially lifted a shop door and pointed a fan out the door to get a cross breeze through my shop (where my quarantine tanks are), put on an N95 mask, a face shield, and nintrile gloves and set to work. All I can say is the job didn't go as smoothly as it does on the videos I watch.
I mean, it wasn’t a horrible frag job but if I was a zoa and I had any palytoxin to release, I would have released it. There was scraping and cutting and polyps holding on for dear life. I was on the second zoa with a smear of brown goop (PALYTOXIN! (probably not)) on my gloves and on the frag plug and a scalpel 1/16 of an inch from my goop-smeared (PALYTOXIN! (probably not)) 3mm gloved finger, my glasses fogged up, the song by Deadboy & The Elephanmen: “Stop, I’m Already Deaaad” running through my brain, and I realized I wasn't having any fun at all. Instead I was seriously concerned about what I was doing and what it might do to me. To each his own, not trying to panic anyone else, make your own decision, but zoas and palys are off the table for me. I realize the risk is minimal, but it takes the joy out of the hobby for me.
So, assuming I’m alive tomorrow (about 85% joking) my question: any other items of the reef world that are as risky? Any other corals I should avoid because it requires hazmat gear to work with? Or fish? I'd like to be able to handle any coral without gearing up to work with them. I don't mean a sting or a nip, I'm asking about you-could-become-seriously-ill-and/or-die items.
Thanks for any replies.