Anthony Calfo

Anthony Calfo is the author of numerous articles and several books for the aquatic science hobby. He mentors actively on free-content web sites like wetwebmedia.com, reefcentral.com and reeffrontiers.com, and travels monthly to give presentations and share information with fellow enthusiasts.

NOTE: In addition to this presentation, Anthony will also conduct a coral fragging workshop, sponsored by FRAGExchange.com with the frags being given away.

ABSTRACT:

"Reef Toxicology" (or in other words, "Don't Put That In Your Mouth!")

This presentation examines reef organisms with an address of two fundamental categories: 1) things you can eat, and 2) things you cannot eat.

Good humor and jokes aside (but included in good measure!), we will explore the increasing awareness that aquarists have about noxious, poisonous or toxic organisms in another pair of equally practical categories: 1) things you can touch, and 2) don't even think of touching that! 

We will review interesting creatures on the reef, including some of the most fascinating, if not bizarre, species feared, eaten or otherwise used by coastal peoples. And overall, we will consider the dangerous elements (intrinsic and exudate) that some reef organisms produce and how that relates to issues of handling and stocking them in aquaria.