zoo removal

[Bryan]

What is the best way to remove zoos from a rock so i can put them on another rock?(want to make a multi zoo rock)

 

[GregW]

I use a small screwdriver to dig into the rock under the zoas then use a razor blade to separate the polyps from the larger group. Just be careful of polythoa toxin when you cut into the zoas.

 

[magic]

I use a small screwdriver to dig into the rock under the zoas then use a razor blade to separate the polyps from the larger group. Just be careful of polythoa toxin when you cut into the zoas.

I was thinking of fragging some zoos that are on my lr which I can't remove from the tank. If I frag it in the tank will the polythoa toxins effect my other corals (tank is a 46g). I do %20 water changes every week.

Bob

 

[GregW]

Bob,
I've never had a problem with fresh cut zoas affecting other corals, only me. :

 

[magic]

Thanks Greg!

Bob

 

[calaxa]

I use a small screwdriver to dig into the rock under the zoas then use a razor blade to separate the polyps from the larger group. Just be careful of polythoa toxin when you cut into the zoas.

I was thinking of fragging some zoos that are on my lr which I can't remove from the tank. If I frag it in the tank will the polythoa toxins effect my other corals (tank is a 46g). I do %20 water changes every week.

Bob

Bob,

The toxin WILL affect other coral. Most softies emit nasty chemicals when cut and you should try to perform out of tank so other coral do not get affected. I've broken off toadstools accidentally and no one likes it and they show it within 5 secs. I've done it with palythoa and same thing. Everyone gets closes up real fast. I advise against it but if you have to, you have to. Just get that water change ready (but don't change too fast). Wait for about 10-15 minutes and then change it out. If the cut is small, it's probably ok though and the other coral will just close up for a few hours.

 

[GregW]

I would be more afraid of fragging a zoa and getting some fluid in a cut or getting squirted in my eye. I've fragged 200-polyp colonies into 20 frags with no ill affect on my small 40-gallon frag tank but I do know that some are more toxic than others though.

 

[REEFLECTIONS]

all this talk of palytoxin, i've fragged quite a few, and know of others that have fragged hundreds, yet have never heard a first hand case of incident. does anyone here know of anyone personally (not stories read online) that has been affected?

 

[GregW]

Everything I've been reading says death comes within minutes from palytoxin poisoning so I wonder if all of these reports of stinging eyes and numbness, etc are from something else in the zoas.

 

[JRWOHLER]

I remember reading that not all are the same toxicity. I also seem to recall the really poisonous ones as not being as desirable looking as PPE or Purple Hornets. So probably they just leave them alone.

 

[jbonk623]

you can just cut them right off with a razor