Envenomated by my Foxface

[allenjj]

As someone who knows all the precautions, this morning when I went to feed the fish, i got some brine shrimp on the outside of my container and hand. Without thinking I put my hand in the tank to rinse off the brine shrimp and my foxface thinking I was ready to feed him cruised by spearing a finger. I can honestly say it burns and stings worse then a bee sting. I quickly washed the area with peroxide and then dipped the finger in vinegar. After a quick read, I soaked the finger in hot water for 30 minutes which got rid of the pain. I am always careful when working in the tank around him, but thought my quick dip to rinse the shrimp off fingers was safe (NOT!!!). Curious there is not much written from a medical standpoint on fish or coral poisoning. Most of what I was able to find was from fellow reefers. Seems the venom is thermolabile and breaks down under heat. Hope this helps anyone else foolish enough to not be paying attention with their foxface.

 

[albano]

Poison Control told me the same thing over 20 years ago, when I was stung by a lion fish... They said use the hottest water possible..and I did, and I'm still here!

 

[KathyC]

Happy to hear that you are ok...but I do have a suggestion for anyone that keeps venomous fish - know what to do BEFORE you mistakenly get stung by your fish!

 

[allenjj]

Reading up

I totally agree with you Kathy. It has been about 8 years since I had acquired him and initially read up on everything I could find. But a quick check of current facts to be certain updated information doesn't show a better way is never a bad idea. My initital reading said the stings were like that of a wasp which I can now attest are more intense burning and stinging until you break down the venom. I suspect the liquid benadryl also helped. I have learned from experience, it never hurts to have a supply of it in the house. Now I am wondering if the gloves that I always wear for working in the tank would actually protect me if he was to get close and flex his fins. Hoping that they would since they work pretty well with the corals, but also hoping I never have to find out.

 

[OOtzie]

the toxin from zoa/paly's range in potency from species to species, I've cut too may different frags for my closer reefing buddies and the only time I ever got paly toxin is from cutting the cheaper types ... gets in thru the fingers burns like F*** for an hour then subsides SLOWLY

 

[skene]

When working in a tank with foxface I always make sure that they are always kept at an opposing end so that they do not get curious.

 

[hclaveria]

When I first got into this hobby, the fun thing to do was feed my triggers and Lionfish gold fish. Well, after I had fed them, my friend came over to feed my fish. I wasn't home so unaware that they had already eaten, my friend proceeded to agitate the Lionfish to try to make him eat. Well, the resulting Lionfish attack turned my friends hand into a something resembling a boxing glove. Rushing him to the hospital, the treatment I think was more severe than the actual sting...soaking his hand in very hot saline solution.

The best part was explaining to the nurses that it wasn't a fishing accident, that he intentionally put his hand into the tank.

 

[allenjj]

Fishing

That reminds me of my one friend who keeps saying he wants to bring his fishing pole down to fish in my new tank. I keep saying you need a special salt water license since this is a protected reef. Maybe I should tell him you can only fish by using your hands