Fish Petting: Good for you but what about your fish?

[KrisReef]

It might be bad, but I do it.

I would pet my fish except that I'm a Baptist so those things are probably frowned upon?

Actually, I try to keep my hands out of the tank. I do have a tang that bumps into the feeding cup and has almost knocked it out of my grip a few times. I think I could hand feed and probably pet her but I do worry about where my hands have been and I don't want to spawn a new flu virus.

My new fish generally get hand removed from the acclimation bag and carefully hand lifted into the tank where I slowly release them as I welcome them to our tank.

 

[salty joe]

A big vlamingi tang in Aquatic Technology in NE Ohio will stick its head out the water to be petted. The owner told me I could pet it but it was leery of me. I was surprised the fish recognized its owner. After standing there a little while, the fish burst its head up and let me rub its bristled snout.

 

[OutLawX77]

If the fish allows you to pet go a had and pet.
Don't case the fish
And by all means wash your hands Frist.
Should keep the hands out.
Should Wear surgical gloves.

 

[Photosynthetic]

It's definitely not a good idea for land mammals to rub on fish. Our skins contain all kinds of oils that couldn't possibly have a beneficial effect. Potentially no effect, but why risk it, other than anthropomorphizing being so much goddam fun.

 

[Dburr1014]

1 of my common clowns come to me when feeding. I do pet him and she don't mind.
My purple tang however will try to slap me when ever the hand go in the tank. I will not even attempt to pet him. I have to keep a very close eye on that one.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Yes, I have fish that let me touch them. However, “petting” your fish is actually detrimental to their health. By petting them, you are actually removing the outer mucous layer on their skin. This is important because the mucus does two major things. Firstly, it helps protect the fish from diseases. Secondly, it aids the fish in osmosis. Fish need to have certain amounts of water going in and out of their bodies. The mucus helps them regulate that. If you were to remove the mucus, too much osmosis would occur and the fish would essentially drown from having too much water in their body. Even though it may seem harmless, petting your fish is a bad idea. I understand that as hobbyists we should care for our animals but we also have a responsibility to provide the best care we can. Sadly, petting our fish just isn’t good for them

 

[K7BMG]

Devils advocate on petting and removing the slime coat.

The argument of something harmfull on ones hand, oil, dirt, grime, whatever is a valid point. But if your a reefer fish keeper, then you know that when your hands go into the tank contaminate prevention is of the utmost concern. If hands go in for whatever reason they shoud be as tank clean as possible.
Its not like most here will clean out the septic tank with our bare hands then go work on the car and wipe the hands off with a moldy towel and WD-40 to remove the grease then go pet the fish.

In nature and my tank the fish are constantly rubbing the rocks so on.
This natural movement does remove the slime coat in spots and so forth.
A healthy fish will replenish these voids and is a normal way of life.

Now if the fish has a wound, from a run in with a rock and of a tank mate, then I agree this would be an unhealthy thing for the fish.

The Tang in the video looks to be in great condition, healthy clear brighf eyes so I dont feel any harm is being done.

But this is one guys opinion.

 

[DEWreefing]

I have about 8 tangs in my tank and all of them love to rush my hand while feeding including my fox face (jason) he will eat all the food in my hand. Then lay down in my palm he has only stabbed me once on accident.

 

[Schnizzle]

I have about 8 tangs in my tank and all of them love to rush my hand while feeding including my fox face (jason) he will eat all the food in my hand. Then lay down in my palm he has only stabbed me once on accident.

How did that feel? Is it as bad as I’ve heard? Haha

 

[vetteguy53081]

As with motortrendz, My 14" Vlamingi tang comes to my hand and begs. My 7" Vlamingi just runs off when it sees my hand, , , LOL
I don't make a point of it as I do not want to disturb their PROTECTIVE slime coat.

 

[reefgoddess1985]

Only concern I have is the bacteria on our hands can be harmful to the fish, but if they are clean and you aren't harassing the fish, why not? My problem is when the rabbit fish gets a little too excited and likes to pop his dorsal.

 

[DEWreefing]

How did that feel? Is it as bad as I’ve heard? Haha

It's like a dull throbbing pain just rinse in really hot water to break down the toxins hurt for about an hour.

 

[DEWreefing]

Only concern I have is the bacteria on our hands can be harmful to the fish, but if they are clean and you aren't harassing the fish, why not? My problem is when the rabbit fish gets a little too excited and likes to pop his dorsal.

When I stick my hand in the tank he drops the spines before he comes up to me. He does chase off my clown that likes to bite me hahaha.

Someone asked me how do I feed my fish.

Watch "February 20, 2020" on YouTube

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Chases of clownfish??? I need one.... ;Nailbiting

When I stick my hand in the tank he drops the spines before he comes up to me. He does chase off my clown that likes to bite me hahaha.

Someone asked me how do I feed my fish.

Watch "February 20, 2020" on YouTube

 

[S2G]

Def enjoy it. Look at that smile

 

[DEWreefing]

Def enjoy it. Look at that smile

That would be crazy!!! I have one of those it's a black storm clownfish

 

[Barks]

My cleaner shrimp is always looking for me, whenever I’m near the tank he comes straight over and as soon as my hand in there he’s on it, climbing up my arm, bit of a pain when I’m sticking frags in but he’s funny, hand fed.
at the opposite end of the spectrum is my clown tang, I’ve only got to look at him and his head goes black and looks like he wants to kill me. He is a psycho and is now in a mental asylum.

 

[Gon2srf]

My fish love my presence in the tank. My kole tang cleans me all the time and many of the fish hover right around my hand and let me pet them. If I don’t, they pet themselves by rubbing against my arm. I have never attempted to try to pet one. So it tells me that they like it and hasn’t hurt them for the years I gave had all these fish. But to each their own!

 

[Tastee]

Slimy is the new fluffky

Someone has been watching The Aquarium!

 

[AquaLifeStudio]

My maroon tries to bite me all the time! Goes after the magnetic glass cleaner too when I use it on her side of the tank.

I've got Gold Nugget Clowns (Maroons) that do the exact same things. They'll attack anything foreign to the tank.