Any reef related injuries out there?

[PeterReefer]

A few years ago, I was fragging Zoa’s and Palys in my tank. A few hours later, taking my contacts out before going to bed, my eyes swole shut and burned like I’ve never felt before! The next morning, I went to the ER and they needed the exact name of the coral I was working with. Turns out, the Palys are used in some tribes as poison darts! The Doctor said I shouldn’t be sticking my hands in my reef anymore

 

[McPuff]

I've had a lot of minor cuts and always make sure to wash really well afterward. One evening I was fragging a bunch of corals and through the evening I was less and less able to breathe through my nose. My sinuses COMPLETELY closed and nothing would help to open them back up. I basically got no sleep that night. In the morning I got some nasal spray and could breathe again.

The owner of my LFS got vibrio from a maintenance tank and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks. He almost lost an arm because of it. Pretty scary!!

 

[thewedge]

Dang Clownfish! Still have a scar …Got me twice …

I've been attacked by my clownfish many times over the years, but last week was the first time it broke skin. I wouldn't have believed it possible. Not as bad as what yours did though! Gloves from now on, for me.

 

[MnFish1]

I have another one. I had a glass top from one of my tanks - which had a small area that had chipped off. I set it behind a chair (so no one would break it) - and when I reached down to pick it up - the area at the bottom of my first and second finger hit the chipped area - and it cut through about an inch and a half into my hand. ER visit, stitches, splint for a month. Now if glass chips - I throw it away

 

[WVNed]

I hurt my shoulder making my 8 feet of lighting square with the tank.

 

[TheOldSalt]

I had a Paly squirt me in the nose once. Half my face swelled up and went numb. I thought I was doomed.

I get sciatica sometimes when I haul around buckets of water.

Who here hasn't cut themselves on a shell or rock?

There is a gorgeous little anemone that lives near Destin, FL. It's called the Club Tipped. It's a cutie pie.
The sting of this cutie pie can put you in a coma, though. It's happened.

 

[JCOLE]

I did not expect this thread to go 7+ pages….

I am sure everyone has a story to tell! Keep em coming. It's keeping me sane for the moment.

 

[JCOLE]

Ok. How about this. I think I win the prize.


A Mycobacterium marinum infection in my hand that lasted 2 years, involved 4 hand surgeries, and left me with permanent hearing loss due to one of the dozen antibiotics I was on being ototoxic. Heavy stuff. Some were TB meds and the last 2 were IV meds and I had a pic line.


Mycobacterium marinum is also called aquariums keepers disease and usually only results in some small blister like lesions that go away. Our body temp is too high. But it is just low enough in our hands and feet that it can


I am a teacher and have a lot of animals. My Burmese pythons bit me. I washed my hands and went on with my business of cleaning cages and fish tanks. Apparently, the bit wound gave access to the Mycobacterium marinum to move into the tendon sheaths in my hand and they decided they didn’t want to leave. I ended up with other lasting effects to. But the hearing loss is the one that is most significant.


mine is one for the medical journals. It was a perfect storm and will likely never happen again. But keep in mind, saltwater has some nasties living in it.

Man that is disturbing. Scary to think this could happen. Glad you were able to get it under control eventually.

 

[Luisn17]

Yes, willing doing a water change, I dripped some water on the floor. Went to get some water for myself, returned and was barefoot on a tile floor with water, end up slipping and slamming my foot into the stand. Very hurtful but finished the water in a rush, only to see my foot swell up and bruise. Went to a near by urgent care to be told I fractured a toe.

 

[reefah]

Anyone else here hurt their back during water changes? I've been doing water changes by the old fashioned way: old water removed by siphoning into 4x 5 gallon buckets; then, pouring salt into 5 gallon buckets, mixing by hand, then dumping back into sump. I've been doing it this way since 2005. I have 3 large tanks! Age finally caught up to me. Hurt my back during the holidays in December. I automate everything now. Should've done so awhile ago. Too late now. Sucks that it took an injury to make me change my ways

This. This. This. Reminding me that age isn’t just a number anymore

 

[polyppal]

Some of these infection stories are crazy! Ive gotten away from using gloves in the tank, but I'm scared straight now!

 

[MnFish1]

Some of these infection stories are crazy! Ive gotten away from using gloves in the tank, but I'm scared straight now!

I would suggest much thicker and much longer

 

[lefkonj]

I broke my butt replacing my sump a few years ago. This included new return pumps and all new plumbing. I measured everything out had it all ready to go, removed the old sump put the new sump in and the drains started leaking and the return plumbing just wouldn't work right. Stand is standard height but I am not standard sized, 10 hours later I finally got it all working well.

 

[RedoubtReef]

got sick once from removing paly's from my tank.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Yikes!