umm...help?? fishie bit me :(

[discomama]

i was scraping algea off the front of my tank, and one of my clowns bit my pinkie..i mean, i'm bleeding here!! do i need to go to a doctor's?? it's not so bad that i need stitches, but (this may sound dumb) do i need a shot? do fish carry any weird diseases??
seriously freaking out here.

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ann-marie keene
mama to jasper, saffron & baby indigo
portland, maine, usa, planet earth

[Tralfaz]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I assume you cleaned it out well with an antiseptic? and bandaged it right?

As for diseases, I have never heard or read of anyone getting anything from there tanks. I would look silly with HLLE

T

[Elvis]

Ummm... Actually, there are some nasty things that you can get from your tank... I don't know the specifics but if you go groping around you tank with a cut on your hand (or get one while in there) you can pick some stuff up.

As an earlier poster mentioned, I'd make sure you clean it up with a little antiseptic and keep an eye on it... I'm sure your fine. I don't know of anything that the fish would pass on. It's more the other crap floating around in your tank. However, if it starts getting funky or you start feeling like crap I'd definitely raise the issue with a Doc... Like I said earlier, I'm sure you're ok but just know that there are some funky things (that's the technical medical term).

The following site doesn't get into the things you can pick up with your hands in your tank but is a nice little resource for some of the things that could happen in your tank... (Check it out in case you want to keep a blue ring octopus or something)...
http://www.emedicine.com/cgi-bin/fox...ENTAL_INJURIES

[asmith]

I would not worry about it too much. Just make sure you keep it clean and keep your eyes on it. While I am sure that it is possible to contract something from a bite like that, the chances are very slim. If you are worried about it, then go see a doctor. Otherwise treat it like any other minor wound.

On a less serious note you could always do a fresh water dip and treat with copper. Supplement your diet with garlic and selcon and try to keep stress to a minimum. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Don't worry about it much.

Andrew

Good words of caution, if you have open cuts and such try not to put hands in the tank or at least wash thouroghly before and after and treat any open wounds with antiseptic. If you do get a wierd rash or nasty festering wound be sure and tell your doctor of exposure to reef water. Sometimes people start off with mild reaction to nemocysts or other caral defenses and get secondary infectios, either water or airborn. Not to mention the possibility of palyotoxin or other chemical defenses from handling mushroom or other corals. Always wash really good after fragging shrooms or caorals and DONT EVER rub eyes, nose or other delicate tissue. But other than that enjoy
PS always investigate the defenses of any organism you plan on keeping and learn to deal with it. In the years I have been keeping salt water fish I have been stung by a dwarf lion(dont) sliced twice by large tangs(ouch) bitten by a few triggers and damsels and had a few rashes from corals. Other than the lion sting most of these werent bad but prompt first aid and prevention are paramount, just little scars.

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I thought I was me, but we were wrong
email: geeflipr@internetcds.com

[This message has been edited by geedoug (edited 11-21-2000).]

[NaH2Ofreak]

asmith, LMFAO!!!!!!!! That was good!

[jerseyscubadiver]

OH MY GOD!!! you better get that looked at.. have`nt your ever heard of clownfish rabies? you don`t want to let that go unchecked. the treatments are long and painful (many shots in the stomach). it might be a good idea to bring the ofending fish with you to the hospital so the docters can do a blood test to make sure it`s clean..

[horge]

That's some clown you have.
Agreed that an antiseptic is a must.
Along with keeping your hand out of the tank while the cut hasn't closed up.

[Sue Truett]

Ann-Marie, wow, thats wild, my maroon clown bites me frequently. Never breaks the skin though. "Fred" doesn't like me to feed his anemone and since he won't do it I have too. Hope it feels better. The only thing I do when Fred bites me as it just scares me is to make a saltwater splash mess on the floor jerking my hand out. In the back of my mind thinking, Help, jaws has gotten me.

[MtnDewMan]

Can I ask what kind of clown this is and the size? Maroon Clown? Clarkii? Some have pretty good teeth when full adults. I have a full adult False Percula and she pecks at my fingers occasionally, but no sharp teeth to hurt or break skin as far as I can tell.