Aquarium Diseases - Are They Safe?

[Beemeeup]

Since reading an article about diseases in tropical fish tanks - it seems that there are possibilities of catching a disease from placing your hands in the water.

How do fish forum members handle their aquariums when changing water for example?
Wear gloves at all times? Disinfect buckets, pumps, etc after water changes?

Is there a chemical other than bleach that should be used to disinfect the buckets and cleaning tools?

Are there any articles pinned or on other sites that are useful reading on this subject?

 

[The-Wolf]

there is only one disease that can be passed onto us and that is Piscine TB
even then it is only a mild bacterial infection for us and easily cleared up with antibiotics.

 

[blu187]

what are the symtoms of this type of TB

 

[Tolak]

It is a form of skin affliction. You have to have a few things, fish tb, open cuts, and unless you are working in a large hatchery and are constantly exposed to it, a comprimised immune system.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Tbh you are at much greater risk of catching something nasty from mammal pets- not to mention children!- yet most of us don't put gloves on when we stroke the dog. The one time I might consider wearing gloves in the tank would be if I had an open wound on my hands. Though then on second thoughts- I'd just get my husband to do the water changes!

 

[raptorrex]

Tbh you are at much greater risk of catching something nasty from mammal pets- not to mention children!- yet most of us don't put gloves on when we stroke the dog. The one time I might consider wearing gloves in the tank would be if I had an open wound on my hands. Though then on second thoughts- I'd just get my husband to do the water changes!

very true indeed, the things you can catch from cat crap, are terrifying. simply wash my hand before and after i put my hand in the tank. put it this way. i have a six year old special needs kid (CDLS) she plays most of the day by the tank, often slobbering and rubbing up the tank. i however will not let here near the cats, and its not the fear they will scratch her, its what they can carry its just too dangerous to consider letting them play.

 

[Beemeeup]

Thanks everyone for advice. Very helpful.

regards

ARJ

 

[CFC]

If fish or fishwater were dangerous i'd be long dead by now from the ammount of it i've swallowed starting syphons over the years.

Dead fish from the supermarket however can be quite deadly!!

 

[morgan]

I have an impaired immune system due to having diabetes and I put my hands and arms in the tank. Just wash them after and you should be fine. If I had a large cut or scratch I wouldn't put that hand in. As to cleaning the nets etc I just rinse them with hot water.

 

[Bignose]

It's not impossible for you to grow a few other dangerous things in your tank. Toxic Algae is possible ( see http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...oxic_Algae.html ) but, exceptionally, exceptionally unlikely. Some other nasty bacteria could potentially grow, too, like Streptococcus. But, really, these aren't even one in a million. You have a better chance of getting hit by a bus. Or getting hit my lightning.

 

[ronanphilip]

came across this today and remembered this topic.

Here is where i found it, about 5 questions down click here

Q: Are there any diseases that humans can catch from their pet fish or fish can catch from humans? If so, how common are they?
Mary Barron, Albuquerque, New Mexico

A: Dear Mary,

I don't know of any diseases that pet fish can catch from their owners but there are some diseases that people can catch from pet fish. We call these diseases, those that can go from animals to humans, zoonotic diseases or zoonoses.

The first and probably most common is mycobacteriosis. This condition is sometimes called "aquarium finger." Although related to the organism that causes tuberculosis in humans, the species of Mycobacterium that fish can carry does not cause tuberculosis in humans. Sometimes fish mycobacteriosis is incorrectly referred to as "fish TB." Humans are most susceptible to this disease when they have open cuts or sores on their hands when they handle or touch fish. It's also possible to contract this disease by coming in contact with contaminated water. Finally, people who are immuno-compromised (have weak immune systems) are more likely to contract "aquarium finger" than young, healthy people.

The disease can be treated but it can take several months to cure. Generally, the lesions are restricted to the hands and extremities. This is because the fish bacteria grows best at fish temperatures (temperature of the aquarium or pond) and not human body temperature (98.6 F). Since our hands and fingers are cooler than our core body temperature, the bacteria can survive and multiply in the extremities. Here are some tips to prevent this problem (which I have never observed by the way):

Always wash your hands well after touching fish or aquarium water.

Wear latex gloves when handling fish (you may have noticed we were always wearing gloves when working with the fish in the NOVA segment).

Don't handle fish or aquarium water if you have an open cut or sore.

Aquarium water has been linked to other bacterial disease (e.g., shigellosis) of humans but this is pretty rare. Overall, fish are very safe pets for people and the incidence of zoonotic disease is low.

 

[fry_lover]

yes, it is safe

 

[grimmy]

ya ya i know salt but in this case it might work as well with lifeguard from jungle labs

 

[afishdude]

how is salt going to help again?

 

[grimmy]

it helps lower stress help gill function promotes disease recovery but do put to much in ithttp/www.aquariumfish.net/information/aquarium_salt.htm