Things you have found out the hard way - aquarium related

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Way to go Jack

Did you know that it is a bad idea to train your 14" Volitan Lionfish to eat from your hand, especially if you still have to clean the glass by hand (this was before magnetic algae scrappers were available)? Yup, used to have my Lion come up to eat smelts, squid, prawns & whatever other seafood I could get at the local shop. Then one day, I shoo him away with a net so I can clean his tank but my fish in another tank (I think it was a smooth horn shark) jumped & made a loud banging noise against its canopy. Of course I turn to look at the shark tank to see if the canopy was going to fall in or if it was carpet surfing. While I am suitably distracted, my friendly Lion swims over to see if I have a nice, tasty snack in my hand for him.

Yup, you guessed it. 2 poison filled dorsal spines jabbed into the middle finger (how appropriate ) of my right hand, since the smart guy that I am, I was still scrubbing algae when not paying attention to where the Lionfish was. Before I could even finish the thought "This is going to F...g hurt......" the poison hit & Holy Cr@ppers Batman did it hurt. Yank the arm out of the tank, get my buddies to take me to the ER at Mt. St. Joseph's & wait an hour in the waiting room while answering stupid questions like "Your mother's maiden name?"

Leave the hospital, call Poison Control & they tell me that "Poisons are enzymes, Enzymes are proteins & Proteins denature (break apart) when heated. So, sir, pour as hot a water on your arm as you can stand." Well at this point, I can bloody well stand almost boiling hot water. The poison was travelling up the arm & through the shoulder & I was begging my bro to cut off the arm before the poison hit my internal organs. So off to the kitchen to get 1st or 2nd degree burns from using water that was too hot, but what the heck, it worked. Poison broke up & the arm healed up nicely, blisters & all.

Needless to say, Mr. Lionfishy was traded back "cheap" the next day back to the LFS I originially bought him from. I think it was Paul's when they were still located on Kingsway & Earls.

Lesson learned. No poisonous fish. Now to just avoid my 2 very large long-spined urchins

Anthony