Personally, I were gloves whenever I have to stick my hand into my tank, which I try to avoid. Too many little nasties- mantis shrimp, bristle worms, etc. that hide in the rock. Not to mention toxins from corals such as zoanthids :sick:. I also don't want to contaminate the stuff in my tank with oils on my hands!

I probably should wear gloves but i don't. I am more worried about what is on my hands, although i do have a couple of urchins!

no reefgirl, I do not wear gloves.

I didn't used to but then I read a horror story about someone who almost died from a reaction to bacteria in his tank... almost had to get his finger amputated!

Personally, I were gloves whenever I have to stick my hand into my tank, which I try to avoid. Too many little nasties- mantis shrimp, bristle worms, etc. that hide in the rock. Not to mention toxins from corals such as zoanthids :sick:. I also don't want to contaminate the stuff in my tank with oils on my hands!

My 24g tank is FOWLR, and I used to wear gloves only when I handled the LR. When I first got the tank, I developed a nasty MRSA infection in one of my fingers that I think came from the tank. Some water got into my glove that wasn't pulled all the way up to my arm pits. That finger had an open cut, so it stung as soon as the SW touched it. The infection could have come from somewhere else, but it did seem timely.

As far as reef tanks with more toxins are concerned, I was reading an RC thread a few weeks ago that was pretty telling. Most people were posting things like "I never wear gloves when working on my reef tank, and I never have had a problem." Then every 5th or 6th post, someone admitted to getting numb fingers, or nearly being hospitalized. Only a very few people swore by wearing gloves...

My current take on it is this: Wearing gloves while working in a reef tank is like wearing a seat belt. Most (99.99%) of the time you may not get stung/infected/poisoned. Wearing gloves is prudent for the one time that you would have.

Even when wearing gloves, you need to worry about transfer after you take your (dripping) gloved arms out of the tank. With small children in my house, I will be very aware...

the only time i wear gloves in the tank is when i am going in after some zoanthids or palys. i DO wash my hands before i go in for anything else though.

I use my gloves when handling/moving corals.

For general maintenance, grabbing Powerheads, moving rocks etc, I usually do not use gloves.

John

I've been considering getting these gloves: Aquarium Maintenance & Cleaning: Heavy Duty Aqua Gloves (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3871&Nty=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&pc=1&N=2004&Ntt=glove&Np=1)They seem to be longer and more durable than your average rubber gloves.

I probably should, but I don't.

In a post on 9/17/06 here on TR I wrote the following experience I had with a nasty bacteria encountered from handling a dead fish. I miss named the bacteria "Mycrobacteria marinum" it's true name is mycobacteria marinum. this is required reading for everyone keeping an aquarium. Below this essay are two links. The first to the original thread and the second to an article in "Reef Keeping" by Steven Pro. Please read both.


In the early 1980s I encountered a severely infected finger. Being a guy, I doctored it myself and put a bandage on it. I treated it for two weeks when it just kind of exploded one day. It was on the finger tip which was about twice the size of normal, fiery red and very painful. I finally had to go to the emergency room one night at around 11pm because of the pain and fear that began to take over my mind. I had three nodules as described in the article except two of them were open sores and draining an ugly puss. One was on the back of my hand, another was on the inside of my elbow and the third was on the inside of my bicep, all on the left arm of the hand with the infected finger.

At the emergency room, the nurse said, "You have blood poisoning", as she pointed out the red line going up my arm. I noticed it but associated it with the infection not an additional issue caused by the infection. They lanced my finger and drained the infection, gave me an antibiotic, called my doctor and set an appointment for the next day.

My Doctor was a bit puzzled by what he encountered and called in a dermatologist. He had never seen anything like it and recommended culturing it. They took three cotton swabs, you know, the kind on the end of a stick and ground them into the wounds making me shriek with pain. The wounds were painful enough but that drove me over my limit. The Doctor apologized and said he wanted the bacteria from deep in the wound. I think he got it.

