The Infection That Nearly Ended My Time In The Aquarium Hobby 

Omg, you win. 524 comments (so far) and this is by far my favorite!

@@BaconCove Next is having the power to control things, like Mr. Nimbus in Rick and Morty.

Bro turned himself into a waterbender 💀

@@BaconCove this week in parasitism!!!!!! You should 100% contact them and do a channel cross promotion. Vincent and crew are life long dedicated to this topic and they would probably love to showcase your story from the beginning and let their audience diagnosis it. It really drives home the value of getting a person’s background, and not skipping the hobby.

@@_c_y_p_3 That's a great idea -- I'll reach out to them. Thanks for the tip!

Seriously. I'm super grateful to him for catching it -- who knows what fun I could have been in for if the infection had gone another few months undetected. Thanks so much for the comment!

gotta also point out the other docters he saw were clueless and he was probably on prednesone for nothing because it didn't even identify or solve the underlying issue. prednesone also carries very significant risks doctors often don't like to tell you about - development of chronic high blood pressure, diabetes, your hip bones can literally disintegrate, you can grow a huge "buffalo hump" on the back of your neck, cushings syndrome the list goes on. you can develop these with a single use but chances increase the longer you take it

@@chrishayes5755 ugh i hate prednisone, i have it on my allergy list. it caused me severe limb pain, so bad i was crying. all four limbs were hurting at once. i couldn't get comfortable, i was sobbing. we immediately stopped prednisone and i never took it again and never will. there's other options than prednisone.

Prednisone can lead to compression fractures of vertebrae when lifting even minor weights. My whole lumbar spine has been fractured.

Doctor House. Did you ever watch the show? In a way very realistic. There’s literally hundreds if not thousands of rare conditions that most doctors never encounter in a lifetime of practicing medicine. They go with the established treatment for the symptoms they see: 90% of the time it works. If it doesn’t they investigate further but there’s no guarantee they’ll get it. It often comes down to luck finding a doctor who is a nerd for rare diseases or has had some previous experience.

Wow, you've got a SMART mother. I've had lots of medical training and this was sitting in a far dusty corner of my mind. Nice tank videos -- I subscribed!

@@BaconCove well.. he had a mother..

@@72marshflower15 Please stop.

@@72marshflower15 That has been established, I believe.

what is your Mom advice to keep us away from this Mycobacterium Marinum or any other disease/infection that we didn't know it exists?

Wow, thanks so much for such an interesting comment. If it was interesting to a microbiologist I must have done something right! Are you a researcher? Physician?

@@BaconCove I am/was a clinical microbiologist but now I work as an Infection Control Director for a Hospital System. The part I found interesting was the nodules you reported having. I have never come across anyone with the infection you had but TB and Leprosy also have the potential to create those so I guess that is also standard across the family.

They're super interesting. That unusual infectory dog disease(s?)goin around in some states seem to be related to a mycobacterium too. Which was a thought I had when reports said that they didn't manage to isolate the bacteria and no tests for the most prevalent known viral and bacterial agents for dog respiratory diseases. Like thought it might be either a very slow growing one like mycobacteria, or a mycoplasma species or in general any known obligatory intracellular bacteria. An uni did isolate an, it seems yet unknown one. I find bacteria and immunology in general just tremendously interesting I learned labtech and then studied biology, micro biology (in Germany) and molecular genetics as the most interesting topics. Didn't finish university though, had a nasty bout of trying to leave this earthly realm...(im better now since I'm on hrt lol) so I cant claim expert status but infections are always so interesting. Not for the poor infected person ofc

yo, biochemist here. i do pulmonary research now (fibrosis, not tuberculosis unfortunately). i started my undergrad career with a cool program called SEA-Phages where university students can isolate and characterize a novel mycobacteriophage. i learned through that program that phages are a super viable but very much not FDA-approved treatment for abx-resistant infections, including tuberculosis, due to their ability to mutate. (anyone reading, please note that they're so unlikely to mutate to become infectious to humans that you can confidently bet your bottom dollar it'll never happen.) is there any meaningful conversation going on about the use of phage therapy for mycobacteria or other commonly resistant bugs?

