Foxface rabbit fish stung me - ouch

promod69camaro · 11/06/2006, 12:33 PM

My foxface recently got sick, after about 2 healthy years in my tank. I decided to take him out for disposal before he was completely dead, so he would not drift back in the rocks where I could not find him and foul up the tank. I forgot that the spines were venomous. The LFS sales person said its not a big deal, that is like an ordinary bee sting.

That was a flat out lie!!! Be very careful!!! That fish packs a wallop. I picked him up with my bare hands and lifted him out of the aquarium. About half way across the room, he started to thrash around. I was not expecting that because he was just floating around. When the spines are rigid, they are very sharp. They cut my right hand and little finger in four locations.

You would not believe the burn, especially in the little finger. It was so intense that I thought about going to the emergency room. I was afraid that I was allergic to the venom. I was not expecting a sting like that. I used a cold pack first, and with my hand numb, it still burned. Then I tried as hot of water as I could stand. That worked much better than cold did.

Its been over 12 hours and my hand is still burning some. My little finger is swollen to about the size of my thumb. The stings now feel more like bee stings. Twelve hours ago, it felt like I put out cigarettes with my right hand. I have been stung by a small house scorpion, and it didn't hurt any more than this does and a scorpion usually only gets you in one place. From my experience, the Foxface sting is worse than a volitan lion fish sting. The pain is more intense, last much longer, and has more swelling. Although I have never picked up a volitan lion, just bumped one while cleaning.

I like the foxface because of the junk alge they eat, but I am re thinking getting another one. So be careful and don't let the LFS tell you that a Foxface sting is mild. They really pushed this fish to me, because of its alge eating ability. I have been having an alge problem.

I just thought I would post this warning and maybe prevent another person from being careless around this fish and getting stung. I will probably have another one because of their cool nature and cleaning ability. I am just better educated on their sting now and will be much more careful when working with this fish in the tank.

kiknchikn · 11/06/2006, 12:36 PM

Sounds like you need to wear gauntlets when you play in your tank. I hope you aren't considering a shark next... =P

RichConley · 11/06/2006, 12:47 PM

Have you ever picked up a Bluegill? If I was to pick up a foxface (which I'd try to avoid) that would be the method I'd use. Basically slide your hand back from the face, so the spines are kept depressed.

rooroo · 11/06/2006, 12:47 PM

You should go see your doctor ASAP. Because of the bacteria in an aquarium, the stings can get infected very easily. Plus the spines can easily break off in your injury. Best to be safe and visit your doc today or tomorrow and get some antibiotics, and let him flush the wound and inspect it for spines.

And yes, they hurt very bad. Closer to a hornet sting than a bee sting.

promod69camaro · 11/06/2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kiknchikn
Sounds like you need to wear gauntlets when you play in your tank. I hope you aren't considering a shark next... =P

No sharks in my tank. Once I had a trigger fish that would bite. I swear that fish would make a piranna look tame. I thought this guys sting was nothing, so it did not even enter my mind until to late.

I guess I will get another soon because he keeps the bubble alge well under control. Mine was not much of a hair alge eater. Maybe the next one will like hair alge better.

I have not found anything else that will eat hair alge. I have tried sea hairs, which die quickly, and about every hardy snail and crab available. Is there anything I have missed?

STEELERFAN747 · 11/06/2006, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by promod69camaro
No sharks in my tank. Once I had a trigger fish that would bite. I swear that fish would make a piranna look tame. I thought this guys sting was nothing, so it did not even enter my mind until to late.

I guess I will get another soon because he keeps the bubble alge well under control. Mine was not much of a hair alge eater. Maybe the next one will like hair alge better.

I have not found anything else that will eat hair alge. I have tried sea hairs, which die quickly, and about every hardy snail and crab available. Is there anything I have missed?

Yes...... lower your phosphates

kaserpick · 11/06/2006, 04:02 PM

An excess of crabs can do the trick. If they're hungry enough they will eat the algae, but if you don't have a ton of them, they fill up really fast since they usually end up eating the excess food for the fish. It's all about the numbers.

