My tank is making me sick literally

RJ Harris · Feb 10, 2018

Looking for some advice. Did some rearranging today in my tank and noticed the past few times that during rearranging I started to develop cold like symptoms. Later intensifying and my whole body aching. I never touched my mouth nose or eyes, wore elbow high gloves. Never steamed or cooked anything and never touched my death palys. This only happened when I rearrange my tank and has happened the past 3 times. In the past it’s never happened. Any suggestions as to what could be causing it?

As of now developing chest pain and a fever

Jeremy K.A. · Feb 10, 2018

First off consider calling your doctor now! As for what it may be.. Palytoxin poisonin; I had the exact same thing happen "Minus chest pains and fever" but I would get extremely tired and weak feeling as well as a bit dizzy and nauseous. I found out that you don't *Need* to touch zoas/palys to get it, nor do you need to steam them or cook them or have a cut etc. but you can be affected by the mucus released into the water which you don't even know is there and then it gets in through your skin, but also Julian Sprung told me that if you have the Zoas and or Palys out of water they can emit that same mucus through a vapor like mist or something and you can breath it in... I don't remember the exact term but you get the idea. This is just my opinion but I believe it quite firmly, hope you feel better ASAP

AdamNC · Feb 10, 2018

Chest pains and fever? I’m not a doctor but you might want to head to the ER.

me & my baby · Feb 10, 2018

Do you have any zoas or palys in your tank . If so you need to read this https://reefbuilders.com/2015/08/26/palytoxin-dangerous/

RJ Harris · Feb 10, 2018

me & my baby said:
Do you have any zoas or palys in your tank . If so you need to read this https://reefbuilders.com/2015/08/26/palytoxin-dangerous/

Yeah I do but I didn’t really touch any of them. That’s the first thing I thought of but I firml believe it’s not them bc I have them in my 2 other tanks and this has never happened when working on them. It’s only my 125 and it’s only happened the last 3 times. But it only lasts about 12 hours and goes away

me & my baby · Feb 10, 2018

I didn’t think so either till I took mine out of he tank and gave them to my friend and it never happened to me after that . Now I will never put another one in my tank .

RJ Harris · Feb 10, 2018

Might be removing all mine to. Trying to get away from softies anyways

RJ Harris · Feb 10, 2018

AdamNC said:
Chest pains and fever? I’m not a doctor but you might want to head to the ER.

As bad as it sounds I won’t go to the hospital unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m less than a half mile away. I can see it from my house

Jose Mayo · Feb 10, 2018

It would be irresponsible and an ethical infraction, an online medical advice.

Go to the hospital and treat your health!

Regards

dohc97 · Feb 10, 2018

I am a stubborn Mexican who refuses to see a doctor unless I'm dying but sometimes you really need the doc. Lots of things in our tanks can cause damage. I had a small scrape that let some bacteria in from a reef and it ended up with my arm looking like I was Popeye and my doctor stating how lucky I got that I did not get nerve/muscle damage. I have a scar and indent on my forearm to remind me.

KMench · Feb 10, 2018

Is your chest pain reproducible with palpating? That would indicate musculoskeletal pain not cardiac. Any sweating? But the nausea/ dizziness / chest pain would all point to a cardiac issue.. how’s your pulse feel? It’s didficult to figure anything out over the internet without knowing your history, vital signs etc etc. I would at the very least recommend wearing gloves in the future if this is a recurring problem.

Just your humble EMT ;Doctor

RJ Harris · Feb 10, 2018

KMench said:
Is your chest pain reproducible with palpating? That would indicate musculoskeletal pain not cardiac. Any sweating? But the nausea/ dizziness / chest pain would all point to a cardiac issue.. how’s your pulse feel? It’s didficult to figure anything out over the internet without knowing your history, vital signs etc etc. I would at the very least recommend wearing gloves in the future if this is a recurring problem.

Just your humble EMT ;Doctor

I was actually wearing glove cuz my clown fish likes my blood. My chest has residual pain after breathing in but gets worse when I breathe. No sweating but yes to nausea no dizziness.

RJ Harris · Feb 10, 2018

But we decided to go for a drive to get fresh air after my wife says she’s not been feeling well all day and the dog barfed earlier. She says it’s helping her but she had far less exposure

RJ Harris · Feb 10, 2018

Going to be headed to the hospital

5altkreep · Feb 10, 2018

Sounds like the right thing to do. Good luck!

Raznyc79 · Feb 10, 2018

How old are you? Do you exercise? If so, do you have similar symptoms while you exercise? Can you replicate the pain when you press on your chest or if twist stretch or bend?

EmdeReef · Feb 10, 2018

Absolutely the right thing to do and best of luck!
Palytoxin can aerosolize so you don’t really have to touch the coral and the gloves won’t help. Make sure to get lots of fresh air in especially if other people or pets are in the same room or house.

rockstarta78 · Feb 10, 2018

Wish you all the luck. Toxin from our tank can be life threatening. Depending on where your tank is located, if possible, next time leave the doors n window open when rearranging or dealing with Zs n Ps.

AZG · Feb 10, 2018

Good luck! Had a similar experience last week. Toxins got in through a small cut on my hand.

JoshH · Feb 10, 2018

It very well could be the palys, some types have the toxin and some don't. Not enough research has been done to figure out which ones do and don't. Maybe you're other tanks are toxin free and you just happen to have one specific type that carries the poison in your 125. Either way I hope your health improves soon!!!