responsible for a store to sell blue ring?

[TaratronVaeVictus]

Unfortunately it is because of those morons who get a 'cool' animal and get injured, or get someone else injured, that bans are put into firmer posts. It also usually means a euthanised animal too.

We can't always say 'lol they should have expected it!' if the buyer gets the animal and a visitor to their house is bitten. That person may know zero about animals and assumes it's safe since his buddy clearly knows, right?

All of my animals are in cages, but I distinctly remember years ago when my mom's dog had puppies, and I told my friend not to go near the whelping box. Well, genius that she was, she wandered over when I went to the bathroom, and it was only perfect timing that spared her from going to the hospital for stitches, because the mama dog attacked her and I got in between them. Yes, my friend was a total moron, but it wouldn't have mattered for the dog; the police take a shallow view on dog attacks and she would have been put to sleep.

 

[nonstophoops]

I see no reason they should be banned. There are lots of things out there that are dangerous to people, some people enjoy keeping them. If you don't like the idea, don't buy one.

 

[TaratronVaeVictus]

It does, however, open a store to liability if someone who is not experienced with hot animals buys a blue-ring octopus, similar to buying a rattlesnake or other venomous animal. A pet store I used to frequent had some very knowledgable invert keepers, and they did have highly rated 4 and 5 tier scorpions and centipedes for sale...but only if they felt you were a good keeper. They wouldn't sell to any kid with $50 to his name. Largely because of the liability involved, and in the land of lawsuits, can you blame them?

 

[Wiggles92]

I'm pretty sure that in most states the store is no longer liable once the sale has occurred, and the new owner is liable for anyone who comes happens to come into contact with the animal after the purchase. As for your dog situation, why would you report the incident to the police at all?

In the end, lawyers will be the death of us all because of all the terrible people out there...

 

[TaratronVaeVictus]

Had my friend been bitten by the dog she likely would have needed stitches, and any animal attack reported needs a police inquiry. If I had lied and said she just fell and got cut somehow, that would have probably made things worse.

I am not so certain with the store's liability; if you leave a bar drunk and get a DUI, the barkeep is partially responsible legally for letting you leave.

A friend of mine has been pushing me to visit an acquaintance of his who keeps rattlesnakes, which are illegal to have in AZ unless you're in the game and fish department or have certain leeway like a zoo. He insists the people are on the up and up and their snakes NEVER escape, but having over a dozen snakes myself and dealing with 'oops thought I closed the lid!' a few times over a decade, my escaped snakes won't kill anyone, save for a mouse. If I went over to this person's house and a rattlesnake bit me, issues of possibly dying aside, you can be damn sure if the people were caught with the animals, the animals would be destroyed and a fine or possibly jail time would be the fate of the owners.

I am down with personal responsibility but after working at a zoo and helping with an animal rescue, let's be honest: most people barely have it with themselves let alone animals. We require permits for guns but anyone can wander into a store and buy a load of knives. Owning a blue-ring octopus would fall into the former category; unless you have health issues I don't think a lionfish sting will be fatal.

 

[DariusAmurdarja]

It produces venom only through it's food. And i doubt it is venomous in a tank at all, similar to dart frogs

 

[tjfish]

Thing is most likey its not going to be the expert responsible fish keeper that buys it. same thing happens withreptiles that require expert level. its always the guy that wants to say oh i own this that ends buying it. and in the middle of a bad*** demonstration to his friend gets bit. im pro permits and licenses at expensive cost because while the experienced fish/reptile keeper is angry cause he has to jump through hoops to get something they want it will also prevent the idiot who saved up just enough money to get the deadly animal or exotic pet.

It is exactly this method of thinking that has idiot proffed the world to a point that we have canceled out the laws of nature that keep the human species intelligent and thriving, when you idiot proof the world the idiots have no way to eliminate themselves.

If someone is dumb enough to buy a ven. reptile or octo, without proper setup and experience then they deserve to get bit and they deserve whatever the results of that bite are. Perhaps if more things were done like that, common sense wouldnt be so uncommon.

 

[krichardson]

It produces venom only through it's food. And i doubt it is venomous in a tank at all, similar to dart frogs

Interesting,I've not come across this piece of information but I sure had enough sense to keep my body parts away from the blue ring that I had a few years ago.To answer the thread question though I think a shop should not regularly have them in stock,they are said to not ship well anyway,but they should be a special order type of animal and whomever is placing an order for one should be made clear to the risk and danger that could come with keeping blue rings.

 

[DariusAmurdarja]

Interesting,I've not come across this piece of information but I sure had enough sense to keep my body parts away from the blue ring that I had a few years ago.