Would this be a risk in aquatic turtle tanks too?

Then you would be thrilled to hear my father got 4 rare bacteria from a surgery, not 1 or 2, 4!! Somehow they stayed in the skin and didn´t reach the bloodstream. The docs. face when she looked at the results was priceless. Now I tell my father to let some bacteria for other people, no need to be greedy.

Zoologist here, with a focus on marine animals. Lol I so feel you. I get way too excited about macabre stuff like a whale washing ashore. "Oooo what a great chance to study their vocal folds!"

Just dont blow it up to get to the bits you want to see....Oregon DOT learned that lesson the hard way...lol

Haha, that's hilarious -- what kind of fish do you keep? So sorry to hear you are fighting this as well. Antibiotics only or did you need a biopsy/debridement? I really appreciate you sharing your story. Thanks!

I have two planted tanks; one with innumerable cory doras, white tip tetra & fancy guppies; the other with 3 dwarf Gouramis (1 male) & a school of Cardinal tetras. Love them both!! I'm on the suggested course of three antibiotics & have had two biopsies and several debridements. I now have a pair of shoulder length gloves for cleaning the tank. Smart huh?! 😉

Oh my gosh, I'm SO sorry to hear it's been such a long painful haul for you. Wishing you the best and that you can stay away from the knife from here on out!!

@@BaconCove Thank you!

@@autumnisnothere - I'm glad you mentioned the shoulder length gloves. I also have an aquarium and I'm not interested in meeting Mycobacterium marinum. So I was going to ask how do we keep from getting this bacteria?

Thanks so much for posting that Brigid -- really thoughtful. I assume you work at a pet store?

100% agree! There are risks of cross contamination with many things. As a 25 + year aquarium hobbiest I know I have been very lucky to have only had an allergic reaction to a lionfish sting. I am so very sorry that the OP caught such a nasty thing. I pray you recover & keep your immune system safe! Long term antibiotics..... fingers crossed. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

I got a nasty infection while working maintenance at a dog friendly apartment in Seattle, had to rinse the dog crap covered “grass” mats daily and they’d only let us use disinfectant/cleaners once complaints of dogs getting bladder infections started rolling on, literally had to have maybe 20 complaints before we shut the roof down and used all kinds of chemicals. Which lasted a couple weeks, then everything would just repeat itself. Was Not there long. All that to say, you can get nasty infections from Any Pet Anywhere Pet Related, careful y’all lol

There's a name for infectious agents that are from animals. Zoonoses pronounced like zo-noses.

@@Soandsoguy I had No idea but I suppose it makes sense it would have its own name, thank you for the knowledge!!

I was a marine biology major and when I learned that barnacles and coral could grown inside our bodies like that, it must’ve stuck because a decade later I had a dream that a barnacle was growing on my thigh and popped out to gather food. I cannot look at a barnacle now without being creeped out and that’s twenty years after the dream. 😬

