Corals can hurt?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Softies
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions soft corals.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69343
Printed Date: October 07 2025 at 11:43pm
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Topic: Corals can hurt?
Posted By: charbel101
Subject: Corals can hurt?
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 8:38am
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Is that true that corals can sting human? and i heard that zoas have the worst toxic ever for human "palytoxin" so ur opinion on this? ------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Replies:
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 8:48am
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Yes corals can sting humans. Some more than others but all sting at some level. Most of the time you will never notice or have a problem with it unless you have a cut or scrape that gets exposed to the coral tissue. Palyotoxin is very bad stuff. Just moving Zoa's and Paly's isn't usually a problem. If you are fragging them then wear gloves and safety glasses. If that stuff gets in your eyes it can blind you. If it gets into your blood it can actually kill you. Nothing to freak out about. Just be safe. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: charbel101
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 8:51am
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wow man is there any coral or any peacefull coral that cannot sting? i don't want to risk it... ------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 9:05am
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Like I said it's not something you really need to worry about if all you are doing it buying corals and putting them in your tank. I have only known one person to ever have a reaction to corals while doing that. Most people will never feel a sting or even know that it's a possibility because it's not a problem. It's the corals way of catching food and defending itself. I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure you wash your hands well after handling any coral and don't touch your face after you have been touching coral. Treat it the same as you would with cooking with hot peppers (jalapeno). It's really not a big problem and shouldn't keep you from enjoying a beautiful reef. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: charbel101
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 9:34am
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But what if im allergic? and i didn't know that.. ------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 9:58am
Wear shoulder lenght gloves whenputting hands in the tank. Problem solved.  ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 9:59am
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There really aren't any safe corals. If there were they'd get eaten. You're keeping living toxic animals. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: charbel101
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:04am
I don't want to die lol :p im still young  ------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:06am
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Buy a puppy. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: charbel101
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:16am
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Lol no seriously guys but i heard there was aquarist that died from a zoa i don't if this is true or not but that's what i heard ------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:28am
| Be careful. They can hurt your wallet too. ;) |
Posted By: charbel101
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:31am
 lol alright :p------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:35am
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T here are plenty of horror stories associated with keeping saltwater livestock. Choice you have to make. For me personally the enjoyment far out ways the risks. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:41am
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lion fish can sting you, so can most urchins. Moray eels can remove fingers when they are bigger. Triggers can take a chunk out of you. Anemone's cause reactions in some people. Some bristle worms can cause stings worse than a bee. Cone snails can kill you--faster than most other animals even. Corals can be toxic too. But we still keep all of these in our tanks, and the incidents of issues are probably less than happens in their natural settings. It's palyothoa (sp?) that can be very toxic, and usually only after cutting/fragging. Simply use basic precautions if you are worried. IE gloves, safety glasses, wash hands, don't get in mouth/eyes etc. ------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: love2skiutah
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 10:50am
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Adam, do you think this is true? 2nd deadliest poison? |
Posted By: charbel101
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 11:09am
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wow :o is this is true ? ------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 11:17am
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YES!!! It is 100% true. Our US military actually use a chemical from a Sea Fan in their arsinal of chemical warfare.
You gotta remeber these little guys have Mastered the Art of Chemical Warefare. They were here millions of years before us and will be here after we are gone.
