Not a Fish or Coral Disease but a Human disease called Mycobacterium Marinum

Not to take away from the seriousness of these issues, but it's not that easy to get. I once had a wisdom tooth that cracked in half (I'm a dentist scaredy cat) and mouth siphoned a hospital tank twice a day for four months. The fish just kept having issue after issue after issue until finally I had to put them down. I had a necropsy performed and they were absolutely LOADED with myco. I was afraid for a nice bit after that. But I tell ya, I drank more of that water than I'd care to remember.

I still mouth siphon, but I use a tube that is super long so that there is no chance it will reach me with one suck.

 

It's common enough that I know over a dozen people that have contracted it. 3 in my reef club along. I contracted it as well. It's not fun.

 

ewwww my hands hurt now! seriously... did you read wash your hands. ...so important. i will now be buying the antibacterial soap. just for after my hands were in the tank. i dont believe in it for everyday use...... thanks for reminding me of this.

 

:inquisiti wow, well that is very nasty

 

For me when I got it washing my hands would have done no good as 8 - 12 hours a day I was handling MO livestock at the wholesale level

 

well thats a totally different thing. makes you wonder about anyone who works at a fish store even. they are at risk daily

 

A fish store employee has far less contact then a MO wholesaler in most cases I've done both jobs at multiple places. There were days I'd be wet the entire 12 hours. Wholesalers come in a lot more contact with nasty stuff, like mosquitoes flying out of a box packed in the tropics and landing on you and biting you

 

Funny. I swallowed a mouthful not long ago and immediately ralphed. Reading this my gag reflex kicked in unexpectedly.

 

damn i mouth siphon every time i start a siphon hopefully i dont get it iv done about 20-30watercheanges like this...yuk!!!! but water really never got in my mouth

 

I've always hated the expression about cuts and scratches "saltwater makes it heal faster".

I knew it was bogus just because of all the life present in seawater.

Now I can give them a specific reason to keep that wound dry.