Boiling Stingers

[sunvalley aquarist]

Hi all,

I've read on here, that if you boil a discarded stinger, the process renders the stinger harmless in regards to the toxins.
My questions would be:
1) I've got some that are over a year old, would boiling them still work?
2) How long do you need to boil them for?
3) All but one of them are covered in black. Will boiling make these white?

Thank you

Pat

 

[mshuangchao]

These are some hard questions to reply. What I do know is that the black substance can be manually removed by scraping. Boiling the stingers will only make the black stuff more easy to remove, you'd still have to scrap it off. After a year, I'd expect most of the toxins would have been broken down. The toxin does no harm unless it get's into you're blood, so I don't think it's too much of an issue.

 

[longislandfish]

Just curious, what are you looking to keep them for? last one i got was completely white, nice one. I folded it up in a napkin and put it in the garbage however.

 

[motoro magic]

Even after boiling them i would still handle them with care. Not enough is known about the toxins from a rays spine so please be careful. I keep my rays spines in a plastic container with a tight fitting lid and out the way of little hands. Hope this helps.

 

[longislandfish]

Even after boiling them i would still handle them with care. Not enough is known about the toxins from a rays spine so please be careful. I keep my rays spines in a plastic container with a tight fitting lid and out the way of little hands. Hope this helps.

I didnt know some of you guys save them. I guess you can measure and collect?

 

[PeteLockwood]

I've kept all mine, except one I gave to my nephew. I don't go crazy, just rinse under hot water for a few seconds. It'll take off most of the black and then sure, I have no qualms about handling the stinger and have never felt even a tingle.

 

[stingraymond]

You can encase the stingers in acrylic so they can be examined and handled safely:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5814165_make-acrylic-resin-paperweights.html


Makes a great conversation piece...

 

[motoro magic]

The question is how long do the toxins in the spine last ? Even after boiling how do we know it's safe ? I would'nt fancy finding out by jabbing myself with it.

 

[Just Toby]

I have felt tingled even after boiling, I handle them carefully when getting them out.....but I have soft office boy hands.

No harm in being cautious.

I am sure that after a few days the venom has gone.

I boil them straight away and all the black comes off.

 

[JohnG]

I only keep the ones from my giant girls, I have never boiled them. I also haven't felt any tingle when touching them, but I do make a point of not stabbing myself with them. I don't think there is any danger so long as you don't cut yourself or handle them with an open wound.