The next day he called and asked me to come back in. The cultures didn't show anything. He got the Derm Doc (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/nano-reefs/2276-coral-selections.html#) back and together they decided to culture again. You guessed it, back into my oozing wounds for more bacteria, more pain, more shrieking, more apologies. Next day, back in. Nothing was showing up in the petri dishes. This time they had them in the room to show me. Nothing. This was my third visit. The two Doctors called in a second Derm Doc (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/nano-reefs/2276-coral-selections.html#) and he sat down with me and pumped me with questions. I don't remember for sure but, about the fifth question was, "Do you have an aquarium?" Well yes Dr, I have about 10 of them. BINGO. They cultured a third time. Did I mention how painful getting the culture material was??? He explained to me his theory. Mycrobacterium marinum is found in swimming pools that aren't kept sterilized, very common in aquariums and other bodies of water.

Now this is key for you to remember about - Mycrobacterium marinum - it does not culture at room temperature. It specifically needs body temperature to culture. The previous cultures were set into a cabinet at room temp. A normal procedure. Mycrobacterium marinum requires a heat source.

They cultured the third one at 98.6 degrees and it blossomed. They called me in and showed me the three cultures. The difference from the first six cultures was like night and day. This is something that Steven Pro didn't point out in his article. Only that it was hard to culture and took a long time. Maybe his memory or facts were clouded. Mine are not. This happened to me. The rest of his article is excellent, especially the photos. The third Doctor asked my permission to photograph my sores but I never received any copies.

My treatment lasted four months taking two antibiotic pills twice a day. the cost of the pills were $1 each. The reason I remember so vividly is the Doctor gave me all the samples he had (30 days worth) and when I filled the prescription for the first time the bill was $120, 30 days x 4/day. OUCH, again. I didn't have insurance to cover it.

We tracked my actions back three weeks and came to the conclusion that I had pulled a hangnail off the infected finger and handled a dead Queen Angel about the same time. She had an open lesion on her side and I remember looking closely at it.


This Mycrobacterium marinum is a nasty bug. In my opinion it is a flesh eater because, you could see right down into my wounds. The flesh was gone. I still bare the scares.

Put this in your memory so if you or someone you know develops the above symptoms and are having a hard time diagnosing the problem, suggest Mycrobacterium marinum to them.
__________________

The original thread here on TR - http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/nano-reefs/2276-coral-selections.html

The artical by Steven Pro - Mycobacterium marinum: The Fish Disease You Could Catch by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/sp/feature/index.php)

I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing this information. I battled this nasty bacteria and it is very serious.

Dick

I have not worn gloves yet, that may have to change.
Steve

I've been considering getting these gloves: Aquarium Maintenance & Cleaning: Heavy Duty Aqua Gloves (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3871&Nty=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&pc=1&N=2004&Ntt=glove&Np=1)They seem to be longer and more durable than your average rubber gloves.

These look like the ones I have. The orange glove part is thicker than the upper blur part. Well-sealed and big enough for my XL hands. Perhaps not an ideal choice if "feel" is imperative or precise work needs to be done (ie.. tweezers/scalpel/scissors work), but definitely durable and resistant to punctures.

In a post on 9/17/06 here on TR I wrote the following experience I had with a nasty bacteria encountered from handling a dead fish. I miss named the bacteria "Mycrobacteria marinum" it's true name is mycobacteria marinum.

Great info-

I nominate this topic (Toxins and Infectious Bacteria) for a full-length TR podcast. I would like an overview as to what dangers the average reefer faces and an outline of the more notorious coral/invert/fish species that are commonly collected.

Gloves sound like a great idea....unfortunately, I'm deathly allergic to latex so gloves can be an issue. I do wash to the elbow both before and after putting a hand in my tank. Also, if I have any cuts or sores, I don't put my hand in the tank (salt tank is new, freshwater with fire-belly toads is old). It is a good idea to get in the habit of washing both before and after handling any live creature...fish, frog, cat, dog, snake, etc.

In a perfect world I would wear gloves. My problem is that I have really small hands. (I wear a size 4 ring and I buy winter gloves in the kid's department.) So if I get something like the Aqua Gloves I probably couldn't pick a rock up (let alone a coral) they would be so big. Latex (or non latex) in size small fit but the first thing that happens when you put your hands in the tank is that the gloves fill with water. Since I believe that I am a far greater risk of mycobacterium than a reaction to something that I have touched I don't wear them.

No gloves here.

Gloves sound like a great idea....unfortunately, I'm deathly allergic to latex so gloves can be an issue. I do wash to the elbow both before and after putting a hand in my tank. Also, if I have any cuts or sores, I don't put my hand in the tank (salt tank is new, freshwater with fire-belly toads is old). It is a good idea to get in the habit of washing both before and after handling any live creature...fish, frog, cat, dog, snake, etc.


