The Puffer Forum

... I was almost going to post this to the Hospital section, as I really thought I might need to go there myself! Let me just tell you guys - KEEP YOUR HANDS AND FINGERS AWAY FROM YOUR BIG PUFFERS! Last night, while cleaning the tank - my Starry nipped my thumb! BIG nip! Blood everywhere! I won't go into details, but let's just say - it's going to take a while to heal, very deep wound. Went to the doctor's today - took this picture to prove Puffers have TEETH! He said this was the first time he's treated anyone for a fish bite ... put me on antibiotics, just in case.

Again, a lesson for the kids out there - BE CAREFUL! I nearly lost my finger ...

Oh c'mon, look at that innocent face! I bet she 's sorry... Let's see a pic!

I concur: pic! Makes me a little more nervous about cleaning the fahaka tank when he gets bigger. lol Seriously though, glad you're okay and that you don't need stitches.

Ouch. Glad you're okay, but definitely keep your fingers out of there in future; Starry will have a taste for your blood now

Well, if you wouldn't shell mussels before you clean the tank this wouldn't happen!
I've been bitten twice, once by my Turgdis and a few days later by my Suvatti. They hurt! I work in the local hospital and know all the ER staff, I'd sure hate to have to try to explain that one.....

Ok - I thought twice about posting this picture ... but I guess if ya had to have someone find a "crazy pix of you on the internet" - it could be worse!

It's starting to heal ... but still hurts. It's basically a round, deep, bite. Thankfully the skin stayed on (flap on the left). I'm on antibiotics in case there's an infection. UUgg. And yes, I brought a pix of the puffer with me - to show the size of his teeth, if anything! Lots of laughs in the waiting room ...

Yikes I bet that does hurt! I'm sure it must have been a funny experience in the ER lol

I think doctors must see almost every strange thing in the world. A friend of my brother had to go to the doctor on Christmas eve because he had managed to glue the Christmas tree star unto his finger.

A nice bite you have there. Starry did a good job. I can absolutely picture in my mind the look on the doctor's face when he saw it.

I've only been bitten by a puffer once (a turgidus), and luckily he only hit my nail. He did take a chunk out of my nail, so I am happy he didn't touch anything else. He usually stayed away from my hands when I did tank work, so it was a big surprise.

I've heard some great ER stories, with one of the best being the time that my sister put a cooked macaroni noodle in her nose and the doctor had to vaccuum it out, but this really does go on my top ten.

My sister got a piece of sterofoam stuck in her ear. She said it was the worst noise she's ever heard. Imagine, that stuff makes me cringe when in the same room, let alone in my head!

Ow!

But poor Starry.... Ya gotta love 'er! She's so CUUUUUTE!

At least you added to a few dr's "I Remember this one patient..." stories.