Bristle worms

Liza · 02-25-2006, 09:15 AM

Last night I was attempting to set up my protein skimmer in the back chamber of my nano cube. I was removing the carbon bags I had in the second chamber and somehow managed to grab and squeeze a bristle worm without knowing it until I dropped it's pink little body and realized what I had done. He must have set up house inside the bag of carbon. It was fine for the first 5 minutes or so, and I used a tweezer to try to take out as many bristles as I could, but now it's itching and burning like crazy and a little red and puffed up. Has anyone had this happen, and does anyone know of any remedies to put on it to help heal? I've used lanacane and ice so far, neither has helped a lot, but the ice numbs it at least. I also took a benedryl last night just in case I had a reaction, but I think I'm ok other than the itching pain. Any thoughts?

chazz-66 · 02-25-2006, 09:52 AM

I personally have never had this happen but I have heard from others that it will go away with no other effects.I dont even handle my chaeto by hand anymore because of the bristles in there. Gotta watch out for those suckers!Hope you are better

Loverotties · 02-25-2006, 12:33 PM

try tape or better yet put elmers glue on it ,waite till dry peal it off .For the pain,aleo plant.

mtfatwork · 02-25-2006, 06:30 PM

Ouch, hope you get all those suckers out!!

royaldana · 02-25-2006, 07:16 PM

OUch, ouch, ouch!

DevilBoy · 02-25-2006, 10:23 PM

Liza how the skimmer working for you?

as for the bristleworms, they have gotten me a few times while i have been cleaning my tank. i did nothing about the itching it just went away on its own. it feels like getting fiberglass in your skin. just keep washing the area real well and eventually it will go away

Liza · 02-26-2006, 10:26 AM

thanks everybody. I'm actually debating going to urgent care before work today. It seems to be spreading and swelled enough through the night that I can't bend my finger all the way down anymore. I probably scratched the hell out of it in my sleep.

Moral of this story, don't grab on to those little suckers, they get kinda crabby about it.

The skimmer didn't fit in my second chamber in the back as I had hoped it would, and I got frustrated and gave up Friday night after the bristle worm attack. Yesterday we went out and bought some tubing to connect the skimmer to the pump instead of that solid ] shaped arm connecting the two, so it would have a little give, and we were able to get it into the tank. I haven't checked it yet today to see how it's doing. What is that tiny little tube for? I had it break off on me, and had to dig out the insides that must have been glued in, but got it back on. Also, my other skimmer just has a collecting cup for the sludge it gets, is the idea in this one just to replace that white ring when it gets dirty?

davidsreef · 02-26-2006, 11:34 AM

Just watch and make sure you don't have an infection. If you think you do go to the doctors and tell them its from a salt water tank. If you look on RC you can find people who have gotten infections from their SW fish tanks and you can find out the names of the infection/bacteria they had. Most doctors in the area probably don't have a lot of contact with marine bacterial infections, so giving a few names might give them something to go off of. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

Liza · 02-26-2006, 01:30 PM

thanks, I'll keep my eye on it. I've seen some of the posts with people who got things from their tank... no fun. I soaked it in ice water and epsom salt for part of the morning and it felt better than it did when I first got up, so I didn't go to urgent care. It still feels stiff when I bend my fingers, but I can almost bend them normally again. Things that are pink and fuzzy really should be friendlier than that!

mtfatwork · 02-26-2006, 09:40 PM

hope you feel better.

Petunia · 02-27-2006, 03:50 PM

Now I really don't like those icky little worms!!! Dang them!!! Good luck! Thanks for the info. on your experience - I will watch myself with them little ickys!