Toxic zoas id

[TilleysReef]

Could someone please tell me if these are the highly toxic Zoas?

 

[Rocks reef]

Those look like a green purplish zoa. Your concern would be palys or palythoa, which are larger than zoanthids. However, if you are referring to palytoxin, you are quite safe unless you inhale or ingest the palytoxin. So, for instance, you are fragging them and their release their water, which they almost always do, you could possibly get it in your eyes or mouth. Best practice would be wearing safety protection, mask and gloves when cutting/fragging them if that is your intentions. If you handle them to move them or something, just wash your hands afterwards.
Side bar, palytoxin exposure is often blamed for reef tank accidents. But, it is usually mycobacterium marinum, or vibrio that they were exposed to and immediately blame it on the grandis palys they have in their tank.
Palytoxin exposure is actually pretty rare, does it happen, sure... but on rare occasions.

 

[TilleysReef]

Thank you, I am not paly or zoa expert by any means, so I appreciate the advice. I didn't look at another thread but I wasn't quite sure that the ears were the same as on that one. I'm always careful with the zoas anyhow, but I know there was one specific green zoa that is supposed to be excessive on the palytoxin levels, so I my thought was that if those were them I'd rather just do a trade with someone who wants them. I appreciate the help!

 

[Rocks reef]

Have a read through this article, there is also a part 1.

https://reefs.com/the-dangers-and-myths-of-zoa-toxicity-part-2/

 

[TilleysReef]

Thanks so much! That's perfect and very useful!

 

[Rocks reef]

Basically, it is the big green and brown varieties of palythoa which are different that zoanthids.

 

[thamnasteroid]

Palythoa toxica

 

[TeeSquared1214]

I would also chime in to say I have both Zoa and paly. This was an initial concern of mine, but it’s one of those things to just be aware of in case you need to tell a doctor. The way one post described it was someone essentially tried boiling off a rock to sanitize it that used to have Palys on it, and that produced particles that caused the individual to become ill. However they recovered but it was not fun. Ultimately the way I look at it is, there is an inherent level of risk, so handle appropriately (i.e. don’t put your face close to it, and wash your hands) because if it was that bad of a problem there wouldn’t be as many zoas in the hobbby let alone people willing to sell them with the potential for liability. All of this to say, you’re right in being concerned but don’t let it get bigger than it needs to be.