Kasey

Sk8r · 11/06/2006, 04:08 PM

I have seen the aftermath of a rabbit sting, and it looks a lot like a fiddleback spider bite, which I have had. Blackening of the wound [tissue necrosis] as the blood supply gets shut down by the toxin, difficulty of wound healing, etc.

I don't want to be alarmist, but you might consult a doctor and talk with him at least. It may be too late for a Medrol pack, but if you get a lot of swelling and start to get tissue loss, it's hard to get the wound to heal. If it's already healing, great; if it's being slow about it, or if you're seeing a black area in the wound, you may need some medical attention. Perhaps the individual I saw was particularly susceptible, but I at least thought I should pass on a warning.

Lpabsolute · 11/06/2006, 04:15 PM

ouch...

Bebo77 · 11/06/2006, 04:21 PM

lol.. buy one of these...

geckofrog · 11/06/2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bebo77
lol.. buy one of these...

lol

promod69camaro · 11/06/2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
I have seen the aftermath of a rabbit sting, and it looks a lot like a fiddleback spider bite, which I have had. Blackening of the wound [tissue necrosis] as the blood supply gets shut down by the toxin, difficulty of wound healing, etc.

The sting is much better now. The swelling is gone and I have four little spots. You would not believe how small the little spots are for the sting that they produced.

Thanks for the information everyone. Be careful with your hands in the tank.

Malifluous · 11/06/2006, 09:56 PM

I would take an anti inflammatory. Hope u feel better

Chaotic Reefer4u · 11/06/2006, 10:03 PM

'yike's'

techigirl78 · 11/06/2006, 10:36 PM

Good to hear you are feeling better.

Umm, lets see the rabbitfish got you, the lionfish got you, the scorpion got you. Do you think with your history you should continue to get venomous creatures?

BTW - Court jester gobies eat hair algae (and they aren't venomous

)

nottheone · 11/06/2006, 11:08 PM

Why not get an algae blenny,, mine eats algae of rocks, glass etc.

musty baby · 11/06/2006, 11:33 PM

algae blennies don't do much for hair algae.

I've been stung ~10 times by a volitan lion, and it doesn't tend to upset me ( a quick muttering of expletives and then back to whatever I was doing in the tank).

However, my brother didn't know they actually stung, and being the goofy guy he is he 'petted' it as I walked by with it in a plastic container. I was moving out, and he was being silly by saying goodbye. A 3/8" portion of his finger died. He doesn't have feeling there anymore.

The stings affect everyone differently. Glad to see your reaction wasn't too bad.

Ursus · 11/07/2006, 12:33 AM

I would suggest good, thick rubber gloves when picking up things that are poisonous.

11/06/2006, 12:33 PM	#1
promod69camaro Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Murphy Texas Posts: 164	Foxface rabbit fish stung me - ouch My foxface recently got sick, after about 2 healthy years in my tank. I decided to take him out for disposal before he was completely dead, so he would not drift back in the rocks where I could not find him and foul up the tank. I forgot that the spines were venomous. The LFS sales person said its not a big deal, that is like an ordinary bee sting. That was a flat out lie!!! Be very careful!!! That fish packs a wallop. I picked him up with my bare hands and lifted him out of the aquarium. About half way across the room, he started to thrash around. I was not expecting that because he was just floating around. When the spines are rigid, they are very sharp. They cut my right hand and little finger in four locations. You would not believe the burn, especially in the little finger. It was so intense that I thought about going to the emergency room. I was afraid that I was allergic to the venom. I was not expecting a sting like that. I used a cold pack first, and with my hand numb, it still burned. Then I tried as hot of water as I could stand. That worked much better than cold did. Its been over 12 hours and my hand is still burning some. My little finger is swollen to about the size of my thumb. The stings now feel more like bee stings. Twelve hours ago, it felt like I put out cigarettes with my right hand. I have been stung by a small house scorpion, and it didn't hurt any more than this does and a scorpion usually only gets you in one place. From my experience, the Foxface sting is worse than a volitan lion fish sting. The pain is more intense, last much longer, and has more swelling. Although I have never picked up a volitan lion, just bumped one while cleaning. I like the foxface because of the junk alge they eat, but I am re thinking getting another one. So be careful and don't let the LFS tell you that a Foxface sting is mild. They really pushed this fish to me, because of its alge eating ability. I have been having an alge problem. I just thought I would post this warning and maybe prevent another person from being careless around this fish and getting stung. I will probably have another one because of their cool nature and cleaning ability. I am just better educated on their sting now and will be much more careful when working with this fish in the tank.

