Lifer Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I have a zoa colony, green eyed dragons, I think, that is being over-run by some plain ugly palys. I have in the past removed the frag and cut out the palys, but the frag has attached itself to the live rock and is growing well. I decided to trim the palys while still in the tank. The next morning, both of my turbo snails were dead. I still have 5 astrea snails doing fine and not affected. Could I have poisoned the turbos by trimming the palys in the tank? Link to comment
evanski Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Yep. Best to do this kind of thing if you have to OUTSIDE of the tank, and rinse everything with tank water before reintroducing it. Link to comment
Lifer Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share Posted May 1, 2014 Those palys are so ugly. I think that the heads I cut off have floated to another area of the tank and have started growing in a new spot. How come the paly-toxin only killed my turbos? And not the other life in the tank? I have Astrea snails, coral band shrimp and a hermit? Link to comment
Chew_Magna Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Different things have different tolerances to things. Link to comment
evanski Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Different things have different tolerances to things. This. What you probably saw was a threshold effect...a small amount of toxin hitting the most sensitive organisms. If I were you, I would ALSO plan on using gloves, particulate mask, and goggles when you mess with these things. Make sure you wash up well before you touch your eyes, nose etc. Same kind of precautions you might use when using concentrated bleach...but reasonable since it seems you do have a toxin producer in your tank. Not sure why the UGLY, fast-growing ones always seem to be so nasty! Link to comment
Lifer Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share Posted May 1, 2014 This. What you probably saw was a threshold effect...a small amount of toxin hitting the most sensitive organisms. If I were you, I would ALSO plan on using gloves, particulate mask, and goggles when you mess with these things. Make sure you wash up well before you touch your eyes, nose etc. Same kind of precautions you might use when using concentrated bleach...but reasonable since it seems you do have a toxin producer in your tank. Not sure why the UGLY, fast-growing ones always seem to be so nasty! Ha!!! I can just imagine my wife watching me fiddle over my tank with a particulate mask, and googles on! She's gonna throw me and the tank out for sure...My trimming days are over. Not sure why the UGLY, fast-growing ones always seem to be so nasty! This statement transcends reef-keeping!! Link to comment
Tamberav Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I frag my paly's without any precautions and get slime all over my hands. I am an idiot, don't be like me! Link to comment
evanski Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I frag my paly's without any precautions and get slime all over my hands. I am an idiot, don't be like me! Seen a few research studies that show a WIDE variation in the amount of toxin produced by different morphs. You've been lucky...or perhaps just are not sensitive. True producers of physiologically significant amounts seems to be fairly rare, but snail death seems to be an indicator ther might be some in play with his fast growing uglies. Link to comment
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