Rayr18 August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 I was transferring my fish into a quarantine tank yesterday evening. While I was doing this I got stung (cut) by my blue tang's barb. When it first happened I just thought it was just a small puncture, but I soon realized that it was much more. So when the punctured happen it was painful, but it wasn't that bad. It was similar to a bee sting.. within about 10-15 min the pain started to get worse. Within a few hours the pain became unbearable. I caved in and went to the ER about 9:30 last night. I watched the swelling move from the puncture wound all the way down in to my hand over three hours after the incident. The doctor at the ER treated the wound as you would other toxins. They applied heat to denature the venom (toxin) and then gave me benadryl for the inflamation and hydrocodone for the pain. The 1st hydrocodone pill really didn't even touch the pain. The second one I took 30 min later took the edge off the pain.The also gave me a prescription for Ciprofloxacin to prevent any infections. They also did an xray to make sure no barb will still inside my thumb. As of now, a day later, the stinging has gone away but there is a burning sensation in my thuimb. Overall, feeling much better than last night. I think it is important to share this experience so if this happens to others they may know how to deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 Wow. I've always wondered if any of our members have been hit by a tang before. I didn't know there were toxins? Thanks for sharing the experience, glad you went and got checked out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 I had no idea the barbs were poisonous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thakki August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 Thanks for sharing your experience. Had no clue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangros August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 That's shocking! In 20 years, I've never heard of such a thing. Glad you're better though. You should post a pic of that guy - it's now infamous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK3 August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 Perhaps it wasn't the barb itself that had toxins, but the barb cut open a wound that allowed other toxins to get in. Just throwing out another possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayr18 August 13, 2015 Author Share August 13, 2015 Thanks for the reponses...I have read many threads in the last 24 h about hippo tangs and venom or toxins...Also read that their skin has toxins. The fish didn't sting me in the water...she jumped out of a bucket when moving to a quarantine tank. I was wearing latex gloves and got stung when I was trying to get her back into the bucket. So there was no other toxins around at that time that could of caused such a strong immune response. The ER doc believed it was definitely caused by toxin as I had reddish streaks running from my thumb into my hand. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emissary August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 Fascinating. I had no idea such a thing was possible. Sorry for the pain you're going through--but thank you so much for sharing! I wonder if the stress of being moed about caused the fish to excrete more *something* than normal that subsequently packed a greater punch at and into the cut site. Just guessing at this point, would love to learn more. Post anything to Bob Fenner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBL August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 I hope you are feelings better. I didn't know the barbs were poisonous. Thanks for sharing, I will be more careful when I have my hands inside the tank Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangros August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 +1 on asking Bob Fenner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 Good to know- I've been tagged by a few tangs and a rabbit fish over the years but never experienced anything like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayr18 August 14, 2015 Author Share August 14, 2015 I am not 100% sure if I was stung by a barb or a fin spine. It happened pretty fast. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sen5241b August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 Its very important to share info and experiences about dangers in this hobby. I didn't even know hippos had poisonous barbs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2nhle August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 wow, thank you for sharing. from now on, I will be very careful around the tang. I feed them by hand every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 Apparently you're not the only one who's experienced this in this way. See this thread on RC from a while back. Your story is a good reminder to share experiences like yours. From Wikipedia regarding Paracanthurus (which includes Hippo Tangs), "Handling the tang risks the chances of being badly cut by the caudal spine. These spines, on both sides of the caudal peduncle, are extended from the body when the fish becomes excited. The quick, thrashing sideways motion of the tail can produce deep wounds that result in swelling and discoloration, posing a risk of infection. It is believed that some species of Acanthurus have venom glands while others do not. The spines are used only as a method of protection against aggressors.[citation needed] Two sharp spines stick out at the caudal peduncle - the area where the tail joins the rest of the body." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob A August 14, 2015 Share August 14, 2015 Thanks for sharing! I just moved several small tangs by hand the other day. Not anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k August 17, 2015 Share August 17, 2015 what about the possibility of Ciguarotoxin? "reefrash"- common from cuts on rocks and pokes by fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayr18 August 17, 2015 Author Share August 17, 2015 (edited) what about the possibility of Ciguarotoxin? "reefrash"- common from cuts on rocks and pokes by fish I doubt it....Symptoms don't really match up...also all stings from this fish are identical in multiple stories I read: Swelling and extreme pain for 6-8 hrs As you can see from this figure from a 2006 paper; Paracanthurus Hepatus, or blue hippo tang, has an anterolateral glandular groove in a venomous dorsal or anal fin. Table 1. Spiny-rayed fishes examined in this study for the presence or absence of a venom apparatus with a conspicuous venom gland. The abbreviation ‘‘ag’’ refers to an anterolateral glandular groove in a venomous dorsal- or anal-fin spine (see Figures 1 and 3) Taxon Venom apparatus condition Museum vouchera Acanthuridae— surgeonfishes: Acanthurus pyroferus ag without conspicuous venom glandb AMNH 51847 Paracanthurus hepatus ag with venom gland AMNH 50752 Prionurus scalprum ag with venom gland AMNH 26891 Zebrasoma flavescens ag without conspicuous venom glandb AMNH 50762 Here is the paper title and authors...if you are interested in getting more info on the topic: Venom Evolution Widespread in Fishes: A Phylogenetic Road Map for the Bioprospecting of Piscine Venoms WILLIAM LEO SMITH AND WARD C. WHEELER Edited August 17, 2015 by Rayr18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2nhle August 17, 2015 Share August 17, 2015 Wow, good to know. Thank you for sharing. I will be extremely careful when handle the tang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Mammoth August 17, 2015 Share August 17, 2015 I'm glad to hear that you are doing OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now