Touched a bristle worm

4MB · 05/20/2006, 06:43 AM

Yesterday I bought a nice little colt coral for my tank. As I was placing it in to the tank I felt a burning sensation on my finger. I placed the coral in its spot and removed my hand to find I put my finger on a bristle worm or its home and it wasn't happy. My finger is fine but wasn't sure if it ever happens again with a bigger one that I might need to take medical action.

I was even nice and moved the bristle worm to my 10 gal as I haven't seen any in that one yet but have 3 or 4 in my 30.

EricBrian · 05/20/2006, 06:49 AM

I always wear gloves when I put my hands in the tank. That way I protect myself and the tank inhabitants from me.

AdidaKev · 05/20/2006, 07:14 AM

I've gotten hit by bristleworms many times. I handle live rock a lot at work, and they're always hiding in there. I usually either pluck the bristles out individually or use either tape or glue on the area to pull them out. You shouldn't have any major medical problems to worry about unless you're allergic or something (if that's possible?). But yes, wearing gloves helps a lot.

boomsticks · 05/20/2006, 09:41 AM

Yeah I've gotten stung numerous times, so many that they had to amputate my right arm and remove 30% of my brane....brain.
No but seriously I have been stung alot once so bad that I had a couple blisters for a couple days.

Mike

WaterKeeper · 05/20/2006, 10:00 AM

As far as I know there haven't been any fatalities from bristle worm stings. The so-called "fire worms" will produce a painful sting in some people but it only lasts a few hours; much like a bee sting. I guess there is always the possibility of an allergic reaction so if you must avoid bees then I would do the same with fire worms and other bristle worms. Most are valuable additions to the sand bed as scavengers but a few, like Hermodice carunculata (Bearded Fireworm) are predatory and attack corals and anemones.

Sk8r · 05/20/2006, 11:30 AM

Hot water will ease the pain of a marine sting. Do not risk handling rock without gloves. When I was dealing with my rabbit (poisonous) and lifting rock, I wore leather gloves under over-the-elbow tank gloves. The leather came out dry and my fingers didn't get envenomated.

05/20/2006, 06:43 AM	#1
4MB Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 98	Touched a bristle worm Yesterday I bought a nice little colt coral for my tank. As I was placing it in to the tank I felt a burning sensation on my finger. I placed the coral in its spot and removed my hand to find I put my finger on a bristle worm or its home and it wasn't happy. My finger is fine but wasn't sure if it ever happens again with a bigger one that I might need to take medical action. I was even nice and moved the bristle worm to my 10 gal as I haven't seen any in that one yet but have 3 or 4 in my 30.

05/20/2006, 06:49 AM	#2
EricBrian Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DC Posts: 679	I always wear gloves when I put my hands in the tank. That way I protect myself and the tank inhabitants from me. Last edited by EricBrian; 05/20/2006 at 07:20 AM.

05/20/2006, 07:14 AM	#3
AdidaKev Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NA Posts: 624	I've gotten hit by bristleworms many times. I handle live rock a lot at work, and they're always hiding in there. I usually either pluck the bristles out individually or use either tape or glue on the area to pull them out. You shouldn't have any major medical problems to worry about unless you're allergic or something (if that's possible?). But yes, wearing gloves helps a lot. __________________ ... Current Tank Info: NA

05/20/2006, 09:41 AM	#4
boomsticks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Good ol NH Posts: 547	Yeah I've gotten stung numerous times, so many that they had to amputate my right arm and remove 30% of my brane....brain. No but seriously I have been stung alot once so bad that I had a couple blisters for a couple days. Mike __________________ Don't take life too seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway. Current Tank Info: 55 gal reef, 24 cube

05/20/2006, 10:00 AM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	As far as I know there haven't been any fatalities from bristle worm stings. The so-called "fire worms" will produce a painful sting in some people but it only lasts a few hours; much like a bee sting. I guess there is always the possibility of an allergic reaction so if you must avoid bees then I would do the same with fire worms and other bristle worms. Most are valuable additions to the sand bed as scavengers but a few, like Hermodice carunculata (Bearded Fireworm) are predatory and attack corals and anemones. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

05/20/2006, 11:30 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Hot water will ease the pain of a marine sting. Do not risk handling rock without gloves. When I was dealing with my rabbit (poisonous) and lifting rock, I wore leather gloves under over-the-elbow tank gloves. The leather came out dry and my fingers didn't get envenomated. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.