Zoa's have a pretty invasive neurotoxin called: palytoxin.
This stuff attachs your nervouse system ( the electrical system in your body that transmits the vital information from your brain to everyother system in your body. i.e. heart, lungs, muscles, etc)
This toxin gives you no real warning of its presents until you have been invenomated by your coral. Since the delivery system from the coral is not necessarily a nematacyst you may not even feel a sting or a prick.
Zoa's and certain other polyps are your biggest threat with this. I handle my zoas all the time... but if I am fragging, excessively handling, or handling a zoa that has been "attacked" by anything... then gloves are a must.
Also, keep in mind that ANYTHING that eats zoa's probably collects all these toxins as a self defense weapon. NEVER kill, squish, or handle a zoa-eating nudi / snail / limpet / etc. People who have been careless enough to kill one of these incredibly small animals by hand have usually spent a very unhealthy time in the ER.
This toxin can enter through chapped or cracked skin, skin that is over inflated with moisture (i.e. in your tank for way too long), or through the smallest of cuts or scrapes. Once in your blood stream it does it's thing.
Symptoms: Trouble breathing, ringing ears, metalic taste in your mouth, excessive saliva, tingling sensation in fingers / toes / ears / lips / nose, lack of balance, inability to speak, heart racing / stopping.
*** if you are experiencing these... it's a little late in the game. Call 911 and start writing everything down just in case.
I keep a record of what toxic animals are present in my tank... and a list of the toxins (If I know them) handy. If I have to dial 911 I may not be able to speak... but I sure as he11 can point alot!!!
These animals are beatiful... they also do a great job defending themselves. Even certain sponges can carry a pretty hefty sting / toxin.
after 6 years... I have been stung (with only minor contact) by: Frogspawn, Hammer coral, Lobophylia sweeper, and 1 other incident I don't even know what hit me.
All those occurences had to deal with nematocysts... I knew exactly when I got hit and knew why... I was stupid.
Good luck, and treat your corals with respect.
