But they usually don't. I have read some stories of illness and paralysis as a result of palytoxin contact. I've also read that the Palythoas we generally keep in aquaria don't kill, although rare species can.
I will rehearse a true story that happened to me Saturday.
I plucked a rock full of brown palys to break it in half for Chase. Of course they slimed me really badly as I grabbed them to break the live rock. They oozed all over my hand even below the water line. I used my right hand, knowing I had a fresh cut on my left. I deliberately kept my right hand free and didn't touch anything with it until I washed my hands. When I did wash with warm soap and water, I rubbed my hands together. It was a dilute amount of palytoxin that contacted the cut on my left thumb. I didn't feel any initial discomfort.
By 2am my thumb was painful and swollen. By 6am I had large hives on my face and torso. It itched tremendously. I had a very busy day Sunday so since I didn't feel like I was going to die, I didn't go to the doctor but took some Benadryl. It didn't really help but I endured it.
This morning my thumb is still red, swollen, painful and draining at the wound site. The hives are gone but I'm still a little itchy. I do feel a general malaise, like the flu. I'm sure I'll overcome it soon.
The moral of the story: Palythoas get angry when you touch them. And if you have an open wound, don't go near them or risk three days of discomfort. By the way, I've never been allergic to anything and this is my first bout of hives in my life. I didn't like it.
Just so you know, I did know better but I made a mistake.
Edited by dano - March 15 2010 at 12:38pm
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