I just realized, whenever I have been arranging things in the aquarium, I will dry my hand on the kitchen towel, and let it sit on the counter top. I also use my mouth to start syphoning the gravel vac. Should I use hand sanitizer after feeding the fish, and make sure no one touches any stray drops of water?
2007-08-23 13:11:37 · 5 answers · asked by Hicktown girl66 6 in Pets ➔ Fish
While the type of TB that fish get is different than the type normally though of in humans, we can still get it from fish. It's not that common, though, and you would need to have a cut or damage on your skin. On a person, this would appear as an inflamed lump on the skin, rather than the nodules in the lungs which is how the "typical" TB appears.
While some fish that have this don't show any symptoms, you'll usually be able to tell that your fish have something wrong with them - they don't eat well, lose their color, can appear very thin or swell up, have a curved spine, or have open sores on their bodies. (see photos of infected fish: http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20001214141554/www.peteducation.com/images/articles/tfh_fish_tb2.jpg , http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20001214141644/www.peteducation.com/images/articles/tfh_fish_vibriosis.jpg
2007-08-23 13:35:11 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's not the same TB that humans get. When you catch it from a fish it turns into a nasty skin rash. If you are worried your fish may have TB then make sure not to handle them, or put your hands into the tank if you have cuts or wounds on your hands or any other skin that might get exposed to the water.
It isn't anything major to worry about unless your fish are sick. If they are just take some extra precautions when cleaning the tank. Also, if your fish get TB, use a quarantine tank to keep the sick fish isolated from the healthy fish as soon as you see it, to keep it from spreading. Fish TB is almost always fatal (for fish, not humans), and is highly contagious.
I hope I have been able to help. Any more questions? Feel free to e-mail me with them!
Sarah
2007-08-23 20:30:18 · answer #2 · answered by camo_gal_06 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Fish TB isn't nice.. but it's not deadly either.
So long as you don't have open cuts, or drink the water, you're probably safe. In fact.. the chances of your tank even having it aren't particularly high. Start reading on diseases from fishtanks, and you'll probably get rid of it altogether..
2007-08-23 20:49:28 · answer #3 · answered by ratlover_littlemonster 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You have been misinformed. While fish can have "TB" it is a different type of TB than that which is contracted by humans. You can not contract Tuberculosis from fish. Eat as much Nemo as you want - prepare it as you always have!
I'm glad you posted this and hope this answer clears it up for you!
2007-08-23 20:21:09 · answer #4 · answered by moleary1018 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
That's frightening! I"ve never heard of this! use the sanitizer, for sure... but be sure it doesn't get into your fishtank...! and use paper towels you can throw away!
2007-08-23 20:16:54 · answer #5 · answered by sandagal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