Who's been stung?

eliramos · Sep 28, 2015

The worst I had was after a rearranging some rock work a buddy of mine gave me his frogspawn, I've handled them all the time so I didn't see a problem but this guy was different. Because for the rest of the night my arm was numb I was close to going to the doctor. Some are stronger than others I guess

Leviathan · Sep 28, 2015

I got stung on the foot by jellyfish this past summer while snorkeling in St. John on vaca. Itchy burning rash for about 3 days. Jellyfish After Sting ointment and copious amounts of rum helped.

3dees · Sep 28, 2015

not yet, but just a matter of time. my one spot is getting bolder. he stays clear of me except when I put the nori clip in. he charges from across the tank like he's starving.

trio91 · Sep 28, 2015

AlexG said:
The worst I got was a long spine sea urchin about 8-10" in diameter. I was working at the LFS at the time cleaning a live rock tank. I had the tank stirred up so there was no visibility and I forgot the urchin was in there. I was scraping and wiping as hard as I could and slammed my hand into the urchin full force. I had about a dozen spines in my hand. I ran and put the hottest water on it that I could but it did not help that much. Most of the spines broke off on removal so I had to cut them out with a razor blade which was not fun. I did have a co-worker that was stung multiple times by lionfish because he would not pay attention to them when catching other fish in that tank. This same person also handled a new shipment of sea anemones and then rubbed there eyes. They found out really fast that was a bad idea when there eyes and face swelled up.

same here....i used to keep one before i traded him in to my LFS (was tired of being stung and abused in my own house)....i would frequently get stung when cleaning my tank....but for me i would just leave the spines in as i knew (from past stings) that they are impossible to get out...after a while they would just "disappear" .....a little burning numbing but that was about it.....to me its like a bee sting

loumaggs · Sep 28, 2015

derekstank said:
My cousin Dale's hand after lion fish. 4 days in ICU

It was in the wild. He was diving.

Ouch...Makes me glad I no longer have my lion

3dees · Sep 28, 2015

looks like more than a bee sting.

Justiful · Sep 28, 2015

Haven't been stung, and have no intention of being stung... lol. They are thick and inside is padded. Yea a little harder to use than bare hands, but I feel pretty safe with them on.

TomatoSauceTy · Sep 28, 2015

Justiful said:
Haven't been stung, and have no intention of being stung... lol. They are thick and inside is padded. Yea a little harder to use than bare hands, but I feel pretty safe with them on.

If you're talking about lion/scorpionfish their spines are like hypodermic needles and will go through those gloves *I think, not trying to find out*. I use those gloves because my Euphyllia stings the hell out of my hands. A long spine sea urchin has stabbed me once, but it wasn't bad at all. A long time ago when I worked at a fish store I had no idea about the sting of a carpet anemone and I grabbed it...I got stung by a bristle worm and the anemone latched on really bad, my hand swelled up and it felt like it was on fire.

My leaf scorpionfish ALWAYS erects his spines and leans in my direction once my hand is around him unless it's feeding time, then he acts like a puppy.

Does anyone know for venomous fish if their toxin strength varies and if so I wonder what the toxicity scale is for those fish.

uberfugu · Sep 28, 2015

Dendrochirus zebra, tilted his dorsal spine toward me then jumped at me. Hot water soak, Benadryl and betadine. About as bad as a wasp sting.

Taenianotus triacanthus, same behavior, same protocol.

I suspect the envenomations were minor. No side effects unlike other comments but they we're small (under 3"). I worked at a LFS so, for the amount of times I had my hands in a tank, not often stung.

Larry L · Sep 28, 2015

My one-spot foxface is very enthusiastic at feeding time, and one time a couple years ago I wasn't paying enough attention as I put the food in the tank. One of his dorsal spines caught me in the side of the index finger, and it felt like it was on fire for a few hours. I still have a small hard lump there - not sure if part of the spine broke off under the skin, or if it's a calcification around the site of the wound.

Reefster · Sep 28, 2015

I have never been stung by anything yet, but I have been infected with a bacteria that is very deadly. Always where gloves when cleaning your tanks! I now have gloves...LONG Gloves that I wear when cleaning my tanks. It wasn't confirmed, but was all the Doctors opinions on my case that I had a Mycobacterium Marinum Infection! All from a very tiny scrap that I had from my Live Rock while trying to clean my side wall of my Aquarium. It couldn't be confirmed because the Culture didn't grow anything and the biopsy did not show any type of bacteria. Mycobacterium Marinumn is very hard to get a Culture and to confirm. I was in the Hospital for 3 days with intravenous antibiotics given. Thank God the Infection didn't travel to the bone. They told me stories of people Losing limbs and dying from this Infection that can not only be in our systems but Lives in our Oceans. Still addicted to this hobby of ours!

Bbaz123456 · Sep 28, 2015

My dog got stung by a foxface that jumped out. Her head swelled up to at least double her normal size for a few days

TomatoSauceTy · Sep 28, 2015

I've posted this video before and I think it's one of the coolest videos I've ever seen! Being stung in the ocean must be a nightmare since you can't get to hot water immediately like you can at home and you're most likely to get several spins in you if you step on one.

JakeK · Sep 28, 2015

Never stung by anything but i have experienced paly toxin when i first started in this hobby about six months ago. I had no idea some were toxic and after re-arranging several paly frags in my tank i rubbed my eyes. Burning in the eyes followed by severe shortness of breath for several hours. Kind of scary actually. Don't really want to experience that again!

Reefman2 · Sep 29, 2015

Great thread.
Although I'm reef-less at the moment, over the past 25 years, I've never been stung by a fish, however, urchins and fire-coral have gotten me quite a few times. Bitten by the clown fish frequently, but they only drew blood once.

Salty0331 · Sep 29, 2015

Well I have a very large Longspine black urchin. I have been stung several times, mostly when I am cleaning and forget to remember he is near by. Leaves a nice burning sensation with a purple mark where the spine is in the skin.

jlanger · Sep 29, 2015

I have yet to be stung, but I would like to get the attention out back on the very beautiful fish that was spotlighted in the video.
Here's a pic of my Scribbled Rabbitfish.

Spazzmle · Sep 29, 2015

What type of gloves are recommended for handling corals?

stiky · Sep 29, 2015

This is such a long long story so I'll be brief. Moving tank from old house to new house. All livestock reintroduced. Rock added, last bucket with rock had the fox face. I had forgotten. I stuck my hand in, grabbed the Rock and the fox face, got stung and thought it wasn't too bad. Woke up at 3 in the morning with the worst pain in my life. Waited all day to go to er. Once I decided to go I was admitted for 2 days with allergic reaction to fox face venom and subsequent infection. Wife had to move the last of the house by herself. Worst pain ever.

w.gurney77 · Sep 30, 2015

I was hit by my lionfish when I was in college. I was moving a rock and spooked him. He was quick, real quick! I saw him dart towards my hand and pulled back as fast as I could. At first I thought he didn't get me. Boy was I wrong! I have never felt anything like that before. I watched my hand tripple in size with four purple spots where the spines went in. Wish I had heard about the hot water trick. My heart was racing I was sweating and the pain came in waves. I was debating whether to go to the hospital. As soon as I was ready to drive myself there the pain seemed to be residing. So I said OK it's getting better. Then another wave hit and I was ready to go again. This went on for an hour or two. Luckily the lionfish was only 3 inches long. Must not have been big enough to deal a large dose of poison.

Anyway won't be trying that again!
Now I keep a reef tank with a foxface. Didn't know they could deal some damage too. He hides when I reach in.

What can be done if he hits me with a dorsal spine? The hot water trick?