OMG...u know how ppl say u cant touch fish...

[wuvmybetta]

but nothing compares to peeling/scraping/scooping a wet betta off the counter when they jump during a water change

OMG wuv that reminded me of not too long ago when I was changing a betta tank,my little betta flipped out of the net,landed in the sink,and to my horror slid down the drain!!

So I freaked out really bad and I don't know how I did it,but I ripped open the cabinet and took the pipes apart with my bare hands and he was sitting in the U trap like 'Get me the hell out of here,woman!' Whew,after I got him out putting the pipes back together I was all thumbs. LOL

What a nightmare!!! I have one who went down the drain, it was the day I got him and I was emptying out his old cup water and....*baloop*, right down the drain,only I have a garbage disposal so the poor little guy was stuck down there. I didn't know what to do...feel around? Possiby squish him...turn on the disposal and put him out of his misery? I said a quick prayer for assistance and I stuck my hand down the hole and he hopped right in it

 

[SnowQueen]

You are not suppose to touch the fish because you can take off their protective slime coat which will cause them to be more at risk to get diseases.

I don't agree, it's just like them coming into contact with anything else. You sould just make sure your hands are clean and that you are really gentle. If you are damagint the slime coat you will know. I had to catch a clown loach and it got caught in the net so I had to get a tight hold of it to get it free. My hand was covered in slime, I never feel anything after touching my fish in normal circumstances.

Actually this is a very interesting topic. I went to an aquarium in NY, you know, one of the huge ones with dolphins and sharks, ect..... I was talking to one of the professionals there about how I pet my fish, lol. This person looked at me and said, " Never touch fish, and went into a big explaination of why you shouldn't". They made sense.
I even told them I make sure my hands are clean blah blah blah, and they still said it didn't matter and explained why.............
Another person there (at the aquarium) said you are asking for trouble. (So, I went and asked someone else there, lol) The slim coat is a major factor. Disease risk, ............
blah blah blah......

Anyway, I would go with the professional advice from the aquarium then I would with a pet store or anyone posting on a board. Not that all advice is wrong, but in this instance it is. Sorry

No offense though.

 

[SnowQueen]

I don't touch my fish, and try my hardest to keep my hands out of the water.  The smallest amount of soap, lotion, ect on your hands can do major harm to the fish.  Touching them will also remove the slime coat from the fish and that leaves them prone to sicknesses. 

I have been cleaning out my oscars tank before and if I have to put my hand in the water he will come up and rub up against me.  I don't like that he does this, and I will put meds in the tank with him to help him with the stress coat. 

Before I clean my tanks I always wash my hands, just with water, no soap.  This helps take off all the stuff that can be harmful off my hands.

Contrary to what some have said, I don't think it is good practice to touch your fish.  It most certainly can do them harm, doesn't mean it will, just that it can, and I don't want to take that chance.  

I agree with you 100%. You are absolutely correct. As I said in a post before this, I went to an aquarium in NY. (The huge ones with dolphins, sharks.....) And I talked to 2 professionals there about touching fish. They said you should never touch fish no matter how clean your hands are, ect....... They explained it in depth. I wish I could do the same here. Like you said, washing your hands with soap is a bad idea and you should just wash with plain water when dealing with fish and never touch fish. Though, not all cases you can avoid touching them. You are Number one in my book !!

 

[diVer]

Anyway, I would go with the professional advice from the aquarium then I would with a pet store or anyone posting on a board. Not that all advice is wrong, but in this instance it is. Sorry

No offense though.

I have heard about and talked with more people than just those in fish stores about touching fish. Many of these are people who work in large aquariums like you mentioned and others work for DEC and do a lot of water testing and stuff with local lakes. Almost everyone I have talked to has said as long as your hands are wet it won't hurt them, uless you've got chemicals all over your hands. Many fisherman also believe this, but some are more informed than others.

 

[crimsontsavo]

Well,

I have used my hands for many years to catch fish. Wet hands are alot easier on a fish than a net. It isnt just the slime coat, in a net fins get caught and rip. I will continue to use my hands,lol.

 

[diVer]

Also, watch a National Geographic documentary where they are catching and tagging fish sometime.

 

[GemGoddess]

Also, watch a National Geographic documentary where they are catching and tagging fish sometime.

Put they are not catching and tagging in a 55 gallon tank. You're talking about an ocean. And how many times are those fish touched compared to petting fish on a weekly basis. My thoughts are: I don't believe "petting" fish is right.

Also, just a thought, if you are petting fish and catching fish, petting fish seems worse. Catching fish you are not rubbing your fingers back and forth on their slim coat. Maybe that is where the confusion is

Anyhow, I agree with the people who said that you shouldn't touch fish. You will have some that say it is okay and some that say it is not okay. I am with the people that say it is not okay.

those are my thoughts and I am sticking to it.

 

[diVer]

Put they are not catching and tagging in a 55 gallon tank. You're talking about an ocean. And how many times are those fish touched compared to petting fish on a weekly basis. My thoughts are: I don't believe "petting" fish is right.

Also, just a thought, if you are petting fish and catching fish, petting fish seems worse. Catching fish you are not rubbing your fingers back and forth on their slim coat. Maybe that is where the confusion is

Anyhow, I agree with the people who said that you shouldn't touch fish. You will have some that say it is okay and some that say it is not okay. I am with the people that say it is not okay.

those are my thoughts and I am sticking to it.

OK, that I will agree with, I don't think constant touch would be good for them.