how to stop the sting of a bristle worm??? - Page 2

jakkalofv · 10/17/2007, 01:53 PM

lemon juice is acidic couldn't it dissolve the bristles

shabreeson · 10/17/2007, 01:57 PM

i think that it is the hairy spicules that stay in the skin that are the irritant. I find that using a shaving razor blade where stung cuts the bristles low enough that when I brush my finger up against something i don't feel it... or apparently pee on yourself...I would never discourage that even if you said it didn't work.

russy pelican · 10/17/2007, 02:06 PM

I've always heard pooing on the sting is really effective too!

shabreeson · 10/17/2007, 02:12 PM

go for it!!!

or shave the bristles....but GO FOR IT!

Anemone · 10/17/2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iammatt219
just a FYI if you have meat tenderizer that works awesome on pretty much any sting as it breaks down the proteins in the venom.

Meat tenderizer won't work with bristleworm bristles - there's no "venom," just a foreign-body irritant. It's the same reason hot water doesn't work (hot water works to break down proteins in "sting" situations).

And yes, lemon juice would work as well.

Kevin

killagoby · 10/17/2007, 02:19 PM

Can anyone post a pic of one of these worms. I have thick red worms in my fuge with "fuzzy" hairs on them. ID please...

Chibils · 10/17/2007, 02:22 PM

Bristleworms are a genus of worms called polychaetes (greek for many hairs). Anything that is in your tank and looks like a worm and is hairy is probably a bristle worm.

gusmanda · 10/17/2007, 02:53 PM

would peeing work on a cobra bite?

saltybuckeye · 10/17/2007, 03:37 PM

a monster I see at feeding time.

he hasn't got me- so my hands are free from pee

killagoby · 10/18/2007, 07:01 AM

Yep, that's what I've got in my fuge. I am currently setting up a 70 gallon Tech Tank and I was planning on moving some substrate from the old fuge (with the worms) to the new one. Should I hold off on that so I don't transfer any worms to the new tank?

safrey · 10/18/2007, 08:58 PM

John, you're an idiot!

You've got people talking about peeing on themselves LOL!

Get a rubber yellow forearm glove.

agoutihead · 10/18/2007, 11:01 PM

Pee works skip!

And it's free!

I'm taking it back to the old-school like the indians who lives by the ocean, get with the program!

pledosophy · 10/19/2007, 01:14 AM

Vinegar will work in a few minutes. Unless you really enjoy peeing on yourself, who am I to stand in your way. I have heard that other peoples pee work better, maybe ask a friend.

I've been stung a few times. Vinegar does the trick pretty immediatly, but the wound can take a few days to heal IME.

Joe LoPresti · 10/19/2007, 01:22 AM

Okay, now this turned into a pretty funny thread!!!!!
I liked the idea about soaking your hand in a cup of pee, it kind of reminded me of the old Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid commerical from the 70's!! LOL!!
"Madge, you're softening my hands in urine???"
"Relax, it's Palmolive Urine"

dendro982 · 10/19/2007, 09:01 AM

I had this problem too, duct tape didn't helped, inflammation for a 2-3 days, then the skin peels off.

What helped (although I'm not qualified to give the medical advice):
if needed - anti-allergenic tablet. The main treatment: band-aids with antibiotic ointment, like Polysporine, changed as dried (morning and evening), non-steroid anti-inflammatory something, that suits you, I'm using aspirin.

Next time you work with the tank (and have not a thin fingers) - wear finger cots, this is at least something between you and a bristle worm.

Disclaimer: I accept no liability whatsoever, of any kind, for the possible (or impossible) harm. What worked for me - may not work for you. Consult with health provider before any treatment.

Did I covered my behind in full?

I feel your pain. Will try vinegar next week

marxxx · 10/19/2007, 10:04 AM

I pulled some of them out of my tank and noticed the irritation a fw minutes later. I tried the hot water method ad it seemed to help... my theory is the water was hot enough to do a little burn dameage to the area and I just overlooked the bristleworm sting. Anyway, I did notice the hair thing for a few hours, I just scratched the h*ll out of it to try to get rid of them. I really didn't find it all that uncomfortable.

Hot water also worked for sting relief from my foxface. That one hurt a bit...

shabreeson · 10/19/2007, 11:31 AM

as I said before all you have to do is shave the area irritated. It cuts the bristles down just like hair so when you rub up against something it doesn't itch. then do your acid thing if you want, but I have never needed it.

craftedpacket · 10/20/2007, 02:21 AM

Even at 3am and half asleep this made me laugh. That one picture is a giant bristle...i hope I never see any like that in my tank...Mine are like an inch or two long but very thin.

mystrybird · 10/20/2007, 03:59 AM

Unless you have not "emptied your bladder" for some time, I doubt that would work well. would not be as acidic as vinegar.
But hey, if it's your way?
Who am I to Judge

Duct tape is the Cure for everything!
You all know it is!!

Please don't Pee in my coffee pot OK?

