Ok MFK'ers, I have a problem. I have found that I'm allergic to bloodworms. It took me a while to figure out what was causing my symptoms. I did a bit of research and now know that I cannot feed bloodworms any longer. Just putting my hand into my tank water irritates my skin!!! My whole body reacts and gets itchy and I get a rash. The reaction is almost instant. How do I get the water cleared of the irritant so that i can put my hands into the tank water again? What can I feed my fish now? I have a three inch red tailed shark, a 4 inch African Brown Knife, and a 4 inch Zig Zag eel. Has anyone else experienced this reaction? Wow this is an awful experience!! I have kept fish off and on since I was a child and have never noticed this. Are there any other fish foods that I may react to?
I'm allergic to bloodworms!!!!! OH NO!!!
- Thread starter tinytank
- Start date
use brine shrimp instead of blood worms if your fish are on frozen, otherwise if they'll take pellets id go with those - i never thought of being allergic to blood worms, thats crazy
Blood Worms are grown in chicken feces so.......yeah. My guess is that is what you are reacting to, I know another person who has this kind of reaction to it.
you could get tank gloves. But as suggested, it would probably just be easier to switch to brine shrimp
Interesting and very unfortunate. It sounds like atopy. I think your body is reacting to the protein in the bloodworm. Atopy is similar to a food allergy, which are always protein based. Most people who have such a reaction, usually have a food allergy.
It's the bloodworms. This allergic reaction is a lot more common than you think. I've read hundreds of stories about it.
Cheers ... Glad someone else understands what an actual food allergy is. I hate hearing about people claiming they are allergic to things like salt.
Anyway, do you know anyone that can do some water changes for you for a couple of weeks?
This has been on ongoing discussion at SimplyDiscus for years. A lot of us discus keepers use bloodworms as a staple, and many hobbyists have found they are allergic. For whatever reason, it seems to be mostly Hikari brand. tinytank, what brand do you use?
Here is a link to the most recent thread at Simply for those interested: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?86935-why-are-FBW-so-bad
Several years ago I noticed that my hands would get extremely itchy after feeding, and if I touched my face, my eyes would get red and watery and itch like hell. Even after thoroughly washing my hands and flushing my eyes with water, it would persist for 20 - 30 minutes. Careful handling allowed me to continue feeding them, I just had to be extremely careful.
Last month things escalated... after feeding one night, my entire chest and stomach broke out in hives, then I started having trouble breathing. Since then I haven't touched the package. They are just sitting in my freezer.
Here is a link to the most recent thread at Simply for those interested: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?86935-why-are-FBW-so-bad
Several years ago I noticed that my hands would get extremely itchy after feeding, and if I touched my face, my eyes would get red and watery and itch like hell. Even after thoroughly washing my hands and flushing my eyes with water, it would persist for 20 - 30 minutes. Careful handling allowed me to continue feeding them, I just had to be extremely careful.
Last month things escalated... after feeding one night, my entire chest and stomach broke out in hives, then I started having trouble breathing. Since then I haven't touched the package. They are just sitting in my freezer.