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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Diseases Transferable to Humans?!
So I read on this website that there are diseases transferable from fish to humans, and now I'm paranoid! Please someone put my mind at ease. I just cleaned out my tank, while water was pumping out when to the bathroom to wash off my decorations and (fake) plants when I came back the fish water spilled EVERYWHERE all over the carpet. I would have thought nothing of it before but now I'm freaking out! (I'm a paranoid germaphobe, obviously). Is there salmonella in my rug? Should I be more cautious about where I fling fish water around?? I know this probably sounds ridiculous, but if I don't ask I'll just continue to freak out. | 
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Welcome to Fishlore! 
As far as i know, Samonella ony happens with reptiles, so you are safe 
however ther is one disease that i know of, that does transfer to humans. Its called Fish Tubercuosis. | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| If diseases were transferable from fish to humans most of us would be dead jk
Sounds scary, there probably are but I think they are from eating fish | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Welcome to Fishlore!
Yes, there are diseases transferable to humans.
However, salmonella and other stomach-based illnesses need to be ingested to be harmful. Mere contact with skin won't hurt. Most other waterborne diseases are similar, or enter through open wounds. It's very rare for a waterborne disease to be inhalable (short of atomizing the water, which you'd have to do on purpose), and it's all but unheard of for a disease to be transmitted through simple contact. Things like the flu or food poisoning or pinkeye are transferred from hand to mouth (or nose, or eyes), and that's when you get sick. If you wash your hands after potential contamination (simple soap does the trick without any antibacterials... and sanitizer doesn't do anything if you don't wash first) you won't get sick. That's why it's a good idea to wash your hands immediately after handling anything for your tank.
If you're still worried, any waterborne disease in the carpet will die as the carpet dries.
If you're still worried, you can use some Oxi-Clean to disinfect the carpet. Just be sure to check it out in an obscure corner first. | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| ewwww!! I am really grossed out and wishing I hadn't read that.
i know someone who used to siphon using his mouth, swallowed fishwater, and ended up hospitalized with dyssentery. | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by mommybaby295  i know someone who used to siphon using his mouth, swallowed fishwater, and ended up hospitalized with dyssentery. | Not surprising.
There are all sorts of nasty things that grow in water and can run rampant in the human body. That's why our water supplies are chlorinated.
My family once got giardia from a poorly-chlorinated swimming pool. Even though I didn't get it, it wasn't a fun experience. | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
|  alright! i will stop using that way to syphon. I usually suck on the tube to get the suction going and it does the rest on its own...
thanks for the link!!! | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I've read that...I still use my mouth to siphon. Hasn't killed me in 3 yrs... | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| i did it too, amanda. and i even know the guy who got sick. | |
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October 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Lol my problem isn't being paranoid about getting sick when handling my tanks it's having another allergic rxn to some fish meds. Anytime I need to treat or work with a treated tank I've got latex gloves (the blue hospital ones) and all sorts of things. | |
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October 21st, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| I read that the other day and it worried me to death. lol, dont want to put my hands in my tank now till i have bought some gloves! x  Edited by Ken
Last edited by aquarist48; October 21st, 2009 at 06:11 AM.
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