Zoa/Paly Fragging

One of the things I get asked the most about by hobbyists is zoa and paly fragging.

How do I do cut them?

Am I scared of the palytoxins and what kind of precautions do I take against it?

These are great questions and something everyone should be educated on in this hobby IMHO. One should always take precautions when fragging any coral and especially zoas/palys. Everyone has varying tolerances of palytoxin, like every zoa and paly have varying amounts of palytoxin. The ugly brown button palys and green palys are known to be some of the most potent in terms of palytoxin levels. Most others have fairly low levels of the toxin. 

When fragging zoas, it's best to wear gloves and eye protection at a minimum. Eye protection is a must as zoas and palys can store water in their stalks and when cut can shoot into your eye if not protected! I have read a number of horror stories about people fragging and getting a shot of water to the eye and getting palytoxin poisoning. 

When fragging zoas and palys, I always like to frag the rock or plug they sit on if possible. It gives you something to glue onto a plug after the cut and zoas/palys respond better to this, having a higher survival rate. I like to use my coral band saw for most cuts, but a bone cutter and a scalpel will do for most fragging. A band saw just allows for a quicker and cleaner cut. After fragging, it's a good policy to then do a quick iodine dip to help the healing process of the zoas and palys. 

It can be scary at first, and you may mangle a few polyps as you learn, but it will get easier as you get more comfortable with it!