DO NOT Underestimate any coral just cause its small. Common sense goes along way. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: charbel101
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 11:20am
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But i mean this is very rare to happen... all people sometimes use bare hands and move their corals ------------- We don't keep fish we keep water =) |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 11:24am
It's rare. It can happen. if you're worried wear gloves. now sit down and watch your tank for a little while and get your blood pressure back down so you can think straight. Know that it's there, take precautions, enjoy your reef. Done.  ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 11:32am
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There is no way to answer your question. Some have never had a problem and some not so lucky.there is no way to tell how theses chemicals will affect each individual. We know very little of about the chemicals ALL these animals are capable of producing let alone the affects on the human body. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: Hogie
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 3:24pm
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If zoas make you nervous, don't do them. I'm a bit of a worrier too and went through the same thing when I started reeding wondering what would kill me etc. I always wear gloves and I don't do zoas and I love my reef tank! Yes other corals can sting you, so if you really want to have a tank (like me) you can use safely measures like gloves, tongs, etc so you don't make skin contact with the animals. If it really stressed you out, it might not be worth it. You'll have to decide. |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 3:30pm
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I'm one of those ones that got stung by my frogspawn! I had never had a problem with it and for some reason my arm grazed it a few years ago and it stung the snot out of my arm. I am more sensitive to coral stings and when that arm gets put in salt water it still gets really irritated. I also can't handle any zoas without gloves or I get really sick for the next few days whether I have been cutting them or not it doesn't matter. So really it depends on your system too as to how much they affect you. I just wear gloves as I can't live without certain corals:) ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: DMower
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 3:37pm
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I've only died a couple of times. No big deal. ------------- 150 gal reef with 50 gal sump. Reef Octopus DCS-200 Skimmer. AI Sol Blues. |
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 3:43pm
I have no idea how many of the 7 Billion people on this earth keep or play with salt water inhabitants. However, I'm guessing that walking to your mailbox everyday is much more dangerous. I have handled just about every type of coral with my bare hands and have never had a problem. Use gloves as suggested, take the risk bare handed or stay out of the hobby. Simple as that.
------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
charbel101 wrote:Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 3:43pm
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I thought that was from Shark bites and Stingray barbs, not corals?
------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 3:50pm
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We've had a few people in our club end up in the instacare and hospitals due to something from their tank. Those stories are true and those toxins are nasty. I guess the idea is to "be safe" or at least try to minimize contact; and then just play the odds and see if the benefits of keeping aquaria outweigh the risks. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: DMower
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 4:10pm
Well if you count those...then I've died 4 times. Lol. Still no big deal. In all seriousness. I don't use gloves, I just wash my hands after handling corals. I do a lot more dangerous things in daily life than marine tank care. ------------- 150 gal reef with 50 gal sump. Reef Octopus DCS-200 Skimmer. AI Sol Blues. |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 4:19pm
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All I have to say is a little common sense and some basic knowledge of the inhabitants you're keeping goes a long way. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 4:37pm
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Nematocysts (stinging cells corals have for food and protection), palytoxin, all sorts of venoms and poisons from fish/inverts...not to mention the awful viruses and bacteria, like vibrio and mycobacteria. Yes, our tanks are full of dangerous stuff, but so are our kitchen cabinets. Follow the suggestions above...wash up well, use protective gear, or find a safer hobby. If you decide to continue in the hobby, make a list of what you are exposed to and keep it in your wallet. That way, if you have a delayed reaction, medical professionals will have an idea on where to start testing and treating. ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 4:40pm
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Oh, and if you are not allergic to a coral sting, there may be some immediate pain (I rarely notice it), and you will probably get some small bumps that itch like poison ivy. First aid treatment is to soak the area in vinegar then soak the area in as hot of water as you can safely stand. The vinegar will dissolve the nematocysts and the hot water will decompose most marine toxins. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, that is all you need to do. ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: January 30 2014 at 6:03pm
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I've had cone snails, and all kinds of other corals/anemones/zoas/paly's etc and always done stuff bare handed. In fact even bristle worms don't hurt when I smack one accidentally and fill my finger full of bristles. The cuts/scrapes from time to time on my arms sting more from just the salt water then everything else in my tank. Just goes to show you each person reacts differently to the stuff in their tank. ------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: February 02 2014 at 2:57am
| Before I even relized there was such a risk I handled all corals ungloved . Now I take precautions when fragging zoas. Glasses gloves etc. My only sting was on my inner forearm from a GBTA and I have handled bristle worms etc un gloved but I have some thick skin on my hands. Always wash before and after handling but each person is different. |