A friendly warning thread for the newbies- post your reef-related injuries here :-)

Teeb · Oct 16, 2011

I haven't had too many problems. My clown has drawn blood on me twice and send a razor into my thumb while fragging. I haven't been hit by a nem yet and generally wear glasses when fragging.

Spracklcat · Oct 20, 2011

Hi Guys!

I actually do a lecture on this exact subject, last one nationally was at Macna 2010. So anyway, there are quick and easy first aid treatments for most of what you have posted so far--

Anemone stings: soak in white vinegar. This prevents the un-discharged nematocyts from being triggered, so it minimizes the reaction.

Bristleworm stings: same thing, soak in vinegar. It dissolves the bristles and is a lot easier than thrying to sticky-tape them out. You will develop a sensitivity to these over time, so glove up if you are digging in rock or macroalgae.

Fish stings (lionfish, scorpionfish): heat! As quickly as you can get the sting as hot as you can stand--hot water, hair dryer, whatever works. I've had friends stung by these and they held their hand up to the heat vents in the car to get to the emergency room without screaming.

Urchin stings-I've done that, not fun. Heat helps here too.

Zoanthid/palytoxin: no treatment! If you end up going to the hospital, they can just give you supportive care to keep you going until the toxin is gone.

And always, always, if you have any doubt it can be serious, get to a hospital!

Christine Williams
[email protected]

KrautBurner · Oct 20, 2011

great thread,

needs more pics.

I've yet to get any good storys of my own

salt0727 · Oct 20, 2011

wow! i havent had anything like some of your stories happen to me and I hope it stays that way lol

Dowtish · Oct 20, 2011

I have only sustained bites from trigger fish and clowns. And a few red rashes from corals /nems.

Kinda related story. I was about 16, and I had a skilter on my tank. For those who don't know, its a hang on the back filter with a so called skimmer in it. Anyways, the collection tray filled up while the house was empty, and preceded to start dripping. It was landing one of my thousand cords, just past the drip loop. And going right into the outlet. Someone had gone to the house and then called my parents. We were across town, and all I remember was someone telling me there was a house fire caused by my fish tank. As we were on our way, all I could imagine was the house in blazes with multiple fire trucks. Then I got home just to find a big black hole in the wall about 2 feet by 2 feet....Traumatic for a teenager, I tell you!