How dangerous are anemones to humans?

[sueandherzoo]

I just received a shipment from SWF.com and in it is my first anemone. I've got the bag floating but how careful do I have to be when I release it and in the future? Heavy gloves? thin gloves? no gloves? I've read they can be dangerous (and even deadly) to humans so I'm wondering if that's mostly hype or if I really do have to remember not to ever touch it. Educate me, please?
Sue

 

[bigarn]

You should always wear gloves in this hobby. You never know what kind of reaction you can have if you're "hit" by any critter.

 

[cranberry]

Gloves is the best advice, but I have yet to personally see anyone pulling out a pair to use. I scrapped one off the glass last night with my nail.... but your reaction could be different. But I'm pretty much allergic to EVERYTHING!

 

[meowzer]

I always wear a glove when I touch anything that could sting. What type did you get?
Oh yeah...I wear plain old thin gloves (like in a dr office or food service) NO POWDER

 

[sueandherzoo]

Thanks guys.
I will most definitely try to wear gloves when I know I'm going to be working in the tank .... I have the kind that go up to your shoulder and I have a box of hospital type vinyl (I'm sure Renee has seen enough of those to last her a lifetime!) When I know I'm going to be handling a lot of rock I really DO use them but when you're just "tweaking" those tiny little things as you're walking by I doubt anyone runs to get the gloves first. I will definitely wear them, though, when I'm trying to "place" the anemones (bought one, got one free).
Thanks for the quick replies! If I get stung and have an allergic reaction I'll try to post on here quickly before the paramedics take me away to let you know that I'm one of the unlucky ones.

 

[sueandherzoo]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2906179
I always wear a glove when I touch anything that could sting. What type did you get?
Oh yeah...I wear plain old thin gloves (like in a dr office or food service) NO POWDER
OK, I wondered about that. I'd like to wear the hospital type but I didn't know if they were substantial enough to prevent a sting.
I got a pink tip Haitian anemone (two actually, bought one and they gave me one free). I'm really surprised at how HUGE they are - I was expecting a tiny little portion!
Sue

 

[kas2247]

I got an order with nems today too. I've never tried any, so trying to get them out of the bags was a treat
I (very carefully) cut most of the bag away from the anemone and just let it fall to the rock. It's slowly moving off of the bag and onto the rock now, so in about 15 minutes I should be able to remove the bag.
I didn't use any gloves, but if I had them I probably would have. I was just really careful not to get too close to it. I wasn't sure what they could do or how they could do it, either.

 

[adee]

congrats on it!!! make sure to take pictures and let us all know how it goes

 

[meowzer]

I had one once from swf...it was beautiful...that was before I got MH lights and I didn't know any better...so it died

 

[jerth6932]

I handled my RBTA with no probs and I handle my Sebae with no probs at all. It really boils down to if you have an alergic reaction to them. I don't have any problems! I have been told to say away from carpets though.... They pack a nasty sting... Good luck and post a pix when you get a chance!

 

[joe____17]

I wish i knew before lol I grabbed my pink tip anemone when i had mine with no gloves and it was the size of my fist.

 

[natclanwy]

If you are sensitive to bee stings, I would be very careful handling anemones or stinging corals. They must have similar toxins

A lady that I knew owned a LFS and was handling a BTA from a shipment and had a severe reaction that landed here in the hospital with anaphylactic shock. After that she kept an EpiPen and a pair of shoulder length gloves by the anemone tank at all times.

 

[fishkid13]

Don't shoot me guys.

But when I got my anemone I just took it out of the bag(but still underwater) with my bare hands, and it didn't sting me or do nothing just felt like a very slimy thing. Again they wasn't any post (that I read) that send nothing about wear gloves. And he is still doing fine.

 

[natclanwy]

I'm not sensitive to them either, I have even handled carpets barehanded with no ill effect.

 

[mopar9012]

kind of off topic but not really
Cant zoas cut you and have you in the hospital?
I believe someone told me this from this site.

 

[natclanwy]

No, they can't cut cut you. Zoas can contain palytoxin though which is among the most toxic natural substances found in nature. Palytoxin can enter your body through existing cuts on your hands and fingers but zoas cannot cut you. Also I have never found any confirmed reports of people being hospitalized with palytoxin poisoning from handling zoas. I have heard a few reports of tingling hands and such but thats it.

 

[snakeblitz33]

The best advice is always wear gloves when you are dealing with an animal that you don't know about.
Now, do I do it? No. But it's really good if you do. Latex gloves with no powder are great. You can pick them up in hardware stores and at your local LOWES