Just got stung by my frogspawn

Daniel@R2R · Jan 20, 2014

So I knocked over a rock trying to get to a frag that fell and on that rock that fell there was a frogspawn...I tried to set the frogspawn back up and the darn thing put a hole in my finger!! Stung me harder than I've been stung by anything else in my tank! I thought those things were relatively docile (to human skin) bc I've brushed it before while in the tank...note to self: DON'T GRAB THE FROGSPAWN!!

Thanks for reading. :)

Btw, soaking your finger (or whatever) in white vinegar is great for relieving stings. Just an additional tip from the experienced...

mOnsterzOas26 · Jan 20, 2014

**** that sucks I didn't know they could hurt ,

jason g · Jan 20, 2014

I always handle my frogspawn and never gotten stung. I didn't know they could harm you that bad.

Rockhead · Jan 20, 2014

You sure there wasn't a bristle worm in there that got you, I've never heard of frog spawn ever stinging, but stranger things have happened

ohio reefer · Jan 20, 2014

I have a couple very large heads of frogspawn, and colonies over 21 heads and I've handled them for years and I can assure you the frog spawn wasn't the cause of your pain, especially if a hole was left. Most likely a bristle worm, or similar hitchhiker.

Daniel@R2R · Jan 20, 2014

It would have had to have been inside the head of tentacles...

Tank2379 · Jan 20, 2014

I've been stung before by my frogspawn while cleaning my glass. Left a couple lashes on my arm. It was red for a few days but wasnt that bad.

Daniel@R2R · Jan 20, 2014

I didn't think a frogspawn could sting either, but my finger was on the tentacles on one of the heads. Could there have been something else in there? I get stung regularly by bristle worms, and this was far worse...

revhtree · Jan 20, 2014

Could it have been the skeleton of the head sticking you? Never been stung either but I'm not saying it couldn't happen!

Dylan J. · Jan 20, 2014

Only way i could see this happening is if you had a small cut/scrape and the tenticle smacked agained the wound then you would feel it

AJsTank · Jan 22, 2014

Wow, I had no idea Frogspawn could sting you like that...

mrcoffee2 · Jan 22, 2014

I have never been stung by my frogspawn....

Mike J. · Jan 22, 2014

I can't believe this - people actually telling him he must be wrong. You should see the sweeper tentacles on my Galaxia. I'm not going to touch it.

Here's a quote from Anthony Calfo, "The sweeper tentacles of Euphylliids are some of the most dangerous among commonly kept corals. Aquarists should exercise caution that they do not get stung and tankmates will need to be placed at sufficient distance. Never underestimate the reach of a Euphylliid's sweeper tentacles. Sweepers 10 in./25 cm long are not uncommon and larger ones have been observed. Caution with such tentacles must be exercised or aquarist will suffer some significant degree of pain from the "right tentacle on the wrong day."

I can't believe that so many are doubting mdbannister - I don't. Go ahead and keep handling your Euphylliids, "Do you feel lucky?"

Daniel@R2R · Jan 22, 2014

revhtree said:
Could it have been the skeleton of the head sticking you? Never been stung either but I'm not saying it couldn't happen!

I don't think so. It was definitely a sting. I'm wondering if it was just a rare incident or if (like someone else here said) there was something hiding out inside the coral. Whatever it was, it hurt worse than most stings I've had and lasted for about 15 minutes soaking in vinegar (and left a mark that swelled up for about 24 hours).

Daniel@R2R · Jan 22, 2014

Mike J. said:
I can't believe this - people actually telling him he must be wrong. You should see the sweeper tentacles on my Galaxia. I'm not going to touch it.

Here's a quote from Anthony Calfo, "The sweeper tentacles of Euphylliids are some of the most dangerous among commonly kept corals. Aquarists should exercise caution that they do not get stung and tankmates will need to be placed at sufficient distance. Never underestimate the reach of a Euphylliid's sweeper tentacles. Sweepers 10 in./25 cm long are not uncommon and larger ones have been observed. Caution with such tentacles must be exercised or aquarist will suffer some significant degree of pain from the "right tentacle on the wrong day."

I can't believe that so many are doubting mdbannister - I don't. Go ahead and keep handling your Euphylliids, "Do you feel lucky?"

Thanks! I was starting to think I was crazy. Lol

Mtnbikedan01 · Jan 22, 2014

I've been stung by my frogspawn after shaking sand off of it during a fragging session. It left a slime coat on my hand that led to a mild rash that was a bit painful. No holes but not fun for me either.

Acroholics · Jan 22, 2014

You can most definitely be stung! And on a side note....

YOU GET STUCK BY BRISTLE WORMS ALOT?!? Lol

CountrySideCoral · Jan 22, 2014

Mike J. said:
I can't believe this - people actually telling him he must be wrong. You should see the sweeper tentacles on my Galaxia. I'm not going to touch it.

Here's a quote from Anthony Calfo, "The sweeper tentacles of Euphylliids are some of the most dangerous among commonly kept corals. Aquarists should exercise caution that they do not get stung and tankmates will need to be placed at sufficient distance. Never underestimate the reach of a Euphylliid's sweeper tentacles. Sweepers 10 in./25 cm long are not uncommon and larger ones have been observed. Caution with such tentacles must be exercised or aquarist will suffer some significant degree of pain from the "right tentacle on the wrong day."

I can't believe that so many are doubting mdbannister - I don't. Go ahead and keep handling your Euphylliids, "Do you feel lucky?"

Thank you Mike. I knew I read that same paragraph but had no idea how to find it. I too have been hit by a frogspawn and my wall hammer. Some of the longest sweepers I have seen have been on cristata. Trust me, my reef tank is 95% euphyllia/ 5% zoa/palys so I am very cautious about where my hand is when working on my tank. When my frogspawn hit me I actually felt a numbing sensation work it's way from my fingertips to my elbow. No joke, euphyllia can pack a punch just like certain tangs, fox faces, lionfish, and zoas/palys.