bitten

[ladyfsu]

Hey, I have a little octopus from the Gulf...came in on some liverock. He's about the size of a golf ball. He bit me today. I felt him squeeze tight on my hand, and then felt a "poke." I immediately got him off. About 45 seconds later it really started burning like a bee sting and went up my middle finger. The spot he got me didn't bleed, but there is a dark red spot, and it's a lighter red about the size of a dime all around it. Should I worry? I'm not worrying, but someone told me I ought to at least ask!!!!

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

You'll be fine. If anything, it might have had a mild venom. The ones that you would need to worry about are Blue Ringed Octopus

 

[ladyfsu]

It feels fine now, lol. I just didn't know it was going to start hurting like that. I knew the bite MIGHT hurt, but I was just shocked at the burning that happened between 1 minute and 20 minutes afterwards.

OK, if you're telling me I should survive, I GUESS I won't go do something I might otherwise regret. Sheece, I was planning my final, wild stunt!!!!!

 

[Blitz99]

i had one that would crawl on me and take food from my hand.. never bitten though...

must have been a shock!!!

 

[Sk8r]

Usually a marine bite or sting can be helped by holding the area under hot water. Helps break down the common venom types.

 

[alien4fish1]

wow! you should be fine just rinse the wound well under warm/ hot water doesnt look like a blue ring have fun with your hitchiker great find

 

[Minhle100]

the blue ring that i think you speak about is from the waters of australia. if i remember what i watched from the discovery channel that is one of the most deadliest venom in the world. i don't think that there is an antidote for it.

 

[chelskisw6]

im pretty sure there is, but no one carries it in places other than Australia, because, well they have no need for it. blue rings should stay in the wild.

 

[caynus]

Yeah there is an antivenene available over here, but quick thinking is vital. If you get bitten a full grown 6ft male of average weight probably has about a hour to live. After that EAR or CPR is needed to keep the victim breathing until an

 

[caynus]

- ambulance arrives.

Sorry about that, my internet is playing up.

 

[caynus]

Sorry, since posting my last reply, i did some further research and found that although there is work being undergone to find a antivenene, there is no such one available at the moment.

Also that it is now believed that a blue ring octopus can incapicitate and kill the average man in as little as 15 minutes.

Sorry bout the mix-ups
Caynus

 

[OoNickoC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8624387#post8624387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by caynus
Yeah there is an antivenene available over here, but quick thinking is vital. If you get bitten a full grown 6ft male of average weight probably has about a hour to live. After that EAR or CPR is needed to keep the victim breathing until an

The ld50 in real life is wite a bit lower than most proclaim. They are deadly, but its not certain death. They should be illegal nontheless imo.

 

[alizarin]

Ladyfsu, this is such a coincidence - Freddy (who gave you some gobies I think) and I caught an octopus just like that a few weeks ago and I let him go 2 hours ago. I had him in a tank that was never exposed to anything non-native but the tank was too small so I let him go. I caught a bunch of baby crabs and shrimp that he was feeding on until now. What are your plans for that little guy, what kind of tank are you going to put him in? I'm glad I resisted picking him up!

 

[Lev F.]

What species is it?

 

[study]

You have a pigmy octopus, very common in the Gulf
I have had 4 or 5 pigmys over the years and never got bitten, they are so shy I very rarely got to handle them.

The other octopus in the Gulf.... Common Octopus is two or three times bigger and more stocky looking over-all in body shape even when young.

I've had 12 common Octos over the last 15 years, and had a lot of play time with them. I only had one that liked to bite me... he would go after me right-away with his beak when ever I'd try to touch him.

I thought it was odd that I had 11 octos that liked to play and never tried to bite me. But I had one that would bite everytime. I would guess that the common octopus is not agressive as a biter... but you do get one every once in a while.

felt like a bee sting... went away in a few hours

 

[bchristie]

For what its worth:

http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/octobite.php

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic342.htm

 

[Aliie]

I hopoe you are still doing well. I bet that was a little nerving.
It's nice to have so many reefers that are willing to help out.

I didn't know that the little guys would bite. Although it was painful, thank you for sharing this information with the rest of us.

The little guy is a cutie!!