Rash from tank

I've been doing saltwater for over 12 yrs now, never had a problem with any kind of allergic reaction. I did a water change on Friday and decided to clean the glass with a scraper. The next day both my arms have this red rash all the way up to my elbows. Went to the Dr. and they gave me this steroid cream which seems to be working...now I'm scared to put my hands back in the tank.

I'm allergic to shell-fish but I never experienced any reactions due to the tank. Anyone experience anything like this?

 

i haven't gone to the doctor yet, but the same thing happens to me

all the ime also.

 

And you should be concerned.

This has happend to me on several occassions but I have no allergies. An allergy to shell fish puts you at a high risk for complications.

On a number of occassions my rash was caused by an overly affectionate cleaner shirmp, and the other times handling zoanthids for too long.

There are different strains of Vibro associated with shell fish and some are EXTREMLY toxic. And you can find this in some home systems as well.

You should always have an epi pen available, the more exposures the more severe the response, and benadryl on hand as well.

Try to purchase arm length rubber gloves and wear them as well.

Speaking as an acute care nurse and a friend of an individual that almost perished I do have some first hand knowledge regarding Vibro and allergic reactions resulting from exposure to shell fish.

If this re-occures you need see a Infectious Disease MD, the average MD does not know enough about it. Be pro-active and make sure you get the right answers. If you begin to experience even a slight fever return to the ER and do not leave until you have seen an infectious disease MD and they have done a culture.

Believe me in this case an over reaction can save a life.

 

Was the rash on the under part of your forearms or 360 degrees of your arm?

I get a rash from doing this as well, but it turns out its only on the under part of my arm and its from rubbing grains of salt into my skin as I scrub the tank.

Most reactions I have gotten from my tank I handled with hot water and Benadryl. Going to the doctors is a heads up move so good for you. Our tanks have lots of critters that can release toxins naturally or even in defense and they also spawn periodically – god only knows how your skin might react. And its entirely possible that what you were/are allergic to you just encountered for the first time. It could be a toxic release that is there periodically and then gone, you just happened to be poking around at the right/wrong time.

The afore mentioned rubber gloves does sound like a really good suggestion in your case -- good for you and good for the tank as well.

 

not htat it really matters, I but I have a friend who is highly allergic to shellfish. so much so that she carries an emergency shot in her bag. she told me it was actually the Iodine in them that was what caused the reaction. even iodine they use for medical purposes could kill her.

 

While not Tank related my Dad was a mechanic all his life till back in 1995 he started getting this weird nasty rash and hives that he couldn't explain.

Finally got him to go see a Doctor (yeah he's ole school that way) and he had become allergic to grease and can't even check his own oil now without rashes and hives breaking out.

Long story short the investment in the long arse arm gloves are worth it in the end.

Pain in the arse to use at times but for long term tank keeping worth it..

Have two sets here now, one for fresh tanks one for the salt tank.. Figured I had "chanced it" for too long and was buying a set for working in the salt tank anyway so got two.

 

I'm allergic to shellfish. I get a small rash every now and again. I try to keep my hands out of the tank though. I'm terrified of my female maroon clown fish. That ***** is mean as hell.

 

not sure if you have a uv sterilizer on your tank if not i would add it. they kill a lot of the problem bacteria, they make the water healthier for your fish and for you.

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

the rash is all the way around my arms all the way up to where the water mark was (1/2 way between my elbows and shoulders). I ordered gloves right after the reaction. I had them before but I was always breaking corals when I used them so I stopped....but after this reaction I don't care about breaking corals anymore.

I also have a UV but I haven't run it in years, seem like it was doing more harm than good. Since I stopped using it I saw an almost immediate increase in the pod population and my corals are a lot more colorful....I'm not 100% sure it had anything to do with the UV but that was the only thing I changed.

 

Aquagloves

These could help.