"bad squishy" anemone sting

[zandriab]

I have 2 anemones in my tank, a bubble tip (appropriatly named "bubbles") and a atlantic even more appropriately named "squishy". Especially because he is a "bad squishy". I stuck my hand in my tank this morning to get my chocolate chip star off a new ricordea I bought. I plan on getting rid of him for a reef safe star, but in the meantime, I have just been making sure to keep him away. Anyway, in the process of reaching for my star I brushed my arm right across my atlantic anemone without realizing it. Unfortunately I brushed my arm by all his arms. The result is a sting about the size of a 2 by 3 inch oval.

I was looking to see if anyone knows how long my arm is going to sting for? I've got first aid creme with some numbing agent, but I don't notice much help. The thing that really confuses me is when I intentionally touch my anemone to move him, or pull his arms out of the filter he sometimes stretches to reach, he never stings me. I have been stung by him one other time and that was also when I touched him without knowing it while working in my tank. The difference was I only got a tiny sting as I only touched one arm. This time I literally got all of them! The strange thing is the sting grows on you. Not that I am fond of it, but I didn't know I had been stung for about 30 sec, and I didn't know it was bad for about 3 minutes.

Well, my advice for next time is to use your left arm, I need the right one for too much!!!

 

[ophiura]

It depends on the person, and their sensitivity to the sting. Many people can touch them on their hands with no problems, but will be stung if the anemone touches more sensitive skin such as the inside of the arm. You can try putting some white vinegar on it, which is a common after-sting treatment (for similar things like jellyfish).
You could have several issues going on however...it is really not recommended to keep two anemones in the same tank like this. They can sting each other, or other corals in the system. Additionally, reef safe stars require very specialized conditions and may not be suitable for smaller (under 55g), younger (under a year) tanks without lots of LR. Lots of research is required to determine which, if any, may be suitable...as well as selection and acclimation. Hopefully you already know this but I always discourage any impulse purchasing of such seastars.

 

[zandriab]

I have plenty of live rock with one anemone on one side of the tank and the other on the opposite side. I have had them both for almost a year and never the two have met. Actually, they are very happy, never having moved and doubled to tripled in size each. The ricordea is my first try at a coral and it is not near either anemone. There is no way either anemone can reach anything but live rock. I plan on getting rid of my atlantic anemone jsut because he is so big and his arms are so long, but I was hoping my bubble tip would split first so I could fill the empty spot. I don't know what an anemone looks like before they split but his is huge compared to when I bought him and often his mouth is a long oval rather than a circle. I was hoping that was a sign he would split soon, but nothing has happened yet.

 

[ophiura]

Anemones can up an move regardless of where they are in the tank. Many stay in one spot for a long time, and then up and move. In a reef tank it can be cause for a lot of concern. So all I am saying is that generally it is very much discouraged to keep more than one type of anemone in a tank.
The majority of reef safe stars will require a minimum of 100lbs of LR on average to start as a guideline. Orange/puerple/burgundy may be OK in 55g to 100g systems with lots of LR, but blues need 100g + to start. The only option for tanks under 55g, if a reef, is Linckia multiflora, IMO. Seems to be the most reliable of a delicate group. These stars can not be spot fed, and a huge number die of starvation in 8-12 months if they survive the first month after acclimation. Chocolate chip stars are very hardy and easy to care for relative to a Linckia...mostly because they are easy to feed, as you found out the unpleasant way with your ricordia

 

[tuna dan]

Pee On It!

 

[yeffre kix]

Originally Posted by Tuna Dan
Pee On It!

Its sounds funny but I've heard the same thing! Somthing about the urine neutralizes the sting. The vinegar idea may work but I'd love to hear if the "natural" solution works !

 

[thomas712]

Originally Posted by Tuna Dan
Pee On It!

While you have no doubt heard that peeing on a jellyfish sting will help, a number of respectable dive medicine/dermatology experts think it an old wive's tale and may, in fact, cause nematocysts to fire. Additionally, if one has a urinary tract infection (women are particularly susceptible to occult UTIs), the urine could introduce bacteria into the wound.

 

[ophiura]

NOW he tells me......
I'll watch for any infection there Thomas. Thanks for the heads up

 

[nanoreef]

pee on it HAHAHA

 

[kaotik]

pee works because of the ammonia. just go get some over-the-counter ammonia at your local drug store! that should ease the burning.

 

[bstreep]

Adolph's meat tenderizer is commonly used for various stings, in particular, man-o-war jellyfish. It's enzyme based and breaks down the toxin.