What Soft Corals Do Not Contain Palytoxin? (Beginner here)

[Meganemp]

Hello all,

I am an avid Freshwater keeper and I’m in the midst of planning my first saltwater tank.
I would love to do a reef tank but when researching soft corals (supposedly beginner friendly) I keep coming across horror stories about Palytoxin aerosolizing and killing people’s dogs and such. Do all soft corals contain Palytoxin? or is it just Zoanthids? I’m seeing some conflicting info on the internet and am basically a lost beginner.
What types of soft corals would be relatively safe and easy for a beginner?

I would really appreciate any advice you could share!

 

[Spare time]

Palyzoas are known for this (as well as ostreopsis dinos), but I believe it is only one species of palyzoa that if particularly bad for us. However, as long as you aren't grinding them up, eating them, or squeezing them on an open wound or eye you will be fine.

https://reefs.com/2015/09/14/the-dangers-and-myths-of-zoa-toxicity-part-1/

 

[uhgster1]

Yellow polyps also have palytoxins. Be careful, they grow like weeds

 

[Oscar47f]

All corals use chemical warfare some are less potent than others, Euphyllia sting sting through contact, leathers excrete toxins into the water so near by corals don’t grow there stuff like that, run some carbon every now and again and don’t boil the kritters, wear gloves when handling and use eye protection when cutting things it’s pretty basic safety, you will be perfectly fine, paly toxins are found in zoanthids and palythoa make sure you’re not messing with those unprotected and you’ll be fine no need to be afraid as long as you’re doing things correctly ! I have 90 different strains of zoanthids and palythoa combined you’ll be ok !

 

[Oscar47f]

Also I had a golden retriever for the longest time until he got old and no issues, there’s kids at the house, don’t believe everything you read many of those stories are people that do things in an unsafe way.... don’t cut zoanthids with a dremel or rotary tool because the juices can go flying and such use a scalpel and a pair of bone cutters... the best beginner friendly corals in my opinion are zoanthids and palys ( the power end stuff), corallimorphs like mushrooms, and leather coral ! All that stuff is super easy and can make for amazing tanks, just remember safety first when handling the animals best of luck and hope your tank turns out amazing !

 

[Meganemp]

Also I had a golden retriever for the longest time until he got old and no issues, there’s kids at the house, don’t believe everything you read many of those stories are people that do things in an unsafe way.... don’t cut zoanthids with a dremel or rotary tool because the juices can go flying and such use a scalpel and a pair of bone cutters... the best beginner friendly corals in my opinion are zoanthids and palys ( the power end stuff), corallimorphs like mushrooms, and leather coral ! All that stuff is super easy and can make for amazing tanks, just remember safety first when handling the animals best of luck and hope your tank turns out amazing !

Thanks so much for the help! I appreciate it:)

 

[Meganemp]

Palyzoas are known for this (as well as ostreopsis dinos), but I believe it is only one species of palyzoa that if particularly bad for us. However, as long as you aren't grinding them up, eating them, or squeezing them on an open wound or eye you will be fine.

https://reefs.com/2015/09/14/the-dangers-and-myths-of-zoa-toxicity-part-1/

Thanks for the help!