touching and attaching polyps

timwu12 · 05-14-2008, 05:44 AM

Hi,

Is it true that you can't touch polyps with your barehands or else they'll die? Also, how exactly do you attach polpys and coral to live rock? do you just put it there and let it attach by itself? or tie it down?

Thanks!

lcstorc · 05-14-2008, 06:57 AM

What kind of polyp are you referring to? If it is zoanthids the coral may not die but you may. They contain the most potent palytoxin in the plant world. Reactions can varry from itching to death.
The method of attachment varies. Often superglue gell works but it depends on the coral. Most attach the frag to a small frag plug which then is glued to the main rockwork.

timwu12 · 05-14-2008, 03:48 PM

well if you can't touch it, then how do you put it in the tank? Say you have a star polyp, how do you put that in?

rlcline76 · 05-14-2008, 04:08 PM

Star polyps are different, although I would say that most corals have some sort of toxin. I don't worry about gsp. You can just super glue the matting to the rock. It is always advisable, to wear gloves when handling corals and whenever you need to put your hands in the tank.

funkpolice · 05-14-2008, 05:37 PM

Maybe I'm mistaken, and I suppose it doesn't really matter, but I don't think Zoanthids are part of the "plant world."
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Zoanthidia

Sorry, I'm married to a high school Biology teacher, and she's made all of this very clear to me.
bill

BoomerD · 05-14-2008, 07:10 PM

Funky is right, zoanthids are indeed animals, as are all corals.

I've kept and fragged zoanthids for years and the handling of them never had any negative long term impact on them. Yes, because of the potential for palytoxins, you need to use precautions when handling/fragging them, but IMO, not necessary for just putting them in the tank.

lcstorc · 05-14-2008, 07:18 PM

Sorry, I am not a biology teacher. I know they are animals but simply mis-spoke.

Varga · 05-14-2008, 07:27 PM

But they are less animal than Anemones, right?

BoomerD · 05-14-2008, 07:33 PM

No, animals are animals...

njm92383 · 05-14-2008, 08:42 PM

So if you dont have a frag plug what do you do?

BoomerD · 05-14-2008, 09:14 PM

You can attach them to a bit of rock rubble, to a larger rock, whatever you choose.

SJS · 05-14-2008, 09:18 PM

I wear gloves whenever i am "playing" in the tank - I dont want to transfer any gunk on my hands into the tank and dont want any tank gunk getting into any cuts etc.. on my hands. Sometimes i use dish gloves - and I have extra long Coralife gloves...

njm92383 · 05-14-2008, 10:02 PM

is there a certain type of glue to use? and some to stay away from?

Royalscott · 05-14-2008, 10:06 PM

Super glue gel works best.

BoomerD · 05-14-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royalscott

Super glue gel works best.

Yep, get it at your local hobby/crafts store when possible. You'll get a larger bottle, usually for less $$$ than you'll pay for the little tubes.

05-14-2008, 05:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
timwu12 Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5 View Gallery Karma Komment	touching and attaching polyps Hi, Is it true that you can't touch polyps with your barehands or else they'll die? Also, how exactly do you attach polpys and coral to live rock? do you just put it there and let it attach by itself? or tie it down? Thanks!

05-14-2008, 06:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,528 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: touching and attaching polyps What kind of polyp are you referring to? If it is zoanthids the coral may not die but you may. They contain the most potent palytoxin in the plant world. Reactions can varry from itching to death. The method of attachment varies. Often superglue gell works but it depends on the coral. Most attach the frag to a small frag plug which then is glued to the main rockwork. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

05-14-2008, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
timwu12 Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps well if you can't touch it, then how do you put it in the tank? Say you have a star polyp, how do you put that in?

05-14-2008, 04:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
rlcline76 Manta Ray Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Bliss, TX Posts: 3,349 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: touching and attaching polyps Star polyps are different, although I would say that most corals have some sort of toxin. I don't worry about gsp. You can just super glue the matting to the rock. It is always advisable, to wear gloves when handling corals and whenever you need to put your hands in the tank. __________________ ~Becky~ I think everything ALWAYS comes back to underwear sooner or later. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to conjecture. BarbMazz Any weather is thong weather. BEELZEBOB honesty and a skidmark fetish will get you far Sasquatch I don't want the world, I just want your half. TMBG

05-14-2008, 05:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
funkpolice Scopas Tang Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 487 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps Maybe I'm mistaken, and I suppose it doesn't really matter, but I don't think Zoanthids are part of the "plant world." Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Order: Zoanthidia Sorry, I'm married to a high school Biology teacher, and she's made all of this very clear to me. bill

05-14-2008, 07:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,633 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps Funky is right, zoanthids are indeed animals, as are all corals. I've kept and fragged zoanthids for years and the handling of them never had any negative long term impact on them. Yes, because of the potential for palytoxins, you need to use precautions when handling/fragging them, but IMO, not necessary for just putting them in the tank. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

05-14-2008, 07:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,528 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: touching and attaching polyps Sorry, I am not a biology teacher. I know they are animals but simply mis-spoke. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

05-14-2008, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Varga Acropora Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,791 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: touching and attaching polyps But they are less animal than Anemones, right? __________________ Visit my 300g Build http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...all-build.html

05-14-2008, 07:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,633 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps No, animals are animals... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

05-14-2008, 08:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
njm92383 Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 15 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps So if you dont have a frag plug what do you do?

05-14-2008, 09:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,633 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps You can attach them to a bit of rock rubble, to a larger rock, whatever you choose. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

05-14-2008, 09:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
SJS Achilles Tang Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SO CAL - Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 823 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: touching and attaching polyps I wear gloves whenever i am "playing" in the tank - I dont want to transfer any gunk on my hands into the tank and dont want any tank gunk getting into any cuts etc.. on my hands. Sometimes i use dish gloves - and I have extra long Coralife gloves... __________________ Steph 300 gallon dt, 90 gallon fuge, 35 gallon fuge, 35 gallon sump, 4 Ecotech Vortechs, T-5 lights

05-14-2008, 10:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
njm92383 Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 15 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps is there a certain type of glue to use? and some to stay away from?

05-14-2008, 10:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Royalscott Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 745 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: touching and attaching polyps Super glue gel works best. __________________ Janetta & Scott 29 Gallon Bio Cube & 14 Gallon Bio Cube The Nano Club Wear Gloves

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