Omg. First, I apologize for the lengthy reply. Secondly, I am scared out of my mind after reading this. 😭😭😭😭 I keep and breed Diamondback Terrapins, the only brackish water turtle species. A year ago, I noticed my white ornate group had scabs that had appeared on their butts and legs overnight. After examining further, I notice what looked like these white worms embedded in their shells. I then start examining all of them and see that they all had this! In a panic, I pulled them all out of the water and I’ve been living in hell trying to identify this thing ever since! I’ve been to four vets over the past year for “worms embedded in skin and shell”, and each time, I was treated as if I was crazy! I’ve had shell cultures and poop samples sent into labs, and they all came back negative for parasites. I have treated them all for fungus and bacteria, and I am still working around the clock to save their lives! I’ve lost a dozen so far with others in critical condition because this thing is eating through their shells and skin!!The worst part is they are stealthy and below the surface level, which would appear fine, but not so fine when you uncover what’s going on underneath and in between the scutes! 😭😭 I ended up buying a microscope because I KNOW it’s a parasite, despite what the cultures came back with. Apparently, if it’s not in the vet manuals, it’s not possible. Yet, so VERY possible because I am living it and I can see it with my own eyes! It’s not microscopic! In the meantime, I started getting these bumps and nodules all over my skin. And I mean, my hands, arms, neck and the top of my back, my FACE and scalp, ankles and feet!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭 They are GROWING and SO PAINFUL!!!! I am in constant pain, and I’ve always been a very healthy person! I’ve had an ultrasound, X-ray and MRI done in my ankle, which was swollen for a YEAR BEFORE this started and they couldn’t find anything, yet I’m struggling to walk! I have attempted to see infections disease, who made me jump through so many hoops to get an appointment. Labs done multiple times reflect low white blood cell count. Not enough! My doctor sent in a written description of my symptoms and sent the referral TWICE, but they are telling me I need a “diagnosis” to be seen. HOW? Isn’t that what ID does?! She told me to go to the ER, so I waited 6 hours to be seen. They can’t diagnose a parasite! The only ones that can are ID, but they won’t see me! 😭😭😭😭 I’ve been waiting for 2 months for a necropsy report to come back. I was told 4 weeks, so they are obviously struggling with identification. I feel like I’m close to figuring this thing out and I’m 99% sure that it’s a crustacean, and the latest thing I’ve been studying is barnacle larvae! 😭😭. I haven’t been able to pinpoint it yet, but I do know it’s a crustacean, hence the reason it’s not showing up in any tests! And I am PISSED! I am angry with the medical community for not listening to me and treating me like I’m crazy when I’m the furthest thing from! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I’m searching high and low for help, and I don’t know where to turn! I just read this and I’m scared out of my MIND!!!! I have these nodules growing in my arms, and my mobility and capability to bend my wrists and hands is getting more and more difficult and painful, but I have them EVERYWHERE!!! I know you can’t help me, but is there anyone here that can help me with identifying this parasite? I have so many pictures, I could create a book! They are big and visible, but they don’t start that way. And I have NO idea how they got all over my body, but I never wore gloves when handling my terrapins before any of this! Any skin that has been exposed is infected! I suddenly have these verified veins popping out of my legs! I also know they JUMP! I’ve witnessed them jumping on me, and on my wall! I’ve seen them disappear through skin! Like they melt through! How long was thing thing growing in his body before he was able to have it identified?? It’s been a year since this nightmare started, and I have no idea how long I’ve been infected before the trouble started. HOW did he have it identified?! It seems that the word “parasite” is taboo; even if you own something like turtles that carry parasites! While mine are all captive bred, all of these breeding circles started with wild caught terrapins, and I learned the hard way that if the pathogen is in the water, it develops inside of the egg. I have also lost well over a dozen hatchlings. I’m just struggling so hard!! If anyone else reads this and can offer any recommendations, or can possibly help with identifying a marine parasite, please, please, please respond! I promise you that I’m not crazy. I’m a professional, but desperate for help. ANY help!

I'm sorry to hear that. I remember when I was a kid learning about reptiles. My parents bought me a field guide and I was fascinated reading about those turtles. I found one years ago in Florida. God bless​@@jessieschnell9919

@@jessieschnell9919 My recommendation is "pics or it didn't happen". In other words, if you are told that nothing exists, but you can see it with your own eyes, then what you see will also be "seen" and recorded by a camera. Then you can simply _show_ a veternarian the problem.

​@@jessieschnell9919Have you looked up Barnacle Cypris Larvae? Do they look like that? From your description it sounds similar, and from your health problems it does as well. But I'm far from an expert, just 5 minutes of googling.