10/17/2007, 01:57 PM	#27
shabreeson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 761	i think that it is the hairy spicules that stay in the skin that are the irritant. I find that using a shaving razor blade where stung cuts the bristles low enough that when I brush my finger up against something i don't feel it... or apparently pee on yourself...I would never discourage that even if you said it didn't work. __________________ Regards, Mike Current Tank Info: 55 gallon mixed reef, 55 sump with a 20 gal refugium, 2 A. Allardi.,2 Bartlett's Anthias

10/17/2007, 02:12 PM	#29
shabreeson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 761	go for it!!! or shave the bristles....but GO FOR IT! __________________ Regards, Mike Current Tank Info: 55 gallon mixed reef, 55 sump with a 20 gal refugium, 2 A. Allardi.,2 Bartlett's Anthias

10/17/2007, 02:19 PM	#31
killagoby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 2,150	Can anyone post a pic of one of these worms. I have thick red worms in my fuge with "fuzzy" hairs on them. ID please... __________________ How much money did you spend on that rock again?

10/17/2007, 02:22 PM	#32
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	Bristleworms are a genus of worms called polychaetes (greek for many hairs). Anything that is in your tank and looks like a worm and is hairy is probably a bristle worm. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

10/18/2007, 07:01 AM	#35
killagoby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 2,150	Yep, that's what I've got in my fuge. I am currently setting up a 70 gallon Tech Tank and I was planning on moving some substrate from the old fuge (with the worms) to the new one. Should I hold off on that so I don't transfer any worms to the new tank? __________________ How much money did you spend on that rock again?

10/17/2007, 01:53 PM	#26
jakkalofv Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: the triangle, NC Posts: 98	lemon juice is acidic couldn't it dissolve the bristles

10/17/2007, 02:06 PM	#28
russy pelican Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 23	I've always heard pooing on the sting is really effective too!

10/17/2007, 02:53 PM	#33
gusmanda Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Guadalajara, (central west Mexico) Posts: 848	would peeing work on a cobra bite?

10/17/2007, 03:37 PM	#34
saltybuckeye Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: brookville ,Oh Posts: 53	a monster I see at feeding time. he hasn't got me- so my hands are free from pee

10/18/2007, 08:58 PM	#36
safrey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati OH, USA Posts: 16	John, you're an idiot! You've got people talking about peeing on themselves LOL! Get a rubber yellow forearm glove.

10/18/2007, 11:01 PM	#37
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	Pee works skip! And it's free! I'm taking it back to the old-school like the indians who lives by the ocean, get with the program! __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

10/19/2007, 01:14 AM	#38
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	Vinegar will work in a few minutes. Unless you really enjoy peeing on yourself, who am I to stand in your way. I have heard that other peoples pee work better, maybe ask a friend. I've been stung a few times. Vinegar does the trick pretty immediatly, but the wound can take a few days to heal IME. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

10/19/2007, 01:22 AM	#39
Joe LoPresti Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: san diego Posts: 240	Okay, now this turned into a pretty funny thread!!!!! I liked the idea about soaking your hand in a cup of pee, it kind of reminded me of the old Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid commerical from the 70's!! LOL!! "Madge, you're softening my hands in urine???" "Relax, it's Palmolive Urine" __________________ Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey- "Better not take a dog on the Space Shuttle, because if he sticks his head out when you're coming home his face might burn up." Current Tank Info: 82 gallon custom-built reef tank, 29 gallon softie cube, 29 gallon anemone cube and a 40 gallon Tanganyikan cichlid tank!!!

10/19/2007, 09:01 AM	#40
dendro982 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,963	I had this problem too, duct tape didn't helped, inflammation for a 2-3 days, then the skin peels off. What helped (although I'm not qualified to give the medical advice): if needed - anti-allergenic tablet. The main treatment: band-aids with antibiotic ointment, like Polysporine, changed as dried (morning and evening), non-steroid anti-inflammatory something, that suits you, I'm using aspirin. Next time you work with the tank (and have not a thin fingers) - wear finger cots, this is at least something between you and a bristle worm. Disclaimer: I accept no liability whatsoever, of any kind, for the possible (or impossible) harm. What worked for me - may not work for you. Consult with health provider before any treatment. Did I covered my behind in full? I feel your pain. Will try vinegar next week

10/19/2007, 10:04 AM	#41
marxxx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 76	I pulled some of them out of my tank and noticed the irritation a fw minutes later. I tried the hot water method ad it seemed to help... my theory is the water was hot enough to do a little burn dameage to the area and I just overlooked the bristleworm sting. Anyway, I did notice the hair thing for a few hours, I just scratched the h*ll out of it to try to get rid of them. I really didn't find it all that uncomfortable. Hot water also worked for sting relief from my foxface. That one hurt a bit...

10/19/2007, 11:31 AM	#42
shabreeson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 761	as I said before all you have to do is shave the area irritated. It cuts the bristles down just like hair so when you rub up against something it doesn't itch. then do your acid thing if you want, but I have never needed it. __________________ Regards, Mike Current Tank Info: 55 gallon mixed reef, 55 sump with a 20 gal refugium, 2 A. Allardi.,2 Bartlett's Anthias

10/20/2007, 02:21 AM	#43
craftedpacket Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Odessa, TX Posts: 239	Even at 3am and half asleep this made me laugh. That one picture is a giant bristle...i hope I never see any like that in my tank...Mine are like an inch or two long but very thin.

10/20/2007, 03:59 AM	#44
mystrybird Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 85	Unless you have not "emptied your bladder" for some time, I doubt that would work well. would not be as acidic as vinegar. But hey, if it's your way? Who am I to Judge Duct tape is the Cure for everything! You all know it is!! Please don't Pee in my coffee pot OK?