Anyone here tasted their aquarium water?

[digital_run]

This whole post is hilarious.. ...I've never personally tasted my tank water except for a few splashes that hit my mouth....I try to avoid it like the plague considering what i see get shifted up during a water change....Hmmmm next time im really thirsty/lazy i might just give it a shot.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

i have to say i havn't and the tought doesn't really appeal!!!!

 

[Dwarfs]

I haven't drank my tank water and I won't ever

 

[littlefishie]

Ew.

That said.. Accidentally I have, while doing airline tubing siphons on my betta tanks..
It didn't taste any different, but I spit it out quickly so I can't be sure.

 

[CathyG]

Have you heard about the girl who caught tuburculosis from her tank after syphoning too much water and swallowing alot.

Ben

You cannot contract TB from a fish in the common way it is contracted from a human. TB of the lung is one of the common forms of human TB, I have had this myself and endured the 8 months of gut busting anti-biotics and 18 months of xrays. I did not keep fish at the time, it is not contracted from ingesting tank water, it is a bacterial infection passed on by an infected person coughing/sneezing bacteria laden droplets into your breathing space - just like a common cold is passed on. That said, TB can be contracted and lay dormant - maybe never actually be coming active - until your immune system is compromised, then bang!

The zoological TB that you can catch from fish is TB of the skin (or flesh) where infected tank water can enter an existing external open wound and cause lesions as described here. This can be avoided by wearing protective gloves, etc, when handling water/hardware from known contaminated tanks.

Where any human form of TB becomes dangerous and life threatening, is where the immune system is compromised (such as with children under two, and people suffering from AIDs and such immune system diseases, and those whose immune system is broken down by chemotherapy) Then there is a risk of the disease becoming "mobile", potentially causing septicaemia (sp?) in the first instance, and risking meningitis and then further organ failure. I have had personal experiences of this, none had contracted TB from an aquarium. I wonder if fish TB can indeed cause such fatalities in immuno-compromised individuals. Anyway, sorry to become heavy on the subject )

I have unwittingly had a mouthful of tank water before I found an easier and safer way to start a syphon. I cannot comprehend someone choosing to try it, though...would you munch on your cat's litter tray?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

i remember the time i didnt have a siphon so i had to use an airline. i wanted to siphon water out faster so i used a black tube about 3/4 an inch wide and 2 feet long. it wasnt very flexible so when i used it, it ended up being a straw ive also injested cory eggs with fungus on it

 

[The Mohave Kid]

After looking at my tank water under my microscope ... I have no interest in drinking it

Good Day ... B)

 

[fishman 1]

Hi CathyG, I have read of someone getting the form of TB you speak of in their thumb and fore finger a few years ago. This was apparently caught from a fish tank. The article was in the Practical fishkeeping magazine. I cannot remember as to whether he had a cut or something? I suppose if you had a ulser or some kind of mouth lesion and you might have problems if you have an infected fish in your tank.

I would not recomend drinking tank water not just for the risk of TB but there is also the concerns over treatments used in the fish tanks, eg tap water conditioners, crustation/worm killers etc.

I have had tank water in my mouth as i too use syphon and have swallowed very small quantities by accident although i tend to spit it out as soon as possible.

You people who are going to taste you water just for the hell of it are MAD!

 

[fishman 1]

Hi CathyG, I have read of someone getting the form of TB you speak of in their thumb and fore finger a few years ago. This was apparently caught from a fish tank. The article was in the Practical fishkeeping magazine. I cannot remember as to whether he had a cut or something? I suppose if you had a ulser or some kind of mouth lesion and you might have problems if you have an infected fish in your tank.

I would not recomend drinking tank water not just for the risk of TB but there is also the concerns over treatments used in the fish tanks, eg tap water conditioners, crustation/worm killers etc.

I have had tank water in my mouth as i too use syphon and have swallowed very small quantities by accident although i tend to spit it out as soon as possible.

You people who are going to taste you water just for the hell of it are MAD!

 

[pahansen]

Well, for those of you who are interested, here are three good articles about "Fish TB". Yes, it can be contracted by humans; no, it is not the same as human tuberculosis; no, you do not need to have a compromised immune system to contract it (although you are more likely to contract anything of the sort if you do have); and yes, drinking tank water or starting a syphon by mouth is a bad idea.

The first article is an overview of various diseases that can be passed on from fish to human. http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...o%20Humans.html

The second article lists useful prevention techniques and what to do if you supect that you may have contracted a "fishborn illness". http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...ank_Safety.html

The last article is for the horror fans among you and gives details of reported cases of these diseases. http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...on_Details.html

I started reading about these diseases because I became pregnant (thus a compromised immune system) and was a little freaked out. I suggest that anyone keeping fish read at least the second article. Apparently these diseases are reasonably easy to stop in their tracks if you and your doctor know what you are dealing with. It would seem that the people who have the most extreme problems are those who suffered for a long time before the correct diagnosis, giving the disease a longer time to take hold.

Right after I set up the tank in our house, a doctor friend of mine told me that if I ever have any sort of infection or strange symptoms I should mention to my doctor that I keep fish. I suggest that to all of you as well. It gives them insight that might matter and that might have taken a lot longer for them to guess on their own.

Please stop drinking the water.
-- Pamela

 

[Dorkhedeos]

please dont double post