Wow, thank you for what YOU do! Burn units are NO JOKE. Regarding your ex I heard about people who try to "rescue" sick fish and rehab them. Some folks in earlier comments on this video have said it's a bad idea because so many of those fish are infected with something that could transmit to humans (like mycobacteria). So I guess if a person was going to do it they would need to be VERY careful about taking safety precautions. Thanks for your comment!

Wow, thanks -- I really appreciate the compliment!

I wish there was an intro, some music, and 18 minutes of him talking

While it was indeed a well-prepared and conveyed presentation, it would maybe have been better with mentions of whether there are any predispositions to catching it and any preventive measures? (weak imune, gloves, washing,...)

No music needed. It’s not a music video

@@colinashby3775 "No music needed. It’s not a music video" woosh

Hey, thanks! Good luck and be careful!

Interesting. I was a fish cutter once and my middle knuckle in the hand was jabbed by a rockfish spine. It swelled and looked like a problem but eventually quieted down for awhile. I would get flare ups for the next seven years. It's long gone now. No treatment. I wonder if it's the same thing or some toxin from the spine.

My fish personally have the tuberculosis species so no touching the water!

You've got a GORGEOUS channel -- subscribed! Thanks for the comment friend.

Thats crazy, I heard about it before I even got into the hobby.

@@Kw1tsel And as a result, you will never get it because that's the irony of useful useless knowledge.

wear gloves.

Wow, you're only the second person who's mentioned having had this as well. We should form a club. Glad you were able to clear it up without surgery though! Luckily none of the antibiotics I'm on cause photosensitivity BUT -- one of them can't mix with alcohol so no drinking. For a year.

@@BaconCove that would probably be one of the few clubs where you hope the number of members won't rise🤔😅 It seems I was pretty lucky compared to you, and I'm thankful for modern medicine! I'm glad you're getting rid of it, and the fact you have to stay away from alcohol for a year says quite a bit about how serious this really is. Anyway, now you have a battlescar, and it actually makes for a good story in the right circumstances😅

Thank you for your comment.

I can see why Aquariums are popular in Norway! Mine get me through our long cold winters, and in the US they arent half as long or cold as yours! I dream of coming to Norway, to see the "northern lights"

90....THOUSAND flashcards?!?!? I ain't religious, but Lord have mercy on your soul, god damn. Best of luck with studying.

Listen to the patient and he will tell you the disease...Sir William Osler. Never bypass starting with a good history, medical and social.

Holy cow, that's super cool. You're Italian, right? And yes, the first question the ID specialists I've seen asked me is "are you immunocompromised?"

Probably a good practice to wash hands after handling diseased or dead fish also. Or even wearing rubber gloves properly.

Literally

yeah its present everywhere really

So is it contracted through the respiratory airway or from a cut on one's hand/arm? The video did not mention this; perhaps you can tell us. Thank you!

Thank you so much. I still credit my orthopedic surgeon (who is NOT a skin specialist, obviously) for thinking of it right off the top of his head in our first meeting. Hope you recovered fully!

you should watch the story on youtube from gareth leonard about how he contracted a rare (ish) flesh eating bacteria from the amazon jungle. its interesting. He had to have the cdc tell him what was wrong and then the NIH, yes the national institute of health in washington DC treat him to help him get better. Interesting, scary story about how you have to be your own health advocate and how many doctors just don't know much in the face of true rarity.

What were the signs & symptoms for you?

Doing some serious research myself about a month ago and I discovered this too. I almost wanted to get rid of my aquarium.

my Dermo doc thought it was eczema so if treatment ain't working keep going back to your regular doc and make em listen to ya

wow, thanks for sharing.

@@reeferkenneth8657 my pleasure. Not one I usually talk about. Lol

Hey, a month ago the exact same thing happened to me. Poked myself in the finger when squashing a bag of shrimp in the freezer to close the door. Frozen shrimp tails are as sharp as needles! Went straight into my finger. Had a couple weeks antibiotics. Can I ask how did they know it was this bacteria for you? Did they take a sample and grew it? Or did you have nodules? I haven't had any yet.

