hobbithall Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 (edited) There are some pretty scary/nasty things we can contract from our fishy friends and their environments. Just wondering how many of us actually use shoulder-length gloves when immersing our hands in tanks? Are s/w people more cautious than f/w? Do they need to be? What standard precautions do you take, and do you use said precautions all the time, or just most of the time? Looking forward to the responses! Edited April 11, 2008 by hobbithall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murminator Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Yup all the time in my salt tanks I got poisoned by some zoos a few years ago and ended up in the emergency room overnight, don't wanna go through that again I use the regular powered surgical gloves just rinse underwater quick before putting my hands in the tank, whem moving around rock and such I use the big heavy duty elbow length Coralife gloves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosshog Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 (edited) Not me. I should though, had a really neat rash from a salt tank last winter. Is there anyway to make this into a poll. It would be interesting to know how many of us don't take the precautions we should. Edited April 10, 2008 by bosshog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 I don't but I want to (and should) get some. I have eczema on my hands and arms so for my protection as well as the fish's (due to my medicated cream, moisturizers etc.) I really should use gloves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 I've never used gloves. I've been stung a whole bunch out in the ocean, and a few times in the tank... I've got fairly thick skin, tho, so nothing serious. I don't keep anything too nasty tho (bristlewors and aptasia are the worst, so far) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qattarra Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 I don't use gloves. I don't go in if I have any open sores or cuts either though. There are "mucking gloves" available at Lee Valley if anyone is looking for very long rubber gloves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 I seldom use gloves, just as an added precaution trying to avoid cross-contamination with a quarantine tank. other than that + + + hand and arm washing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharuq1 Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 I don't bother. I am clumsy enough without putting gloves on. Besides...it's kinda fun telling my fiance "the bristleworm got me" or "look at this awesome rash!" or "this is cool...look at the size of these hives!" lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbithall Posted April 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Thanks for the replies! I just saw the Poll option. duh! :bang1: Very interesting to see the feedback. I've always been hands-on myself, but I have to wonder if I'm setting a good example to my kids when I have my hands in the tank till they're all wrinkled. (Incidentally, there are lots of places to get cheap shoulder-length gloves. Farm supply places sell 'em for bovine AI/preg-checking.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 I don't wear gloves. My belief is that if you can't drink the water or stick your hands in it, what the heck are you doing to your fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parachromis1 Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 ahhh ive never got sick from fish, been stung by bristleworms n everything. and ive had chunks taken outta my hand by my dovii. reptile bites get infected quicker i noticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 I dont' use gloves in my freshwater tanks. If I had a cut or something on my hands I'd probably consider it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishnut Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 I only have f/w and don't use gloves although I should. Anyone know the risks of not using gloves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatpuffer Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 (edited) One can get mycobacterium marinum infection. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic281.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/woundfaq.htm Js Edited April 11, 2008 by fatpuffer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilary Posted April 13, 2008 Report Share Posted April 13, 2008 I use gloves 99% of the time, I have both the coralife and the ones from Lee Valley. As a clumsy person I almost have a cut somewhere on my hands and I prefer to just wear the gloves than put off tank maintainence while it heals. Also, it never fails that just as soon as I think I'm done with the tank, and after I wash my hands and put on lotion, I come back just in time to watch some plant float to the top of the aquarium, and I would have to go through the whole hand washing process again in order to replant it, now I just put the gloves back on . It helps keeps lotion, soap residue and whatever else might be on my hands out of the water, so its just as much for the fish as it is for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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