What is Palytoxin?

Palytoxin is a highly toxic compound that is produced by certain species of zoanthus corals, including Palythoa grandis, Nuclear Death Paly, Purple Death Paly, Button Polyps and other types of zoanthus corals. It is a polycyclic ether that is highly potent and can be harmful or even lethal to humans and other animals if ingested or inhaled. It is thought to serve as a defense mechanism for the coral, deterring potential predators from consuming it. ​Palytoxin can also be harmful to other marine animals, including fish and invertebrates.

Button Polyps contain
high levels of Palytoxin.

Highly Toxic Grandis Paly

Symptoms of palytoxin poisoning in humans can include fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle and/or abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and heart problems. In severe cases, palytoxin poisoning can be life-threatening and may require immediate medical attention. There are cases of people dying from palytoxin poisoning. The damage it causes to the body are dependent upon exposure levels and mode of exposure.

Safety precautions are recommended. It is important to handle zoanthus corals with care and avoid inhaling or ingesting any water that may contain palytoxin. It is also important to thoroughly wash your hands and working areas after handling these corals. Wearing gloves and eye protection is advised. Do not cut these corals on a wet saw as this can cause airborne droplets to form which may be inhaled or land on surfaces causing contamination.​

Real Stories from Fellow Reefers...

Jacob B.
Grandis palys put me down for the count. Took as many precautions as I could using eye protection, gloves, mask and apron but still managed to get it. Only thing I could think of getting it was that I had a cut on my hand under my gloves. Started feeling bad on my way to work then got the most God awful copper taste in my mouth and the worst flu like symptoms and headache I've ever had in my life. Literally laid in the floor of my office trailer for 4-5 hours curled up in a ball until I could get enough strength to drive home and endure the rest of the day and part of the next before I came too. 10/10 wouldn't recommend!

Lee V.
I was on a respirator after my encounter with paly's I cut off a tank wall. Got lucky i told my wife what i thought it was before losing my speech. My tongue felt like someone put half a dozen 9volt batteries on it at the same time and I couldn't respond enough to tell them by the time i got there.

Windsor A.
I’ve been hit twice. I was cleaning some coral frag racks off in a sink not realizing there were very tiny pieces of palys that had rip off onto them. About 8 hours after exposure it will full on chills, joints aches, fever, and just over all felt like a flu hit me with every symptom immediately. It sucked. Fortunately it all went away before I even woke up the next day.
Oh!! And the second time I was hit I wore gloves, face mask and face shield and STILL GOT IT. So sometimes proper PPE doesn’t even help. I caution anyone considering adding these to their tanks. They also grow so well and that’s just more potential poison.

Corey B.
20 years of working with the and I was hit once, by my own fault. They are not a coral to be feared, just respected. Proper PPE and cognitive alert to what you are doing. Hands do not touch anything but the coral, and AS SOON as I am done, cleaning off begins, starting with alcohol spray to neutralize the toxin, then scrub from upper arm down to fingertips.

Palytoxin is one of the most poisonous non-protein substances known to man. It should be taken seriously and if you are going to own these animals it's important to be informed on the dangers that go along with caring for them. They are beautiful animals that can be enjoyed safely, so long as you take proper safety measures.