Reef Ramblings

Click below for the chart of dangerous invertebrates:
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Please click the link below for a chart of dangerous fish.
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When it comes to animal legislation, unlike many other pets, marine animals are not regulated in terms of their potential danger. As a marine aquarium hobbyist you should certainly be aware that a number of species offer a degree of danger and it’s important that you research this aspect before purchasing any animal.

The potential dangers from marine aquarium livestock can be divided by category into: venomous animals, toxic animals, and those capable of inflicting mechanical damage. There also additional dangers associated with reef aquaria in the form of bacterial infection

Fishes.

Many species of fish possess venomous spines, the majority offer little risk to humans but there are a few commonly kept species, which are known to be potentially dangerous.

Lionfishes are perhaps the most well known venomous species in the trade but other common species such as Rabbitfishes also possess venomous spines.

Moray eels can and do bite so they should be treated with respect, use a feeding stick and don’t hand feed. The actual damage done by a bite can be relatively minor; the main danger in the case of bites is that of bacterial infection.

Tangs and Surgeonfishes can inflict wounds with the scalpel positioned each side of the caudal peduncle just before the tail fin. As with Morays the danger is mainly one of infection.

Cnidarians.

The main dangers here are anemones, most people touching one of these animals will describe it as being sticky, what is actually occurring is that the anemone is firing off lots of stinging cells known as nematocysts, these are the cells that anemones use to protect themselves and to wage war on other animals. The majority of aquarists who touch anemones will encounter no real danger, some individuals may come out in a painful rash, whereas others may become sensitized and exhibit allergy symptoms.

Unless you have a particular sensitivity to seafood, most corals are fairly harmless with the exception of some of the Euphylliads, such as Anchor corals, which can have a similar affect to the anemones.

Fire corals (Hydrozoans, not coral); possess a very powerful sting, which can result in great discomfort, often long lasting.

It’s a good idea to thoroughly wash your hands after handling corals especially prior to eating. Palythoa species of polyps can contain a very powerful neurotoxin, which if ingested can be fatal.

Other Invertebrates.

Urchins, particularly long spined ones are a common cause of injury. For most people this may mean a few minutes of pain (from my own experience I’d equate it to a wasp sting) but those with a sensitivity may experience a more extreme reaction.

Octopuses are capable of inflicting a painful bite and it’s now known that all species are venomous to some extent. The really dangerous species is the Blue-ringed octopus, not an animal that should be intentionally imported but one that has been know to turn up in shipments as a substitution.

Bristle Worms probably represent the greatest risk of injury, really more of an irritation, avoid handling them.

Bacteria.

Many potentially pathogenic species of bacteria, predominantly Vibrio species, are present in the marine aquarium environment. Be careful not to ingest aquarium water and don’t put your hands into the aquarium if you have an open wound.

Afterword.

Given the brevity of this article it’s impossible to cover all the animals that can be considered potentially dangerous, so my best advice is to research all the animals that you are considering purchasing to ensure that you have full knowledge of what you’re dealing with.

Hints ‘n’ Tips.

Avoid handling any animal that you’re unable to positively identify.

Never put your hand into an aquarium containing a potentially dangerous species without first being aware of where the animal is in the tank.

Don’t work underwater with open wounds.

Be cautious when starting a syphon by mouth, it’s much safer to do this job mechanically.

Tim Hayes
Midland Reefs
©2009 – 2010