stung.

[dyee]

hello, im just wondering.
i started my tank around month and a half ago and i put some coral frags in it around last week? i put the frag in and i noticed that there was a small delicate fiber looking thing sticking out of my skin. i managed to pull it out.

today, i was cleaning out my filter to the tank, and was rinsing a sponge in water. after i was done, i noticed stinging pain on my hand, so i looked at it and noticed around 5 of those fiber looking small things sticking out of my skin on my finger.

what im wondering is, is this the sting of the frags? and if so, why was it in the filter? also is there a way to prevent from beign stung next time?

 

[Hop]

Probably from a bristle worm. Soaking the affected area in vinegar will help.

 

[Hop]

Oh and... Always a good idea to wear gloves when working in and touching anything in your tank.

 

[dyee]

hmm thanks,
it only hurted when the fiber thing was sticking out of my skin. as soon as i got it out it doesnt hurt anymore.
would bristles from the bristle worm roam around in the water itself? cus i got stung when i was rinsing out my sponge from my filter. and got stung when i was putting hte frag in the water, which i dont recall a bristle worm being anywhere near me

 

[Hop]

The bristle worm was probably on the filter pad. The vinegar dissolves the bristles. They can be really tiny suckers

 

[dyee]

never thought about the worm being on the filter itself.
i heard aquarium gloves should be used to prevent future stings.
do u think dish washing gloves will be a good alternative? lol

 

[rolltide12]

UM DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hop]

There are some pretty nasty infection that can happen. Stings are the least of your worries There have been a few people here that wound up with a trip to the ER and a antibiotic drip pump connected to their heart from not wearing gloves. It may be one in five-thousand, but it's enough that I wear the long gloves.

 

[dyee]

do the gloves have to be specifically made for reef tanks?

 

[Hop]

No, many people use arm length gloves from tack supply places. I use a mix of surgical gloves, coralife shoulder length gloves and dish washing gloves.

 

[dyee]

do the gloves have to be specifically made for reef tanks?

 

[dyee]

oops

thanks hop~