blue rings

gibbus

gibbus

Member
Tetratoxin or TTX is one of the most powerful toxins on the earth. The Blue ringed octopus has it same with the puffers. The blue ringed in injected when it bites its prey or an attacker. Puffers have it in there skins, it is a popular dish in Japan to eat fugu, if the cheif cuts it correctly then you get a tingle in your month if he doesnt cut it correctly then you could die quickly.
I think all octopus are interesting if you really want to keep one get on of the harmless species. Also blue rings only show the rings if they are scared or provoked.
 
mattiej

mattiej

Member
What Wade Davis wrote about was the voodoo culture in Haiti. The tetratoxin was mixed with various herbs and with the skin excretions of certain marine toads to produce a compond that made the person ingesting it appear to be dead. Actually this was used as a punishment by the priests. Often the person would be buried alive only to be dug up several days later. It is a facinating book and a must read.
 
polarpooch

polarpooch

Active Member
Also blue rings only show the rings if they are scared or provoked
Good point! They are brownish, otherwise.
It is a facinating book and a must read
I remember it being very interesting. But I read it in college (14 years ago!)
Should also mention that this is a thesis he did for Harvard (?) in ethnobotany (I think--remember, it's been 14 years). It's the book that inspired the obnoxious movie of the same name--but the director decided to make it a horror story, instead of a search for a drug.
OK, I've just talked myself into rereading this book.
I do have another of his books, One River, it's set in Columbia... but haven't begun reading it yet. I got it after seeing him interviewed on Discovery or AP or something....interesting guy.
 
leopard_babe

leopard_babe

Active Member
I had a patient in the hopsital once that was stung. He got to the ER and he died instantly. We tried for one hour but flat lined. I read after this that it depends on exactally how bad the sting is. How the venom is filtered through the body affects how quickly you will die. To save you the scientific lecture you will most likely die if stung.
 
D

daniel411

Guest

Originally posted by Leopard_babe
I had a patient in the hopsital once that was stung.
Thats messed up! Was he able to inform you at the hospital what happened?
 
elguapo

elguapo

Member
i think its funny how people always talk about how you "might be ok if". YOU KEPT AN ANIMAL WITH ONE OF THE MOST DEADLY POISENS ON EARTH. its gunna kill you. nobody is standing by with a resperator. and if this happens to YOU thank you for takinf yourself out of the gene pool.
-gabe
 
leopard_babe

leopard_babe

Active Member
No, but the paramedic who brought them in said that they were laying next to the tank. The wife had told them she thought that the "tank had poisons in it." When she got there we asked her what exactally was in the tank. She told us that her husband had a "new fish, a blue ringed something or other". We asked if it had 8 legs she said "Oh yeah it is an octopus that is right." Then we knew that there was nothing else for us to do because he was dying.
 
D

daniel411

Guest

Originally posted by Leopard_babe
No, but the paramedic who brought them in said that they were laying next to the tank. The wife had told them she thought that the "tank had poisons in it." When she got there we asked her what exactally was in the tank. She told us that her husband had a "new fish, a blue ringed something or other". We asked if it had 8 legs she said "Oh yeah it is an octopus that is right." Then we knew that there was nothing else for us to do because he was dying.
That must be horrible when you just know theres nothing that can be done. :(
 
ozadars

ozadars

Member
i heard they are not very aggressive. Until you will get too close to it, it wont sting :confused: :notsure:
a guy said he used to have one and used to have some locks on the tank.
If they are not very aggressive it not a big problem for me to keep one because sure i wont gonna put my hand in the tank like a moron but i would prefer buying a coral instead of a invert that usually hides and will live just for 6 months
 
j21kickster

j21kickster

Active Member
what a waste of money!
The dont live long-
They most be kept alone-
They hide all the time-
They arent pretty unless you piss them off-
They dont ship well-
They can kill you effortlessly-
Ya- make me want to get one tomorrow:joy:
 
murray bmf

murray bmf

Member
Anything that KILLS me is bad:)
General rule of thumb when buying an animal:
Kills you=bad
:nope:
dont kill you=good :)
 
novice150

novice150

Member
There is more than one way to look at this... No, it's not for everyone, but neither is keeping poisonous reptiles!
IMHO, the people who buy these kinds of animals, just for the "shock factor" and to impress their friends, are the one's who usually get hurt. Then there are people who keep these animals out of facination/legitimate interest. They don't go at it half @$$'d. They research the animal before hand, take the necessary precautions, and respect the animal.
IMO, a "responsible" keeper doesn't have much of a chance of being bit (they don't sting) when keeping a blue ring. They are not blood thirsty monsters. They don't wait hiding to ambush you the instant you put your hand in the aquarium. The octopus is more interested in fleeing, than it is fighting. They developed this toxin for a reason ... they are tiny ... so instead of attacking, they will warn (famous blue color) and try to get away from you.
Now of course if you smash it, grab it, pet it, or stick your finger in it's hiding place, then you run a serious risk of being bit ... and you'd also deserve it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top