Thank you so much! I really enjoy making videos and it's been so encouraging seeing how people have responded. I truly appreciate the support!

Wow, thanks so much. I really appreciate that compliment! I hope I can keep making videos that people enjoy and learn from.

Thank you for alerting me to the risk honey

Thanks so much -- I really appreciate you saying that. The response to this video has been more than I had ever dreamed of. Thanks so much for leaving a comment!

I actually just reached out to BRS TV to see if they would be interested in doing a video about aquarium safety -- I think it's a ripe topic for discussion!

Thank you so much sir! Your channel is beautiful -- subscribed! It's been fun learning about amazing channels like yours through this process!

@@BaconCove - Thanks for the kind words. Subbed to you as well.

Thank you so much. And I completely agree -- that gorgonian is my favorite. I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep it alive but it's been surprisingly resilient. Has encrusted on an enormous amount of the rock it's on. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks so much. I love my physical therapist but hate the therapy itself -- can't wait until I don't need it any more!

Thanks for commenting! I'm really glad people find it interesting and informative. Hopefully will help people know what to look for.

Thanks! You a freshwater or saltwater fan?

@@BaconCove im a freshwater fan. Thinking on switching to salt eventually

@@genesis-ii I find with this hobby it's a fine line between "hobby" and "obsession". Once you start you may never stop!

Absolutely -- glad you found it useful. I've got more tidbits like this in the pipeline!

[jaw hits floor] Wow, you're the first real celebrity to comment. I'm honored! I've been watching your videos for years. Thanks so much for the encouragement!!

@@BaconCove Shoot me an email! I have a cool opportunity for you! support@coralfish12g.com

That is so kind of you ! 😊❤ I subscribed because of it.

Thanks -- I appreciate that. Everyone has been so kind!

I'm tossing around the idea of writing an article in Coral magazine for exactly this reason. Thanks for leaving a comment!

Very good points. And you're completely correct -- long sturdy gloves and thorough handwashing are the best methods for protection. Thanks for the comment!

Thank you so much for responding :) @@BaconCove

it's like when you get a cut and rub dirt in it, most of the time you won't get an infection lol most men can attest to this

Right? See I think that's why people shouldn't be afraid to have exposure to their tanks -- just know what to look for in the (extremely unlikely event) that they catch M. marinum. I'm jealous of the work you do!

Do you live in warm climate? Are you getting exposed to sunlight? All those things help the immune system. Do you think that traditional fisherman in the indigenous communities suffered those things? They were growing up at a balance with the local bacteria since childhood, nowadays, we urban people could suffer from something like that very easily.

M. abscessus, huh? I actually haven't heard of that one. I wonder how many there are... Thanks for leaving a comment friend!

Oh yes -- we've all been there. Probably a bristle worm. When I broke down my tank to move it into our new house I found one that was literally 18 inches long. Stuff of nightmares.

@@BaconCove👀 do those just show up from the live rock or do you have to buy a bristle worm to end up with them in your tank?

Live rock, all kinds of things come in with it. I even had freshwater ones that came with plants

So happy to help, and I really appreciate all the kind comments! Thanks for the encouragement.

I probably did have some small scratch or something -- that's how it gets transmitted. Thanks for the comment!

Maybe try wearing gloves when handling foreign germs

Right? That's exactly why I wanted to make the video. Thanks for the encouragement!

So in all seriousness if you're worried you might have this you should REALLY try to get seen by an infectious diseases specialist. Most primary care doctors would be very reluctant/unlikely to diagnose mycobacterium marinum on their own (typically requires tissue culture). Happy to discuss further if you have any questions -- and good luck!