You could try latex free medical gloves but they wouldn't come up very far.

You could try latex free medical gloves but they wouldn't come up very far.

:agree:Water in gloves is one of those icky things I avoid. Much easier to just wash carefully since either way I get exposed to the tank water.

If you wear any type of disposable gloves-make sure they are at least exam quality, if not sterile and non powdered.

hah...in my tank I'd have to wear a full upperbody latex suit in order to reach my things! Rubber gloves would NOT do the trick! I guess that's just par for the course!

I'd like a picture of that!!! :rotfl:

NOT!!!! :o

Ha ha ha, he he he, Oh what a sight. :rotfl:

I grew up in the ocean and have been handling sea creatures my whole life. I never wore gloves in the aquarium until I got cut up really bad while moving LR. I only wear the gloves when I have to move LR or dig into my DSB. I never wear them when handling corals or other animals in the tank.

I'm really considering getting some. For my tank's sake... not mine.

I have had saltwater tanks for 15 years, only once did I wear gloves, and all the water ran in them. After reading this I think I will start searching for better gloves.

Reefbaby, I have small hands too, I am going to do some research, if I find anything that works for small hands I will surely let you know. :)

OOPs! Sorry reefbaby, that last part is for Carmiejo:blush:

OOPs! Sorry reefbaby, that last part is for Carmiejo:blush:That would be great!:up:

I have only used gloves handling zoathids as I too have small hands which cause the gloves to become full of water and I find they will tear once this happens. I really should wear them handling all specimens.

How come in all the movies that show people putting rubber gloves on..... they are so tight and they really draw it out and make them "Slapppp" righty tighty. :D That aint so Tiny Tim! I need to find "those" gloves!

I didn't wear gloves until I cut my finger on some L/R while cleaning the tank. I got cut about a month and a half ago but still have a nodule on my knuckle that still hasn't gone away.

I have a pair of the large heavy duty purple and orange ones, they are great, they keep you dry and you dont have to risk getting cut on your LR. Granted last week I serviced my sump and skimmer and did it without gloves and cut a finger wide open, no infection yet :)

Yes I do wear gloves... Its not worth it not too. I use the gloves you buy in a box and put a rubber band around my wrist. Its quick and I just toss them in the trash when I'm done. Nothing worst then smelling like skimmate or what ever. And it is a great protection from a visit to the ER where they would not know where to start. As I live at 8000 feet and there is not an ocean for 300 or so miles.:)

Yes I do wear gloves... Its not worth it not too. I use the gloves you buy in a box and put a rubber band around my wrist. Its quick and I just toss them in the trash when I'm done. Nothing worst then smelling like skimmate or what ever. And it is a great protection from a visit to the ER where they would not know where to start. As I live at 8000 feet and there is not an ocean for 300 or so miles.:)

Good grief Victoria! Couldn't see the forest for the trees. What a simple solution. I will definately try that. :yes:

Hey Victoria! Good to see you! It's been awhile! :D

I started to wear gloves after getting numb fingers at one point but found it really hindered what I was trying to accomplish. After a while I suppose I built up an immunity to whatever was causing it in my tank as I no longer get the feeling. I've held bristleworms and moved them around (and still do so occassionally when working with my culture tanks and what nots) and I suppose one could say I've gotten used to it like a beekeeper does.

Even so, I do recommend using them if you can! I have to be meticulous about what I touch before and after working in the tanks. It gets even more interesting when trying to avoid contamination of culture and experiment tanks.

I wear the big Coralife gloves about 83% of the time I work in my tank. If I'm going to be in there for any length of time, I wear 'em. I have found that I get itchy working in synthetic SW for longer periods of time and I dont find the gloves to be a big hinderance.

No I don't wear gloves. Well not yet but I plane on getting some gloves.

Nope. Don't. Won't.

Been awhile SHD, where you been hiding girl?

Busy Busy Busy.

Wanna see my latest project?

Seahorse Tankmates Guide (http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/tankmates/tankmates.shtml)

Most of the pics are mine. I designed and put it together. I'm a very proud mommy.

sweet effort, no wonder we havn't seen you:eek:

Thanks V. Wish I had started school BEFORE I started it though.