Do You Go 'bare-Hand' Into Your Aquarium?

[ian]

I think getting paranoid about the super rare chances of things like this is exactly why we over use antibacterial soaps and disinfectants, making these bugs into superbugs and simultaneously weakening our own immune systems (and increasing the frequency of asthma and allergies).

^^^I totally agree with this statement. A lot also has to be said for central heating! but that's another story.


BTW most latex and non latex hand gloves are porous.

 

[MBOU]

Its a valid question really!

I think, the people most likely to come into contact will be people working in the trade. I had a very serious scare last year and had my doctor panicking and it turned out to be something COMPLETELY different, still rare and my doctor found it interesting after the panic (hey well... at least someone benefitted!).

But i was terrified!

I think the chances are soooo slim, i dont know, its not just scratches is it!? If, like me, people have tatty nails and often have cuts n scrapes on their hands... is the bacteria spread in the water or when you touch something? if so... would have to be long armed gloves...

And i dunno how to phrase this... i worked on a farm.... but those long armed gloves are used by vets and farmers when they are up to their shoulders in...umm.... animal i would know lol, been there done that.

So really... do short gloves help much other than for allergies?

And what on earth do i do? I should use it as an excuse to refuse to algae scrub lol i hate doing it!

 

[coldcazzie]

Bare handed, just like touching natural bodies of water.

I think getting paranoid about the super rare chances of things like this is exactly why we over use antibacterial soaps and disinfectants, making these bugs into superbugs and simultaneously weakening our own immune systems (and increasing the frequency of asthma and allergies).

+1.

I think the chances are soooo slim, i dont know, its not just scratches is it!? If, like me, people have tatty nails and often have cuts n scrapes on their hands... is the bacteria spread in the water or when you touch something? if so... would have to be long armed gloves...

I have often wondered about this - especially this week. Last week I chopped the end of my thumb off while prepping the meat for my cats, and then this week I've had hands in the tank... mostly I think, in all likelihood, the chances of my actually catching something nasty from the tank are miniscule.

 

[fishguy2727]

Not to mention that washing your hands a lot and using antibacterial soap removes the beneficial bacteria naturally on your skin, which outcompete harmful bacteria. Remove these and you are setting yourself up for infection.

The only time I would consider it is the more realistic risk of palytoxin with palyanthid and zoanthid corals. This is still rare, but a more real risk IMO. If you are handling paly- and zoanthids (especially if fragging) then it is reasonable to use protection.

 

[dafrnhm]

Check out my post from a few weeks ago. I wear gloves now....

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/362293-is-it-a-fish-bite/

 

[MBOU]

I wash my hands a lot, have an OCD, everytime im near water i wash my hands and as soon as my hands dry i dip them in water again but if its not water, its that gel bacteria hand antiseptic stuff.

My poor hands get nuked!

And then there is my allergies to fish LOL if i get stabbed by a cory or syno, my heart goes haywire and im hurling my guts up everywhere, and its getting worse each time.

 

[Harlequins]

I wash my bare hand/arm before & after,although if i have a cut on my hand i do tend to tie a bag on my hand/arm if i need to dip in the tank just be on the safe side...

 

[Proxo]

You're all scaring me now, i dont bother with gloves either and i do have a few cuts on my hands 95% of the time.

Check out my post from a few weeks ago. I wear gloves now....

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/362293-is-it-a-fish-bite/

This link didnt help either lmao!!

BUT by tomorrow, i'll prob have forgotten all about this and just continue as i always did.

 

[Mikaila31]

Yep I usually have injuries on my arms. I don't wash my hands before or after normally. Most my fish bite me too. My rainbows get a little frenzied. Panda garras clean up and down my whole arm. My 2' eels have bit me a few times as well. I usually ignore them or shake them off then keep working lol.

 

[Baccus]

There are many zoonosis that can be contracted from any animal that we commonly keep or come into contact with. If I worried everytime about possible infections from animals or the environment in general I would be a nervous wreck and unable to have any pets (have a bit of a zoo at home ) or carry out my profession as a gardener. I do wash my hands after handling my various pets, but don't go to the extreme of antibaterical soaps etc throughout the enitre house. The only time I do use antibacterial hand sanitiser is at work after I have handled all the public bins emptying them (also with gloves on), the only reason I use the gel is because there is no readily available soap at hand to wash my hands after carrying out this particular chore. Maybe I am taking risks of infection from my pets but life is a risk and I could not stand a live devoid of animal contact, so I'll keep taking my chances and keep up my usual routines, without putting undue stress on myself for something that may never happen. All of that said however if I did present with some unusual illness that couldn't be easily diagnosed I would tell my doctor about the animals I keep and my job as a council gardener that may help the doctor start looking in the right direction for a diagnosis.

 

[Swizz]

Bare hand here, also. But I always wash, straight afterwards with hot water and soap. Elbows and all

 

[nurglespuss]

Bare handed for me, feels more dextrous...

A further question, how many of you turn off your electrical equipment before going hands in?

I must admit, I've twice encountered broken pulsing heaters, and still don't shut the tank off for general poking around...

 

[Baccus]

Nope never turn off electrical equipment even though I once knocked the over head tank light into the tank.....Thank goodness for safty cut off switches being mandotory in Aussie homes . Also have been lucky to never get zapped by any of my fish equipment, can't however say I have been so lucky with outdoor Christmas lights .

 

[mark2109111]

Bare handed for me

 

[Geoff-]

bare handed.