Poisonous sting of the blue tang, experiences and remedies for pain??

[pygoplites77]

I was handling my blue tang to transfer it to another aquarium, but unfortunately it stung me with the backbone .. The hand swelled and now the pain reaches the arm and fingers..Someone had a similar experience ? How did it solve? it's dangerous?
I read that this fish has poison glands connected to the caudal spine ..

 

[Flippers4pups]

Bump.

 

[Lasse]

Put the part of your hand that that the stung hit below your tap water fixture. Adjust the temperature as high as you can stand (over 45 degree C if possible). Let it be there for 20 to 30 minutes. all venomous fish I know of have toxins of proteins. The pain is from your nerves. The poison is still there you was stinged. The heat will destroy it.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lasse]

i have been out for it with other venomous fish. After the pain has gone - it is wise to visit a hospital but maybe it very difficult to do that in Italy today. With me - i waited 4 hours before treatment at the hospital with this method. The pain will go away quickly but stay a while with the hurted part in the high temperature. If you are well with no hearth or other issues - you will be fine.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[dmh41532]

I’ve never had that reaction to a tang, I’ve been sliced a few times, but by a yellow and flames tail tang. Try soaking it sting site in warm fresh water. If it gets worse you may want to seek medical attention.

 

[r20crazy]

if u go to ER they will give u antibiotics shot and some pain med. swelling will reduce in 7hrs to 4 days, similar to a bee sting... if ur allergic to bees I'd go see doc... just be careful with the health crisis going on... dont want that next...

epsom salt bath will help draw out poisions/infections and reduce swelling.

 

[Lasse]

Must ask - how long time between the fish stung you and the reaction - if is a couple of hours - toxin - hot water will help. If it a day or two - bacteria and hot water will not help - hospital as soon as possible. I ask because never heard about toxins and tangs. In my cases - lion fish, indian catfish (one of the most venomous freshwater fishes) and "fjärsing" (a local venomous salt water species in swedish water)

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Waters]

Wait.....I am confused........Blue Tangs are venomous??

 

[pygoplites77]

Yes, blue tangs are poisonous - I did a search and I found out .. Among other things, I'm not the first one that happened..I am attaching the links at the bottom..Lasse, it stung me 2 hours ago , I called the doctor and he told me to do cortisone bites but I would like to avoid if the pain decreases ... It will serve as experience, I never expected

Facts About Regal Blue Tangs

The fish featured in 'Finding Dory' has many names. Many of its habits are nothing like those depicted in the animated blockbuster.

www.livescience.com

Stung By Paracanthurus Hepatus

i leant something new today. I was transferring a regal tang / hippo tang to another tank and he wedged himself into an ornament. I tried to gently nudge him out and bang! I tried to nudge him under the mouth (less pointy bits) and he slipped and my finger caught his anal fin spine. It hurt like...

thereefuge.com

 

[Waters]

Yes, blue tangs are poisonous - I did a search and I found out .. Among other things, I'm not the first one that happened..I am attaching the links at the bottom..Lasse, it stung me 2 hours ago , I called the doctor and he told me to do cortisone bites but I would like to avoid if the pain decreases ... It will serve as experience, I never expected

Facts About Regal Blue Tangs

The fish featured in 'Finding Dory' has many names. Many of its habits are nothing like those depicted in the animated blockbuster.

www.livescience.com

Stung By Paracanthurus Hepatus

i leant something new today. I was transferring a regal tang / hippo tang to another tank and he wedged himself into an ornament. I tried to gently nudge him out and bang! I tried to nudge him under the mouth (less pointy bits) and he slipped and my finger caught his anal fin spine. It hurt like...

thereefuge.com

Hmmmm......crazy. As long as I have kept reef fish, this is the first I have ever heard of Tangs containing venom glands. Learn something new everyday.

