BTA Anemone sting actually hurting?

[Stomatopods17]

I'm feeling weird asking this because these same anemones I've handled and placed in areas of the tank, I've had them in the past and I've touched them regularly for wellness checking their stingyness.

... last week I touched one for a wellness check and audibly went "OW!" cause it caught me off guard how it felt like I touched foil out of the oven too soon. The burn went away in like 10 minutes, it was the tip of my finger.

Today I attempted to clean the tank; looked for the long spine urchin and it's in the back. Another different anemone (also a BTA, its a clone from the one I touched), decided to move to the best location of any aquarium, it'll make you jealous; literally directly on the front glass, in the middle of the tank, at the water line.. fun. I typically would not care, like at all, if I bumped it because again, its a BTA.... but then it happened again and got burned up my arm when it bumped it with the same immediate intensity.

I'm wondering if theres something genuinely wrong with these nems cause this just seems incorrect... they're specifically either rainbow or watermelon BTAs. They should not hurt this bad especially if I ruled out allergies right?

 

[exnisstech]

Interested in others experiences. I've handled many and never experienced this. I wonder if you've developed a type of allergy to them? Probably be a good idea to wear gloves just to be on the safe side.

 

[Fish Fan]

So I am not speaking from first hand knowledge here, but I have heard that some people are more sensitive to the sting than other people in general. And, that overtime you can actually become more sensitive to their stings. Maybe that's what you're experiencing? I'm interested to learn what others think too.

 

[Stomatopods17]

Interested in others experiences. I've handled many and never experienced this. I wonder if you've developed a type of allergy to them? Probably be a good idea to wear gloves just to be in the safe side.

I hope not, I've heard of some stuff having proteins that progressively make reactions worse the more you're exposed to them but I don't think I touch nems enough for that if they even can do it.

I definitely have to wear gloves for moving them, cause this is too unbearable to pick them up like I used to, I'll probably tolerate the pain for a stick check with my finger once in awhile since it wears off fast its just so odd to me I'm more curious if the anemones are overproducing toxin or something.

 

[Tahoe61]

I hope not, I've heard of some stuff having proteins that progressively make reactions worse the more you're exposed to them but I don't think I touch nems enough for that if they even can do it.

I definitely have to wear gloves for moving them, cause this is too unbearable to pick them up like I used to, I'll probably tolerate the pain for a stick check with my finger once in awhile since it wears off fast its just so odd to me I'm more curious if the anemones are overproducing toxin or something.

There is no specific number of exposures. Every individual responds differently.
Think of it like a bee sting, you get stung once initially, no big deal but each sting after that you experience a more dramatic response.
Your immune system recognizes the catalyst and responds more aggressively with each exposure.

 

[exnisstech]

Just curious why you do a sticky check and what happens if they fail? It's just not anything I've heard of people doing to bubble tips but I'm far from a nem expert . I sticky test my haddoni but it's usually by accident lol

 

[Stomatopods17]

Nem experts will probably explain it better than me, but nems not doing so hot will often not 'stick' (literally slide off) and have trouble catching food and such. There's been times where that's happened to these ones so I occasionally check in to see if they're actually grabbing food or if its just conveniently falling inbetween the tentacles.

There's likely better methods for figuring that out (ain't no world I'm doing that to a carpet, especially now) but it was convenient for BTAs and when I had condylactis. Im just so surprised the reaction I got from BTA was what I would've expected from carpets or stronger.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Just curious why you do a sticky check and what happens if they fail? It's just not anything I've heard of people doing to bubble tips but I'm far from a nem expert . I sticky test my haddoni but it's usually by accident lol

It a mixture of pleasure and pain ;)

I would recommend you wear long sleeve gloves from now on. Usually people become de-sensitized to repeated exposures but maybe this has a different poison. Nonetheless, if you see developing sensitivity you will want to use precautions lest you get an anaphylactic reaction and can’t breath. Then you won’t care what the sting feels like :cool:

 

[Tahoe61]

It a mixture of pleasure and pain ;)

I would recommend you wear long sleeve gloves from now on. Usually people become de-sensitized to repeated exposures but maybe this has a different poison. Nonetheless, if you see developing sensitivity you will want to use precautions lest you get an anaphylactic reaction and can’t breath. Then you won’t care what the sting feels like :cool:

True allergic reactions do not decrease in intensity with repeated exposure. Each time an individual is exposed to the same allergen the immune system excellerates it's response, hence anaphylaxis.

 

[Poseidon03]

True allergic reactions do not decrease in intensity with repeated exposure. Each time an individual is exposed to the same allergen the immune system excellerates it's response, hence anaphylaxis.

It varies by person. Some people develop worse symptoms while others develop a better resistance (I've done a lot of random research on bee keeping when I was making mead, lol).

Personally, I assume you are either developing worse allergic responses, have some type of small cuts on your hands or your skin has increased sensitivity currently for some reason. I've personally felt some stings from the anemone. It only stings or causes redness on the more sensitive parts of my arm (like my inside forearm near my elbow and wrist) or if I have a small cut. Either way, I'd probably start wearing gloves just in case.

 

[FernBluffReef]

Not a BTA, but…

Linked is my experience. This is with a very healthy Ritteri. As others have mentioned a healthy nem will stick and stick good. This guy even sticks to metal tongs I use to pull astera starfish out. I won’t go near this nem without some form of protection again. It took a good 3-4 weeks to recover and was my first tangle with the nem. Usually the wife handles her baby.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reminder-to-be-careful-or-where-gloves.1086526/

 

[Tahoe61]

It varies by person. Some people develop worse symptoms while others develop a better resistance (I've done a lot of random research on bee keeping when I was making mead, lol).

Personally, I assume you are either developing worse allergic responses, have some type of small cuts on your hands or your skin has increased sensitivity currently for some reason. I've personally felt some stings from the anemone. It only stings or causes redness on the more sensitive parts of my arm (like my inside forearm near my elbow and wrist) or if I have a small cut. Either way, I'd probably start wearing gloves just in case.

Retired RN. I have never seen an individual with a bee allergy or nut allergy develop better resistance. That's not how the immune system works.

 

[Stomatopods17]

Isn't allergy shots reliant on making resistance better by introducing insignificant doses?

Might not be the case with toxins but just wondering more on the topic.