[Jareth]

I love the look of Zoo's, but the toxic factor really concerns me.

How toxic are we talking?

[rlcline76]

Some are worse than others. Really, when dealing with the polyps, don't mess with them if you have open wounds. If you are fragging, use gloves and maybe protective eyewear. I cannot imagine a tank without zoas!

[Jareth]

Yeah I got what is probably the best (and worst) thing ever for my tank, Coralife Aquagloves.

I've probably played with something in the tank every nite since I got them.

I guess I posted too quick, had more that I wanted to put down but got bothered at work and now I cant think of it all.

Basically, will my cats die if they lick the water?

[rlcline76]

I am guessing that the scent of saltwater would be enough to repel your kitties. Do you have a lidded tank?

[rlcline76]

For more on zoas:
Blane Perun's Zoanthids Mania. Zooanthids information. Special Care Section on Blue Zoanthids, & Rare Zooanthids. All you would ever need to know about the zoanthid

[Jareth]

Great link, thanks

[glampka]

Not good to have your cats licking saltwater. They may not die but they'll end up passing rock salt which is like passing kidney stones.

[rlcline76]

Yeah, I heard cranberry juice is good for that, plus more water in the diet. I don't want to even think of force feeding my cats juice. They already bite....

[Jareth]

Thats really my big worry, the cats. One cat is more like a dog, nose always cold and wet rather than dry and warm, he bites to tell ya he loves ya. Hell, he even carries around a medium sized rubber duck and will gnaw on it. So Im not sure what he would do if I get a leak or something.

Read through that link yesterday. Great info, but it really didnt adress the cat question.

[lynnvangsnes]

Here is another link that we use frequently here concerning toxicity of corals.
Renaming Our Corals by Chris Jury - Reefkeeping.com

[jimw369]

Awesome thread

[wreckdiver]

Zoanthids and Palys contain a substance called Palytoxin, this chemical/toxin is one of the most potent poisons on the planet. There are numerous write ups and warning about wearing gloves when fragging or otherwise cutting Zoas or Palys. A lot of the indigenous tribes from the south pacific islands used to and some still do use the poison from Zoanthids on the tip of their spears to kill prey and such. 99% of the time nothing would happen from handling or even fragging zoas unprotected, but all it would take is 1 small cut or open sore on your hand and you could became very very ill or even die. Please take the time to read up on the items you keep in your tank because it is not only Zoas and Palys, some of the most potent toxins in the world come right from our precious little cniderians.