How to handle coral?

[LovinDaReef]

Should soft coral be handled with gloves? Like frogspawn and hammer coral?

[Konadog]

You can, but I don't think its necessary, but its a must for handling zoos and palys.
I do know people that always use gloves to handle anything in there tanks.

[LovinDaReef]

I need gloves since I'm getting zoos.

[Konadog]

Costco has great deals on gloves.

[PoukieBear]

I've never had a problem handling any of my corals with bare hands. I have soft corals, and LPS, and zoo's and Paly's.

Some people are more sensitive than others, and a small amount of irritation can turn into something more severe.

If you're worried about it, then go ahead and use gloves. It's better to be safe than sorry.

[phenom5]

Just a quick tip on handling frogspawn/ hammers/ torches, grab them by the stalk, turn them upside down, and gently shake them. That way they retract a bit, and it helps keep them from getting damaged when they're out of the water.

[rjsilvers]

Sort of on topic... What kind of gloves do you guys recommend? I have a few boxes of powdered exam gloves, but I'm pretty definite you're not supposed to use those...

I've seen those disposable "sleeves," too, but I don't want to pay $4.99 a pair for them.

[Sk8r]

Just use medical examination gloves, the cheapest ones, non-powdered: grocery store. Our fingers are rough on coral tissues, and cause them to waste nematocysts, in the case of lps and nems. Their surface pores also don't like our skin oils. Just be kind to the corals and use gloves.

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11794023#post11794023 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PoukieBear
I've never had a problem handling any of my corals with bare hands. I have soft corals, and LPS, and zoo's and Paly's.
Most of the time that is fine............... until you rub your eyes, nose or mouth. There are plenty of threads here that explain the toxicity of these animals.

[LovinDaReef]

Great information guys!

I have this condition where I cannot get infections, also immune to poision oak. Perhaps I would be fine with corals.

[Setec]

I was stung by my frogspawn. Now I wont touch it unless I use a glove or can get to the stalk.

[LovinDaReef]

So the best time to remove coral is at night when they retract?

[Thunk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11796702#post11796702 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LovinDaReef
Great information guys!

I have this condition where I cannot get infections, also immune to poision oak. Perhaps I would be fine with corals.

A good test would be to grab an anemone with a cut on your hand, lol. That hurts like the dickens!!!!

Most stuff wont hurt you, but like others have said they dont like us touching them, lol. An ounce of prevention is one less trip to the ER. :rollface:

[Setec]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11796987#post11796987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LovinDaReef
So the best time to remove coral is at night when they retract?

depends on your coral. My sps comes out at night to feed. so do a lot of LPS like acans and chalise corals.

[m3rcury]

i use the latex free nitrile gloves. honestly, i don't know why anyone would avoid using gloves. it takes all of 10 seconds to put them on. there's no telling all the different kinds of bacteria growing in your tank. most of it harmless, but why risk it? if you accidently cut yourself on something in the tank, you could be facing a serious infection.

but, to each his/her own. there are plenty of people here that are rabid in their opposition to gloves. i've just never understood that.