Hi everyone, I am new here because I am getting an octopus in a new tank, but have kept every species of coral you can think and have a lot of reef experience. About the zoanthids (its one o when you spell it out, two o's when you say zoo's), they are pretty docile in general. The do sting, but mostly other corals and VERY small prey (copepods, etc.) I personally would have no qualms about putting an octopus in a reef tank, their are actually people over on Reefcentral (I have been on there for years) that have received small octopuses as hitchhikers in liverock, only to imerge into their reef. Thier reef is in more danger from the octopus than vise versa, believe me. No, I wouldnt put an octo w/ an anemone, or even certain species of strong stinging LPS (large polyp stony corals) like hammer or frogspawn, but the octo should be fine.
Concerning your sting.... You usually need a break in the skin or contact to a mucous membrane for the palytoxin (this is the name of the zoanthid toxin) to cause a severe reaction (elevated heart rate, death, etc.) The palytoxin is also within the tissues of the zoos, this is not the molecule they sting with. You would have to smash the zoos or eat them to get a real effect. The localized inflammatory reaction you had could be from anything, but it would not surprise me if it was from some palytoxin (by the way, I am also a med student). I try to wear gloves when when handling my zoos, but I dont always. I had a reaction once to condi anemone- rash head to toe! Anyway, the zoos/shrooms, etc. should pose no problem to an octo, just stay away from anemones
