spine urchin stuck me I think

[hooked]

Is this a bad thing? I was cleaning my tank and thought seen him at the bottom and ten minutes later I am cleaning some film algae off my filter parts and I moved my fingers right into him. I did some searching on the internet and found there could be some inflamation but should I do anything about it?

[SAT]

So you have a little piece of spine broken off in your finger? There's a possibility of infection, particularly if it's deep. However, assuming there is no infection you don't need to worry about it... the spine will disintegrate and disappear on its own after a few weeks. I used to get spines in me all the time when I was diving in the Caribbean.

Some say that soaking the wound in ammonia or vinegar will help dissolve the spines more quickly. I see no reason to bother.

[Spanky]

Jim, if it starts to hurt (and you should know by now) soak your hand in the hottest water you can stand for as long as you can take it. Heat will break down any toxins you might have picked up.

HTH
Spanks

[hooked]

Thanks all, it was feeling a little funny for about 1/2 hour but really doesn't bother me at the moment. I cannot see anything in my finger so I guess I will live this time around

[Mrs Smith]

I agree with Spanky. (The literature I have says to shoot for 114F or 45C.) The Diadema toxins will break down with heat. If you don't see any black/violet color, you may have escaped tatooing.

Slim chance for systemic problems. But you'd probably know by now, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Danielle

[uurt]

I have been stung by urchins skin diving in the gulf of aqaba - many years ago. Nothing happened from any of those. I also used to have a BIG (read about 14 inches long) volitans that I got poked with once. That stung then went numb after about 5 min. but after about 30 min it was fine.

Lee

[Geoff]

Ok this may sound strange but if it bothers you pee on the spot. the ammonia breaks down the spines or the toxin in the spines. a tricked i learned from a diver who always used to get stung by them, i did not believe him until my dad got poked and tried it and he was amazed.

G~

[aquaticsdeptleader]

check out i think it was nov 02s tropicl fish hobbyist theres a neat little article in there about the things that can hurt us in saltwater tanks

[dark horge]

Just FYI...

Urchin spines are calcareous, and pee isn't likely to break those down --besides, yuck!


The pee thing IIRC is actually good against nematocysts from jellydish and other stinging coelenterates.

For urchin spines embedded in the skin, try a lemon juice or even vinegar soak. Don't try to worry the spine out, the spine can be actually quite filthy, and you don't want to grind it further into your flesh, haha.

Swelling can come as a reaction to this filth and/or venom delivered by the hollow spine.

With Diadema urchins, there's this maroon-black pigmentation on the spines that can remain in the puncture wound and APPEAR like a bit of spine. The lemon or vinear soak can reduce that stuff too.

HTH