Fish Handling!?!

[t_h_e_s_a_c_k]

I recently went away for 2 weeks on vacation and had my family look after my fish. My brother was feeding my oscar and decided to poke at and try and grab it. Is it possible for a fish to get a disease from the bacteria on someones hands? How else can handling a fish be harmful?

[Rocketman]

Handling fish could be harmful, and probably is most cases, although it may be harmless, depending. One of my co-workers at the Pet Store had two goldfish and a very silly friend. At her graduation party, this friend started to pet the goldfish. In a few days, they were dead.

Just as an extra precaution, I would recommend dosing the tank with some Stress Coat from Aquarium Pharmacuticals. It contains Aloe Vera that the package claims helps rebuild a fish's slime coat. However, others on this board have expressed doubts as to what effect, (good or bad,) the aloe vera has on the Slime Coat. I would still think it is your best bet, however.

[btowntaz]

I have a friend at work, that owns a salt water tank. One day, his wife, who had just returned from the nail salon, decided to feed the fish. The chemicials on her nails killed every fish in the tank.

I always wash my hands before putting them in the tank. Residue of soap and other chemicals on your hands and arms could kill your fish.

After coming home form work the other day, I wanted to move around some of the things on the bottom of my tank. I washed my hands and was about to reach in, when I rembered I had 40 spf sunblock on my arms. I would have had to put my entire arm in to reach the bottom. And would have most likley killed my fish.

As far as intentionlly HANDLING them. It is a VERY bad idea.

You should tell someone who is watching your tank to keep their hands out. Or find someone else to watch your tank!

[OrionGirl]

Aside from introducing chemicals and toxins, there are a few bacteria that could be introduced from one water to another--ie, if you'r fresh back from a trip to the lake, wash your hands before working in your tank. Ditto for returning from the LFS.

Bottom line--fish are NOT toys, and they should be handled only when absolutely necessary. Moving them even with a net is stressful, and should be avoided. If I have to move/capture fish, I prefer to use a jar--I skootch the fish in, and then remove the jar with water and fish. I can cover the top easily to prevent jumpers, and for fish like puffers, there's no concern of them inhaling air.

[NewbieForever]

Definitely not a good idea to touch fish. If you grab them, you can rub their slime coat right off, then they'll be open to attack from all kinds of nasty stuff like fungus.