 

[Lasse]

Did you do the heat method - i promise - it works even if it sounds idiotical - a reaction in 2 hours - poison - i´m sure

Sincerely Lasse

 

[pygoplites77]

Did you do the heat method - i promise - it works even if it sounds idiotical - a reaction in 2 hours - poison - i´m sure

Sincerely Lasse

Thanks lasse, I did it and it's working .. I was scared at the beginning and then I decided to write here on reef2reef .. I had already purchased the cortisone but I did well to wait before making the bites .. Thanks to all

 

[dmh41532]

Hmmmm......crazy. As long as I have kept reef fish, this is the first I have ever heard of Tangs containing venom glands. Learn something new everyday.

From what I found, they aren’t venomous, but their skin is toxic? I learned something new today.

 

[zoomonster]

Wow knew tangs could slice and dice (hence surgeon tangs) but never heard the poison part and I have had several hippos over the years. Learned something new...

 

[mfinn]

New one to me after keeping these guys for a few decades.

But as Lasse pointed out, hot water, just as hot as you can stand it takes care of most saltwater fish venom stings.

 

[pygoplites77]

From what I found, they aren’t venomous, but their skin is toxic? I learned something new today.

true, but this is not the case ..
"As its “surgeonfish” name indicates, blue tangs are handy with scalpels. The fish have caudal spines—very sharp spines that can be extended from either side of their caudal peduncle (the area where the tail joins the body). The caudal spine contains toxins that can cause a debilitating pain to small predators and uncomfortable irritation and pain in humans. "

Finding Out about Dory: 5½ Facts on the Blue Tang

SCIENCE While you’re sitting around waiting for the movie start, here are 5½ facts you can drop about Dory’s species, the blue tang. (Mental Floss) How do scientists study blue tangs? With coral re…

blog.education.nationalgeographic.org

you can find different information about it on the web, using as a search key "paracanthurus hepatus poisonous"

 

[mort]

Keep a close eye on the area it stung you as you can pick up some nasty things from saltwater tanks and they can be far worse than the sting. I was stung by a carpet anemone and I ended up with septicaemia that tracked all up my arm and around my heart. I needed the strongest antibiotics they could give me without admitting me to hospital. I had to laugh when the nurse looked up carpet anemones on her computer and all it said was simply "not always fatal".

 

[Lasse]

Thanks lasse, I did it and it's working .. I was scared at the beginning and then I decided to write here on reef2reef .. I had already purchased the cortisone but I did well to wait before making the bites .. Thanks to all

How it is today - are you well? Take @mort ´s advice seriously - there could be secondary infections

By the way - I have visit your hometown 3 times and I hope it will be more in the future. I just love that town. The market near Termini, Trastevere and the large park above the spanish steps. I hope that 404 - name not found still will exist when I can visit Rome again. And of cause - aperol spritz even if it is from Venice But I leave the trippa for you

Sincerely Lasse

 

[pygoplites77]

How it is today - are you well? Take @mort ´s advice seriously - there could be secondary infections

By the way - I have visit your hometown 3 times and I hope it will be more in the future. I just love that town. The market near Termini, Trastevere and the large park above the spanish steps. I hope that 404 - name not found still will exist when I can visit Rome again. And of cause - aperol spritz even if it is from Venice But I leave the trippa for you

Sincerely Lasse

Today I am very well thank you ... thank goodness I did not take cortisone..I am pleased you like Rome, apart from the traffic it is wonderful..Venice is unique in the world, I have lived nearby for 5 years and I know it very well ... many aperol spriz .. too many

 

[pygoplites77]

Keep a close eye on the area it stung you as you can pick up some nasty things from saltwater tanks and they can be far worse than the sting. I was stung by a carpet anemone and I ended up with septicaemia that tracked all up my arm and around my heart. I needed the strongest antibiotics they could give me without admitting me to hospital. I had to laugh when the nurse looked up carpet anemones on her computer and all it said was simply "not always fatal".

Things from another world! (Italian expression)