Ouch, are bristlworms poisonous?

[ellisd]

I just encountered a bristleworm while tearing down a tank, got a line about 1 inch long of bristles in my finger a couple of days ago. I washed off what i could but now I have a couple of spots that look like poison ivy. Should I be concerned or just ride it out? I prefer not to have a delayed reaction and then have everyone tell me I should have asked sooner.

Anyone?

 

[Anemonebuff]

They are like bee stings. If you are allergic than it would be a problem. Otherwise treat like a bee sting.

 

[ellisd]

Kind of what I thought, but wanted to make sure. Not allergic, that I know of.

 

[abreefer]

Some people react to the bristles, some don't. I can pick them up with my bare hands, and experience no reaction whatsoever. I guess I am lucky.

 

[Johnsteph10]

Make sure all of the bristles are removed as they can lead to infection much like a splinter. Use a piece of duct tape and press to the area hard and pull off (check to see if there are any bristles left on the tape).

 

[mjkn2]

i had the exact same thing happen. I had a few tiny spots that lasted for an hour but that was about it.

 

[ACBlinky]

I'd see a doctor if the spots become swollen, painful, or start to look at all infected but otherwise you'll be fine. I feel your pain - I tore down a tank last night to catch a fish, and I think I must have caught the tail end of a worm as I was putting the LR back. Something stung me and I nearly dropped a 3lb rock inside my tank. It actually felt (and still feels) similar to what I experienced with a cactus I used to own that left hundreds of teeny needles embedded in my skin when touched.

 

[So Cal shaggy]

If you have not had an allergic reaction by now you should be safe just keep an eye on the area it will burn and itch for about a week then sometimes the whole area will peel like a bad sunburn I was helping a friend tear down his 20 gal tank a year ago and I took out a piece of LR that was sitting on the bottom and it looked like he had a BIG jumbo orange crayon under it that was the biggest fireworm I had even seen I was wearing fabric and leather work gloves and had never had problems picking up and handling small fireworms I had found in my own tank so I figured I would pick this one up also and boy was that a big mistake as soon as it hit the glove I felt the hairs pierce my skin and it felt like my whole hand was on fire then the next day it would itch intensly and then burn again this cycle went on for a whole week now I will not even put my hand near the sandbed or reach under a piece of liverock without thick rubber gloves.

 

[ficklefins]

Despite Jeff's example of the longest run on sentence in history of man kind, I would agree with him.

I've accidentally touched some bristle worms with swelling, itchiness, and soreness afterwards. It was a combination of a bee sting and some poison ivy.

Hopefully yours isn't any worst.

 

[patchemup]

they sure do hurt

 

[angel125]

just take some wax ...you know the one wiffy uses to do her eyebrows and warm it up and put it on ur finger....then use the little paper that comes with it....and then wappan .....lol....they are all out of ur skin.....just my 2c.....but that would be alot better than the tape that u have to press on hard to get them to stick on.....oh by the way the whole wax thingy there is just for ur wound ......dont get any bad ideas.......plus dont let her walk in on you when ur dealing with that kind of wax...cause then come all the question......

 

[angel125]

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