I wouldn’t wait and see if I were in your shoes… a quick google search says “Less commonly the bacteria can spread in the body and cause joint and bone infections. “ Nasty stuff, take care

So sorry to hear about your husband's ordeal. I hope he can find a treatment that works. I appreciate you sharing your story and I wish you both the best!

The one that always stuck for me was vibrio vulnificus -- "tell your patients not to eat oysters if they have liver disease"

@@BaconCoveYeah the old adage of never eat oysters in the summer is true…. Beautiful reef by the way, and looking forward to more updates! Any more problems with the angels eating coral?

Curious if you wear gloves seen as you knew about it (and other nasty things in a tank)?

@@SmiithrzIf you’re asking me this question, yes I actually do wear gloves with rubber bands to try to keep aquarium water from getting in. Doesn’t always keep my hands completely dry, but I almost always immediately wash with pretty hot water and soap if my hands get wet. Some may think it’s a little extreme but I really don’t want to get this infection if just a little prevention effort will probably keep me safe.

What happens if you don't get a timely diagnosis with this?

You're more than welcome. Honestly, when is ALL the skin on both your hands COMPLETELY intact though? I think it's an impossible standard to keep...

Buy aquarium gloves.

Thanks so much -- only six months of antibiotics to go!

Yes, it gets in through a break in the skin but it could be something as small as a scratch or a hangnail. I have no recollection of any significant injury earlier this year when I contracted it. Thanks so much for commenting!

So by limb immersion in the tank water then through an open wound?

@@aeromoe Through direct contact with a contaminated surface when I had a break in the skin.

@@kennethedmond Thanks for the additional info...glad you're on the mend.

Telling people I caught the infection from my fish tank doesn't quite have the right ring to it -- so I tell people I caught it saving a small child from a burning fish tank.

LOL dude I noticed this halfway through the video too and looked over at my tank rammed full of corals and sighed. I want to start my tank over for a minimalistic sleek look like his.

Such kind words -- thanks so much! I appreciate the support.

Thank you sir. You sound like quite an expert -- you a hobbyist? Medical professional? I'd love to see your tank if you have one!

@@BaconCove No probs 😊My dad is a doctor, my mom is an ER RN and my wife is the head RN at her work. I do have my level 3 & Transport but I am a pet specialist/nutritionist/hobbyist of 25 years. I just keep/breed turtles now for freshwater as I rehomed my monster fish a couple years ago and just cut down to a small reef system with no corals. I used to have some pretty cool stuff but nothing extraordinary now. I am more into breeding expensive reptiles now 🤣

So, is an aquarium effectively a self-contained fetid swamp?

Oh wow, so sorry to hear about all this! Glad to hear you're being careful now. Best of luck in the future!

Thank you so much! I appreciated the kindness and support!

Only because that's the first thing we tell everyone

why on earth would you think to tell a doctor that when you have a rash? hindsight is 20/20 🙄

If I had swelling like this I'd have no idea it was from my tank...

Hey, sorry to be weighing in on this one late (was putting up Christmas lights with the kids all day). Um, the things that came to mind at those first few visits were the gardening I do, my job (which has me exposed to sick people) and my cats. I definitely kicked myself when I figured out it was M. marinum, but yeah hindsight is 20/20!

How about washing your hands with soap before and after working on your aquarium? 😮😅

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your thoughtful comment.

@@BaconCove You are so welcome! 🤗

I know, I'm so grateful to him. I have a follow-up appointment with him in a few weeks and I plan to let him know how much praise he received in these comments. Thanks for leaving a note!

Thanks. I had a follow up with my surgeon recently and I told him about this video and all the praise for him in the comments. I hope he gets a chance to read some of them!

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. That's really terrible. Thanks for sharing your story and I hope you find peace in time.

Hey, thanks for the comment! I've read that outside of the aquarium hobby the most common population that catches M. marinum are shellfish farmers and people who clean barnacles off ships -- maybe that's how you caught it. Glad you recovered!