11/06/2006, 12:36 PM	#2
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	Sounds like you need to wear gauntlets when you play in your tank. I hope you aren't considering a shark next... =P __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

11/06/2006, 12:47 PM	#3
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Have you ever picked up a Bluegill? If I was to pick up a foxface (which I'd try to avoid) that would be the method I'd use. Basically slide your hand back from the face, so the spines are kept depressed. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

11/06/2006, 04:02 PM	#7
kaserpick Keeping it Simple Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 2,637	An excess of crabs can do the trick. If they're hungry enough they will eat the algae, but if you don't have a ton of them, they fill up really fast since they usually end up eating the excess food for the fish. It's all about the numbers. Kasey __________________ Kasey Current Tank Info: None

11/06/2006, 04:08 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I have seen the aftermath of a rabbit sting, and it looks a lot like a fiddleback spider bite, which I have had. Blackening of the wound [tissue necrosis] as the blood supply gets shut down by the toxin, difficulty of wound healing, etc. I don't want to be alarmist, but you might consult a doctor and talk with him at least. It may be too late for a Medrol pack, but if you get a lot of swelling and start to get tissue loss, it's hard to get the wound to heal. If it's already healing, great; if it's being slow about it, or if you're seeing a black area in the wound, you may need some medical attention. Perhaps the individual I saw was particularly susceptible, but I at least thought I should pass on a warning. __________________ 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%.

11/06/2006, 12:47 PM	#4
rooroo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Market, MD Posts: 406	You should go see your doctor ASAP. Because of the bacteria in an aquarium, the stings can get infected very easily. Plus the spines can easily break off in your injury. Best to be safe and visit your doc today or tomorrow and get some antibiotics, and let him flush the wound and inspect it for spines. And yes, they hurt very bad. Closer to a hornet sting than a bee sting.

11/06/2006, 04:15 PM	#9
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	ouch... __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube

11/06/2006, 04:21 PM	#10
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	lol.. buy one of these... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

11/06/2006, 09:56 PM	#13
Malifluous Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 417	I would take an anti inflammatory. Hope u feel better

11/06/2006, 10:03 PM	#14
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	'yike's' __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

11/06/2006, 10:36 PM	#15
techigirl78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,739	Good to hear you are feeling better. Umm, lets see the rabbitfish got you, the lionfish got you, the scorpion got you. Do you think with your history you should continue to get venomous creatures? BTW - Court jester gobies eat hair algae (and they aren't venomous )

11/06/2006, 11:08 PM	#16
nottheone Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MD Posts: 171	Why not get an algae blenny,, mine eats algae of rocks, glass etc. __________________ "It takes a village to raise an idiot." Current Tank Info: 180G

11/06/2006, 11:33 PM	#17
musty baby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: over yonder Posts: 1,751	algae blennies don't do much for hair algae. I've been stung ~10 times by a volitan lion, and it doesn't tend to upset me ( a quick muttering of expletives and then back to whatever I was doing in the tank). However, my brother didn't know they actually stung, and being the goofy guy he is he 'petted' it as I walked by with it in a plastic container. I was moving out, and he was being silly by saying goodbye. A 3/8" portion of his finger died. He doesn't have feeling there anymore. The stings affect everyone differently. Glad to see your reaction wasn't too bad.

11/07/2006, 12:33 AM	#18
Ursus Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 480	I would suggest good, thick rubber gloves when picking up things that are poisonous.