Poisonous fish or invertebrates

Young Frankenstein · 05/20/2007, 06:24 AM

Please list any poisonous fish or invertebrates we might have in our fishtanks, and the effect of their poison. the reason for this thread is many including myself may not know if some of these critters can send us to the hospital.

Young Frankenstein · 05/20/2007, 06:25 AM

Any info on boxfish and porcupine fish will be appreciated.

Reefmack · 05/20/2007, 07:27 AM

I 'd guess you already know about the possible potential for some zoas to release palytoxin. Other than the lionfish, I believe that the foxface lo has some venon in it's dorsal fin spines, but I'm not sure if it wouls send you to the hospital. I'm sure there are many more with toxic potential. I think the blue ring octopus has deadly capabilities?

pagojoe · 05/20/2007, 07:39 AM

Puffers and boxfish are fine, if you don't plan on eating them. Most ocean fish can bite, so you don't want to put your finger in their mouths either (I knew a dentist who had a digit bitten off his finger by a large puffer...). Other than that, there are some truly venomous animals. All fish-eating cone snails are potentially very dangerous, and some of the molluscivorous ones may be. Rabbitfish, Lion Fish, Scorpion Fish, and of course Stonefish can make you sick if they fin you. Toxopneustes sea urchins can potentially kill you if they "bite" you. Blue ring octopus are widely known to be deadly, as mentioned above. Also, as mentioned in several recent threads, people have been sickened by chemicals released into the water, and consequently the air, from species of nudibranchs in the genus Phyllidia (they may also cause a catastrophic die-off in your tank). At the risk of stating the obvious, moray eels bite, even if you DON'T stick your fingers in their mouths. There are plenty other less dangerous things that may sting, bite, or poke you, but the ones I've listed above are the only ones I can think of that are likely to send you to the hospital. I'm sure other readers may be able to add more to the list.

Cheers,

Don

Frick-n-Frags · 05/20/2007, 09:29 AM

except with the possibility of the box jellies, none of the following would likely put you in the hospital, but very irritating

fire anemone-branched tentacled anemone, hurts like a jellyfish sting. saw one in an LFS before, the owner got hit by it.
fire coral (millepora) (sometimes)
sea apples can release toxin if sufficiently stressed(kills tank not you)
hydroids - some have a good sting
fireworms
possibly box jellies (not sure how that thread played out)

mantis shrimp can injure you pretty severely, but non-toxic

05/20/2007, 06:24 AM	#1
Young Frankenstein Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami Florida. Posts: 3,842	Poisonous fish or invertebrates Please list any poisonous fish or invertebrates we might have in our fishtanks, and the effect of their poison. the reason for this thread is many including myself may not know if some of these critters can send us to the hospital.

05/20/2007, 09:29 AM	#5
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	except with the possibility of the box jellies, none of the following would likely put you in the hospital, but very irritating fire anemone-branched tentacled anemone, hurts like a jellyfish sting. saw one in an LFS before, the owner got hit by it. fire coral (millepora) (sometimes) sea apples can release toxin if sufficiently stressed(kills tank not you) hydroids - some have a good sting fireworms possibly box jellies (not sure how that thread played out) mantis shrimp can injure you pretty severely, but non-toxic __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

05/20/2007, 06:25 AM	#2
Young Frankenstein Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami Florida. Posts: 3,842	Any info on boxfish and porcupine fish will be appreciated.

05/20/2007, 07:27 AM	#3
Reefmack Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC, USA Posts: 3,412	I 'd guess you already know about the possible potential for some zoas to release palytoxin. Other than the lionfish, I believe that the foxface lo has some venon in it's dorsal fin spines, but I'm not sure if it wouls send you to the hospital. I'm sure there are many more with toxic potential. I think the blue ring octopus has deadly capabilities?

05/20/2007, 07:39 AM	#4
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Puffers and boxfish are fine, if you don't plan on eating them. Most ocean fish can bite, so you don't want to put your finger in their mouths either (I knew a dentist who had a digit bitten off his finger by a large puffer...). Other than that, there are some truly venomous animals. All fish-eating cone snails are potentially very dangerous, and some of the molluscivorous ones may be. Rabbitfish, Lion Fish, Scorpion Fish, and of course Stonefish can make you sick if they fin you. Toxopneustes sea urchins can potentially kill you if they "bite" you. Blue ring octopus are widely known to be deadly, as mentioned above. Also, as mentioned in several recent threads, people have been sickened by chemicals released into the water, and consequently the air, from species of nudibranchs in the genus Phyllidia (they may also cause a catastrophic die-off in your tank). At the risk of stating the obvious, moray eels bite, even if you DON'T stick your fingers in their mouths. There are plenty other less dangerous things that may sting, bite, or poke you, but the ones I've listed above are the only ones I can think of that are likely to send you to the hospital. I'm sure other readers may be able to add more to the list. Cheers, Don