Ever Get Bitten by a Forktail Blenny?

steve888 · 05/25/2013, 08:16 PM

Hello:

I was just wondering if anyone has ever been bitten by one of these? It says they're venomous to other fish if they bite them but the bite is more like a bee sting to a human.

I like to stick my hand in my tank to let my cleaner shrimps crawl all over my fingers but the blenny comes awfully close thinking I have food in my hands and I don't want to find out what their bite feels like!

hollister · 05/25/2013, 10:50 PM

Just another reason to wear gloves whene hands in the tank. I m sure you will be fine. I was handling an sps to place it in the tank with bare hands and my hand and arm became numb for the rest of the day. Also better to be cautious.

pktech · 05/26/2013, 09:53 AM

The oils & debris on your hand can be toxic so it's better to not put your hands in, although it's fun to get picked over ... resist the temptation!!, lol ....

steve888 · 05/26/2013, 10:11 AM

Yeh, it is kinda fun to let the skunk cleaner shrimps crawl all over my hand but I have considered that it might not be best for them, considering you might have soap residue or other chemical irritants on your skin that they would be absorbing.

I have gloves I can wear so I guess I'll start doing that to be safe...thanks again!

05/25/2013, 08:16 PM	#1
steve888 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 241	Ever Get Bitten by a Forktail Blenny? Hello: I was just wondering if anyone has ever been bitten by one of these? It says they're venomous to other fish if they bite them but the bite is more like a bee sting to a human. I like to stick my hand in my tank to let my cleaner shrimps crawl all over my fingers but the blenny comes awfully close thinking I have food in my hands and I don't want to find out what their bite feels like! __________________ 30G Long, Aqua-C Remora HOB Skimmer, Cobalt Aquatics MJ1200, Vortech MP-10, Koralia 240 GPH, Talbot's Damsel, Forktail Blenny, 2 Skunk Cleaner Shrimps, 2 Snails, 2 Hermits

05/26/2013, 10:11 AM	#4
steve888 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 241	Cool, Thanks Yeh, it is kinda fun to let the skunk cleaner shrimps crawl all over my hand but I have considered that it might not be best for them, considering you might have soap residue or other chemical irritants on your skin that they would be absorbing. I have gloves I can wear so I guess I'll start doing that to be safe...thanks again! __________________ 30G Long, Aqua-C Remora HOB Skimmer, Cobalt Aquatics MJ1200, Vortech MP-10, Koralia 240 GPH, Talbot's Damsel, Forktail Blenny, 2 Skunk Cleaner Shrimps, 2 Snails, 2 Hermits

05/25/2013, 10:50 PM	#2
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Just another reason to wear gloves whene hands in the tank. I m sure you will be fine. I was handling an sps to place it in the tank with bare hands and my hand and arm became numb for the rest of the day. Also better to be cautious.

05/26/2013, 09:53 AM	#3
pktech Thread Ender Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: new jersey Posts: 915	The oils & debris on your hand can be toxic so it's better to not put your hands in, although it's fun to get picked over ... resist the temptation!!, lol ....