Bristleworms..... BE CAREFUL!!!

[chkltcow]

So last night I went reaching in my tank to move a rock around. One of my small frag rocks with some zoanthids had fallen down on the sand. I reached down to pick it up, and got a handful of bristleworm with it when I stuck my fingers into the sand. All I can say is.....

OUCH!!!!!!!!!

Those little bristles break off in your skin, and they feel like splinters..... on fire. They're too small to see with tweezers, so you can't get them out that way. I had them all in my index finger and thumb on my left hand, and it hurt so bad! I eventually ended up taking my pocketknife and just raking my finger across the blade until they all got pulled out/cut off.... and then rinsed my hand under hot water.

So guys, when you're doing tank maintainance, BE CAREFUL. These things hurt like the devil, and they hide everywhere. I'm gonna have to have a talk with my six line wrasse about upping his consumption of those little buggers

 

[OoHeatheroO]

owwieee!!! Sorry to hear about your pain! Hope your hand feels better soon

 

[blout]

same thing happend to me but i only had the one splinter and it looked like glass, i guess i was just lucky that time

 

[steelhealr]

Chkltcow....keep an eye on your finger. I used to scuba a lot and some of those stings can be nasty..caused a nasty infection in my finger almost a week after a dive...I can sympathize. Marine water contains organisms that can give a nasty infection...try picking up some Bacitracin or Neosporin over the counter and put it on for a week. SH