Fishkeeper's Granuloma - Mycobacteriosis

[Fox46]

Three months ago I developed a boil/carbuncle on my thumb which lingered for ages. Then it burst but didn't fully resolve, leaving a slightly larger flatter swelling. Then the area developed little pustules/blisters and I tried various ointments to draw them out. Eventually I saw some suspicious discolouration near my wrist and having had the symptoms of granuloma in my mind for some weeks, I went to the doctor. The definitive test for Mycobacteriosis is a complicated, expensive affair, he tells me. I'd have to go to a special unit to have a culture taken, it has to be frozen immediately and couriered to a special centre for testing and it can take a long time to process. I'm now on a massive dose of strong antibiotics for a month before reviewing the situation, and have been warned I may have to stay on them for up to 3 months. If it hasn't resolved after that, then I guess the special procedure will be initiated. I've run several tanks for seven years or so, and have been reasonably careful when cleaning etc. but I haven't usually worn gloves unless I'm aware of a particular cut/scratch or wound on my hands and arms, in which case I've been ultra careful, applying waterproof plasters, and using rubber gloves . But there are some things you have to do in the tank where protective gloves just won't permit the degree of precision required or you have to take a swift action when a fish gets trapped etc.
Of course, this issue may respond to the antibiotics I'm taking (with all their side-effects ) but having had time now to review my approach to tank maintenance, I thought I'd post this just as a warning to others. I took precautions when I knew I had cuts that put me at risk, but it may turn out that that wasn't enough.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I used to have a big problem with dry skin. I would actually lose a complete layer of skin om my palms and most of my fingers. I came up with a solution involving gloves. I am also allergic to nitrate. So squeezing our foam media was a particular problem. I have the aqua gloved which come right up to one's armpits. The problem with there are the actual glove part is so thick it impedes one's ability to do any kind of fine work when wearing them. I tried dish gloves and wound up with water filled gloves so that was no help.

Coralife Aqua Gloves​

https://www.coralifeproducts.com/all-products/specialty-equipment/aqua-gloves

What I came up with was a combination of waterproof tape and exam gloves. I would use three pieces of tape to seal the gloves above the wrist. The first strip of tape was applied 1/2 to the glove edge and one half on my arm. The to get a good seal I added two more strips of tape. One reinforced the tape connection to the arm and other went one the opposite side and secured the glove and the initial piece of tape.

This pretty much sealed in the hand. But there are some things that need a clear ungloved hand to do. This is especially the case if one has to handle Scotch or any other form of sticky tape. If using the gloved hand, the tape will stick to the glove and often tear the glove trying to unstick it. So for the other hand I used a dish glove which was easy to put one and take off if I needed to do so. Also if I had to reach into a deeper tank I could always use my left hand (the right was sealed in the exam glove as I am right handed). I would put on the long Aqua glove for this.

However, because i had a number of pleco species tanks fore spawning and growing out, these were shallower tanks- 33L and 20L. In thiese tanks I found anther way to go. There are longer style dis gloved with an elastic top. East to put on and take off with dry hands. I could uses these gloves for working in the shallower tanks. The one caveat is if you reach into a tank at to much of an angle, you can inadvertently submerge the elastic top of the glove and the elastic does not seal it. I had to learn to avoid making this mistake.

I searched Amazon for longer dish gloves and found what I needed:

3 Pairs Reusable Long Sleeve Durable Gloves PVC Vinyl Household Cleaning Anti Allergic Large Adult Size​

I have them in blue, green and pink. I keep a few pairs in both our buildings where I have tanks. The above are good for going into the water up to the start of the elbow and not above.

I really needed the gloves when I had 20 tanks. Today I am down to 12 tanks and one of these is only plants. All but 3 tanks are now well planted which means nitrate levels tend to be lower or close to 0. Plants use nitrates. With the reduce number my jands are spending much less time submerged in tank water.

Incidentally dry skin on my hands makes using touch screen difficult for me. I touch the screen and nothing happens most of the time. So, I do not use or own a smart phone or tablet. Add to this that I hate smaller screens, so, I do not use nor own a smart phone or tablet.