Snoochie-booch Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 (edited) Everything I read online says that's it's rare and possible to contract an illness or parasite from infected water. Do you guys wear gloves while maintaining your tanks or ever heard of anyone picking up a parasite? I haven't gave it much thought until I accidently ingested some starting a syphon. It might seem like a silly question but, am I worried for no reason? Is it pretty easy to mess up and get yourself sick? This happened before, probably should pick up a syphon starter. Just wanted to run it by all of you and see if I should be concerned. I'm aware of cross contamination amongst tanks and equipment and take measures to avoid problems. This time it caught me slipping. I couldn't find much on cross contamination to humans. Edited December 8, 2020 by Richard Goger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Smith Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 30 years in the hobby, accidentally swallowed my share of tank water. I've never worried about it. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoochie-booch Posted December 8, 2020 Author Share Posted December 8, 2020 (edited) Thanks 👍 figured it happens to everyone and maybe I'm worrying for no reason. I was concerned and spent couple days looking for Intel online but was very limited. Thanks for easing my mind. Edited December 8, 2020 by Richard Goger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 I had a taste test of turtle water today, priming my filter the fastest, and least-recommended way possible. I was just glad it worked, saved me 20 minutes of fumbling. Of course, I rinsed out with black coffee. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoochie-booch Posted December 11, 2020 Author Share Posted December 11, 2020 Picked up a python squeeze siphon starter for 5 bucks, it's awesome. Came with a adaptor for smaller tube diameters and the other side a one-way floating ball valve, closed when pumped and opens to dispose into the bucket. Works great, easy cheap solution to putting your mouth on the tube end. Definitely worth a couple bucks if your looking at them undecided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 there are better ways to start a siphon than sucking on the hose. i know the co-op has videos on it, as do others. when you start growing gills, you know you swallowed too much tank water. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I have heard of many people sucking in water, and swollawing it no problem. One time I was siphoning out my betta tank and did the suck in method, and sucked some in. Turns out that fish had ich (uh-oh). But no problem I wasn't sick, and the betta only needed one does of meds because I caught it so early on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I rarely ever do the water in your mouth method, because I kinda get discusted from it. So I do it the aquarium co-op way, and then when I do a drip line acclimation I will just get my gravel vac create a siphon and get a kink in it. Heres a link to the co-ops way of gravel vaccing As for the gloves I have never worn gloves when mainting an aquarium. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I've never worn gloves nor gotten water in mouth, but I've gotten it splashed on my face and just rinsed off. I have never given a single thought to catching something from my fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 (edited) I'm sure you could catch something from tank water although I imagine we would have heard more about such instances if they were frequent occurrences. I don't use gloves, but have got in to the habit of washing, or at least rinsing, my hands both before and after putting them in my tanks after seeing all the microscopic organisms living in some tank water. I have never used the mouth siphon method. I know Gianne from Inglorious Bettas has talked with @Cory about fish TB or something that people can catch from fish in an old live stream. Around the 45min mark. Edited December 11, 2020 by Aubrey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoochie-booch Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 Thank you all for the judgement free advice, and great Intel. Those are amazing videos and I actually feel like a knucklehead. I have been doing it wrong for so long. Watched so many of your videos and I never seen those. You've given me so much to think about and I greatly appreciate everything more than you know. Learn so much from all of you. I'm really glad I asked the question. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larrimore Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 I figure the tank water is no worse than my diet Mt dew addiction...I wish I was kidding. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starsman20 Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Everytime I get tank water in my mouth that day immediately becomes a cigar day. Figure the smoke will kill anything I pick up. Plus it's a good excuse for a stogie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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