Aquarium Coral can be Dangerous
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (346007)
Rockingham, Australia
May 2, 2017 8:04am CST
On the news in Western Australia in the last few days is a report of a family of seven from South Australia who are all in hospital because of suspected poisoning. They all have breathing problems believed to have been caused through scrubbing coral during cleaning of the household aquarium. Spores given off by the coral during the scrubbing process are believed to be responsible for the breathing problems experienced by the family.
HAZMAT (hazardous material) teams, wearing protective suits and breathing gear, have been working in 20-minute shifts to decontaminate the house. It seems the coral is readily available and outcomes could be worse if a person has, for example, a cut on their hand. Maybe these types of coral needs a warning label. Do you have an aquarium and have you ever heard of a similar case?
32 people like this
35 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
2 May 17
When I lived in Hawaii I stepped on coral and cut my foot. I would up with coral poisoning. We were in church the next day and I passed out all kind of tests etc. then they took something looking like an apple peeler and cut out a section of my foot - it gives me chills remembering.
3 people like this
Seriously though, it must have been pretty awful - and frightening.
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
2 May 17
wow, quite bizarre - hopefully it will help warn other tropical fish enthusiasts to be cautious
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
3 May 17
@JudyEv I knew there are poisonous wild corals - didn't know any got into aquariums. Suggests people are just breaking off coral indiscriminately to sell in pet shops for fish keepers - the damage that will do to the environment is astronomical
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
@arthurchappell I can't be sure the toxic ones are real coral. The article just said 'coral products' are 'readily available' but I wouldn't have thought artificial products would give off spores.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 May 17
@JudyEv I dont have fish atm, but this makes me feel like I should research many more things more carefully!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 May 17
@Jessicalynnt I remember when the first cases of legionnaire's disease appeared, caused by spores/whatever when spreading compost.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
3 May 17
I used to have one, but only used fake coral.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 17
@teamfreak16 I've never had much interest in aquariums. A friend has one and the light in it is switched off at night so they can sleep. That strikes me as funny.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
3 May 17
@JudyEv - I wonder if you can order the real stuff online.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
3 May 17
I have never had coral in any of my fish tanks and sounds like its something that shouldn't be in a tank. That is terrible to hear they are sick. I do like seeing the kids (Fish), but what are the chunks in the water? They look blue and light blue.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
4 May 17
@JudyEv That explains it food I don't feed any flakes, as my kids are on Japanese Food. Husband says they eat better than us.
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@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
I wonder why that was? I had an idea it was bad for the coral rather than bad for the humans.
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
2 May 17
Its my first time to hear such this case. Our beach have many corals and I hope they are not dangerous to us.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
3 May 17
@JudyEv I have experienced injured in corals but not that serious. The worse injury is when my foot wounded by oyster shell, many times, because we usually harvest oyster in the river. The good thing is that its easily heal because of seawater.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
@ilocosboy I know that salt water is very good for wounds.
@allknowing (140561)
• India
2 May 17
We have had aquariums before but not now. Never had corals, anyway
1 person likes this
@allknowing (140561)
• India
3 May 17
@JudyEv Certainly not after what you have told us here.
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@silvermist (19702)
• India
3 May 17
@JudyEv That is news for me.Who would have thought.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
There is always something new popping up in the news to worry us.
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
I suppose it has although I haven't heard of it. I should think most cats would want to avoid getting wet. I'm not a fish person either although I know goldfish will get to know you and swim round and through your hands as if wanting to communicate.
