Another newby question

[aaronc0311]

I just read that Zoa's are toxic and should be handled with care... What does it mean by toxic? I of course have nothing but LR and snails in the tank at this point, but am curious to know what is meant by toxic. Will it harm me or the inhabitants of the tank? I know this sounds cheesy but I would rather ask in advance since this in one of the inhabitants that I was considering because it is easy to keep alive. I am also curious, if it is in fact toxic, what others are toxic.
Thanks

 

[mr_x]

no. it won't hurt you unless you cut a colony in half and the juice squirts into your eye or a cut in your hand.
i've ripped zoos off of rocks, cut them in half...glued them to things. it's not as dangerous as you think.
it's actually the palythoa toxin you are speaking of-
http://www.garf.org/trever/foreignenvironmen.html

 

[aaronc0311]

thanks... the site was useful and interesting. So there is nothing to worry about with anything that they sale in the lfs? Well, in regards to poisoning me? Im not going to start out propagating corals.
Also, any other sites that you, or anyone else, think would be helpful to a newby would be awesome.
Thanks

 

[culp]

there is already enough information on this message board to where a newbie would not have to go else where for information. have you already read these 2 links?
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/301033/101-tips-to-beginning-and-maintaining-a-saltwater-aquarium
also this link gives you a lot of links to just about every thing you need to know.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists

 

[aaronc0311]

Thanks!!! I have been reading some of the pages you sent and they are very informational. I look on here but I sometimes find it cumbersome to find exactly what I need to know. This is in no way a negative comment, I am new and some of the stuff is way over my head. I usually find myself googling stuff for starting out a saltwater tank and have read two books which have been kind of useful but very basic and everything I have read seems to be the different than what I hear when I ask someone at the local fish store. This is much more complicated than my freshwater tanks. I hate asking a ton of questions on here, but at the same time I would rather not kill anything either. I know everyone with a tank and a budget understands what I mean.
Thanks again!! and any other info is still much appreciated!!

 

[culp]

don't worry about asking too many questions. that will never be a problem. and really that's what most people are on this message board for is to help other people.

 

[mr_x]

my advice, after you read about the basics, is when you are at the lfs, and see something you like, or they try to talk you into something...find out the exact name and go home and research it first. so many times myself, and others have purchased things on impulse and put them in the tank to find out they have a high mortality rate, or they eat other fish, or have very detailed requirements...