Shrimp problem. . .

[Anonymous]

*peeks out of lurking hole*

Okay, So I am planning my reef and I have discovered a problem. Over christmas eve dinner I discovered I am SEVERELY allergic to shrimp. 8O Now, this being a new allergy I am not sure how to handle it. Does anyone know how how keep cleaner shrimp in the tank (one of the few things fiance "needs") and how cautious to be when feeding shrimp based fish food. Thanks.

_mick

 

[danmhippo]

Keeping cleaner shrimp in the tank?? You meant your cleaner shrimp actually leaves the tank and wonder around?

I don't think you will get shrimp allergy by handling shrimp based fish food, unless you decide to taste test for your fishies first. But, if you are really allergic even by simply touching shrimps, you could always wear those disposable gloves when handling fish food. If you decide to prepare your own food mash, shrimp is not the only choice to feed to your reef tank. You can skip the shrimp and use only clams, mussel, and raw fish.

BTW, welcome to Reefs.Org!

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, maybe I should have worded that better. What I ment was do I need to worry about sticking my hand in the water if there is a shrimp in there? I know they don't leave the tank! :roll:

 

[spsmike]

There are alot of things in the tank that harm us but they dont.I would just wear gloves if you are really worried.I know my past cleaner shrimp have been all over my hands whenever I have tried to do things.

 

[Anonymous]

Please, please !!!! Check with your doctor on this, but some people are not allergic to seafood or shell fish per-se, but the elements that are naturally concentrated in them, like iodine. Make sure you are worried about the right thing. Especially since these allergies may be 'aquired' later in life as one's body accumulates the allergen in question.

I am NOT a doctor.

I do not play one on TV even

I just have had lots of allergies

 

[SnowManSnow]

Im with C. just check with your doctor. That's the safest thing to do.

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed, check with your doc. And try to refrain from eating your tank inhabitants. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Awww. . . . But the Nudibranches (ii?) look soooo TASTY!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Check with your doctor. Sometimes a "shellfish allergy" is a reaction to the iodine in the fish, sometimes its a reaction to the meat itself. Either way it could be a problem.

http://www.wdxcyber.com/ngen22.htm

Allergies are a serious business. Sometimes a skin rash is the main manifestation of an allergy but it can also range from gastrointestinal upset to asthmatic wheezing and even to death (1). People who are allergic to one compound may also have other allergens they are sensitive to. For some reason certain allergies get linked together even though they may be totally unrelated. This is what has happened with iodine and shellfish. There is no actual relationship between iodine allergy and the various seafood allergies. You could have a reaction to both iodine and to ingested crab, but it is much more likely that you are not truly allergic to either.

A true food allergy such as that to shrimp or crab starts within about thirty minutes after ingestion. The reaction is to a muscle protein in the food. Since a true allergic reaction can be life-threatening, intravenous glucocorticoids, antihistamine and sometimes subcutaneous epinephrine is required just like a bee sting kit for people allergic to bees (2). To know for sure about both the iodine and the crab, you should see an allergist and at least be skin tested or use one of the home tests using IgE antibodies to see.

 

[Tackett]

shellfish allergies are usually, if not alwtays, an allergic reaction to iodine. If you ever have a radioactive test, you WILL be asked if you have an allergy to shellfish or strawberries. I highly doubt that you will have any anaphalactic reaction to the tank, due to the fact that many people who have shellfish allergies reguraly visit the beach with ill effect. HOWEVER having said that, anything is possible, but I think your doc will just look at you weird if you ask that question. But better safe than sorry. And I apologize for the strange speelling in this post, I am on number 12.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got nothing to add, except welcome to RDO and this wonderful hobby!!!

 

[Anonymous]

I have an idoine allergy, not fun, but I still eat shrimp! Makes me itch like crazy and sometimes, if I get a large enough dose, my eyes and ears puff up really big.

 

[Oceans Ferevh]

For crying out loud if you do find out that shrimp are a real problem to keep because of allergies then DON'T keep one!! no matter what your fiance says! It's not worth risking your health

 

[danmhippo]

Does touching/handling shrimp have anything to do with ingesting shrimp? Iodine allergy is for food consumption isn't? Otherwise, those with iodine allergy, what's going to happen when they use betadines such as the ones commonly in use during first-aid?

16bitmick, Why don't you try first by sticking your hand in your LFS's tank, and see if you will get the allergy? There are iodine in fresh sea water too.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know how this new allergy works, that is why I was asking if anyone had any experience with it.

 

[danmhippo]

I will get my 2 sons as guinny pigs to do the test for ya. They both got a quite severe case of shellfish allergy. Although they both loved shellfish, but they know their limit of how much they can handle per meal.

But, I still think you should try it out yourself too, as your allergy severity may be worse.

 

[Anonymous]

I tried a bite about a half an inch long and an eighth an inch wide a few days later to determine if it was infact shrimp that had given me a reaction that night. With that little bit, my lips burned a little and my tongue itched 8O . I dunno how bad that is.

 

[danmhippo]

Ugh...... Hmmm, that's bad.

Consider wearing the glove when handling your tank from now on. I got the feeling you will be allergic when handling corals too.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a dr appt this month and I will know everything afterwards. . . My fore arms are gonna look like a 15 year old's forehead *sigh*

 

[Anonymous]

Have you been swimming in the Ocean? If you have and have not had a reaction you should be OK.