Anemone sting
- Thread starter EQCM2B
- Start date
bkiba
Premium Member
Different people react differently to all types of aquatic stings. I have a RBTA that is very active and likes to grab things. When I accidentally touched it, there is no pain, but it feels almost like duct tape or something else sticky. Same with frogspawns and other corals. I had no pain or reaction per se. The only coral that ever gave me any irritation was ricordea.
So it is probably ok, but to be on the safe side, gloves won't hurt. Also it is entirely likely that you could be allergic to the sting so why risk it? Only one way to know for sure
So it is probably ok, but to be on the safe side, gloves won't hurt. Also it is entirely likely that you could be allergic to the sting so why risk it? Only one way to know for sure
Depends upon whether you're allergic or not. I've been moving my RBTAs barehanded for years, not to mention cleaning my tank barehanded. I've noticed that the burning sensation I get on the back of my hand has increased, but I'm not sure if that's due to an increasing allergic reaction on my part, or a stronger sting on the part of my RBTAs.
In any case, it feels kinda like a nettle sting - a burning/itching sensation, but it goes away with a good hand washing, and never leaves any marks. So, unless you're one of the few who have an allergic reaction, your BTAs sting shouldn't cause you any problems.
The above being said, there ARE many reasons to wear gloves while banging around in one's aquarium. I've had a microbacter marinum bacterial infection on my knuckles, and it's not much fun.
FWIW,
Kevin
In any case, it feels kinda like a nettle sting - a burning/itching sensation, but it goes away with a good hand washing, and never leaves any marks. So, unless you're one of the few who have an allergic reaction, your BTAs sting shouldn't cause you any problems.
The above being said, there ARE many reasons to wear gloves while banging around in one's aquarium. I've had a microbacter marinum bacterial infection on my knuckles, and it's not much fun.
FWIW,
Kevin
55semireef
Moved On
Not to mention, if you have zooanthids in your tank and you have a open wound, if you make contact with the zoos you can put yourself at risk. There was a thread on here where a dog died because the dog put his/her head in the bucket that had zoos in it at a frag auction. Not fun.
TheVillageIdiot
New member
if your hands are pretty calloused, you shouldn't feel much of a sting... i've handle h. magnifica and e. quadricolor bare handed with no issues, but the inside of my wrist does get tingly... 
redvipe2010
In Memoriam
I've had them sting me, and yes they can leave marks, I have 14 marks on the inside of my arm from them. I've never been able to feel anything on my fingers.
cschweitzer
New member
I heard of someone's arm brushing against one and going to the hospital a few days later. I've worked with bare hands for a couple years, but I can't stop my finger's skin from drying, cracking, and breaking. This is the only reason I wear gloves now. My anems never hurt me, it actually used to feel kinda good. I know that's weird, but it wasn't a pain, just a cool sensation in my hands. Can't hurt to wear gloves, though.
cschweitzer
New member
By the way, the fireworms are what get me the worst. I'll pick up a rock to move it or brush something away and I'll forget about the crawlies all over the place. Needless to day, one would poke its curious head/tail(do they really have a head??) at me and stick its fiberglass like stingers in my hands.
Ammonia-based products relieve this pain, or vinegar if you have problems with chemicals.
Ammonia-based products relieve this pain, or vinegar if you have problems with chemicals.
timrandlerv10
New member
who cares about your hands?!
wear gloves to keep all your soap and lotion and door grease and who knows what off your bta...
wear gloves to keep all your soap and lotion and door grease and who knows what off your bta...
TOURKID
New member
I never had an issue getting stung by my btas, but i just moved my tank 2 days ago, and put the nem in a 5 gal buccket to acclimate, when i added it to the new tank it grabbed my thumb made a huge welt that hurt REALLY bad and the welt is still there today, actually looks like a cut now. I think it was REALLY angry.
It hurt pretty bad. but not crying bad or anything.
It hurt pretty bad. but not crying bad or anything.
55semireef
Moved On
I sort of got stung by my blue Haddoni one time.
colby
In Memoriam
Better play it safe....
I used to just pick whatever up and never feel anything, then I started working at my lfs. I got stung by my Ritteri and I had to go to the ER.
In the span of several months I went from no reaction to hypo-allergic. You, do not want to have to carry an EPI around. I constantly take anti-histamines as even sticking my hand in the reef flat makes my skin burn...The last time I got stung by a Ritteri I had about 13 hives the size of a dime on my forearm and they hurt like hell.
Even if you don't have an allergy if you have a hangnail or open wound the nemats. will still sting.
I used to just pick whatever up and never feel anything, then I started working at my lfs. I got stung by my Ritteri and I had to go to the ER.
In the span of several months I went from no reaction to hypo-allergic. You, do not want to have to carry an EPI around. I constantly take anti-histamines as even sticking my hand in the reef flat makes my skin burn...The last time I got stung by a Ritteri I had about 13 hives the size of a dime on my forearm and they hurt like hell.
Even if you don't have an allergy if you have a hangnail or open wound the nemats. will still sting.