Thats better. You never know when it was catched. it's basicly russian roulette. When it is captive breed, then inwould not fear a bite. When it is cought in the wild and i don't know when...i would not touch it.

 

[OOL51]

It produces venom only through it's food. And i doubt it is venomous in a tank at all, similar to dart frogs

You really need to get your facts straight before posting crap like this, the venom is injected when they bite something. Normally they are a dull colour but when threatened the blue rings show and this is when you will get bitten if you get to close.

From 4 different sources all saying the venom is in the bite

With a beak that can penetrate a wet-suit, they are one little cute creature to definitely look at BUT Don't touch.

The bite might be painless, but this octopus injects a neuromuscular paralysing venom. The venom contains some maculotoxin, a poison more violent than any found on land animals. The nerve conduction is blocked and neuromuscular paralysis is followed by death. The victim might be saved if artificial respiration starts before marked cyanosis and hypotension develops. The blue-ringed octopus is the size of a golf ball but its poison is powerful enough to kill an adult human in minutes. There's no known antidote. The only treatment is hours of heart massage and artificial respiration until the poison has worked its way out of your system.

The venom contains tetrodotoxin, which blocks sodium channels and causes motor paralysis and occasionally respiratory failure. Though with fixed dilated pupils, the senses of the patients are often intact. The victims are aware but unable to respond.

Although the painless bite can kill an adult, injuries have only occurred when an octopus has been picked out of its pool and provoked or stepped on.

Venom
Blue-ringed octopus from New South Wales, Australia

The blue-ringed octopus is 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8 inches), but its venom is powerful enough to kill humans. There is no blue-ringed octopus antivenom available.

The octopus produces venom that contains tetrodotoxin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, hyaluronidase, tyramine, histamine, tryptamine, octopamine, taurine, acetylcholine, and dopamine. The major neurotoxin component of blue-ringed octopus venom was originally known as maculotoxin but was later found to be identical to tetrodotoxin,[4] a neurotoxin which is also found in pufferfish and cone snails that is 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide.[5] Tetrodotoxin blocks sodium channels, causing motor paralysis and respiratory arrest within minutes of exposure, leading to cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. The toxin is produced by bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus.[6]
[edit] Treatment

First aid treatment is pressure on the wound and artificial respiration once the paralysis has disabled the victim's respiratory muscles, which often occurs within minutes of being bitten. Tetrodotoxin causes severe and often total body paralysis; the victim remains conscious and alert in a manner similar to curare or pancuronium bromide. This effect, however, is temporary and will fade over a period of hours as the tetrodotoxin is metabolized and excreted by the body. It is thus essential that rescue breathing be continued without pause until the paralysis subsides and the victim regains the ability to breathe on their own. This is a daunting physical prospect for a single individual, but use of a bag valve mask respirator reduces fatigue to sustainable levels until help can arrive.

The blue ringed octopus is a small brown octopus which develops brilliant blue ring-shaped markings when disturbed. The genus is found throughout Australia's coastal waters and contains H. maculosa (the southern blue ringed octopus) in southern regions, H. lunulata (the greater blue ringed octopus) in more tropical areas, and H. fasciata (the blue lined octopus) which is found along the east coast of Australia. This genus has been associated with severe envenomations resulting in respiratory failure and human fatalities. The blue ringed octopus is found in tidal rock pools and is very attractive, especially to children and tourists, who are at risk of envenomation when they pick up the octopus. Bites can also occur when the creature is trodden on by waders.
The venom contains tetrodotoxin, (also found in puffer fish) and is secreted in the saliva of the octopus. It causes blockade of sodium channels and thus neurological problems such as weakness, numbness or paraesthesia, breathing difficulties and paralysis. The patient may be completely paralysed and unable to respond, sometimes with fixed dilated pupils, but the sensorium is often intact, and care should be taken to avoid negative remarks which the alert patient may hear. Envenomations are uncommon (11 cases had been reported up to 1983, including 2 fatalities) but may require supportive treatment including mechanical ventilation until the effects of the venom wear off. There is no antivenom available in Australia for blue ringed octopus envenomation.

These remarkable and spectacular creatures deliver a warning before they bite. When irritated or disturbed they rapidly develop brilliant blue rings. In such cases, you should admire their extremely colourful appearance from a safe distance. They are extremely venomous and, although such cases are rare, can cause human death.

The bite does not cause pain and puncture marks may not be visible. Numbness will be experienced, and it may become difficult to speak or see. If you are unlucky enough to be bitten, you should keep the injured limb still, put direct pressure on the wound and seek urgent medical aid.