What do blue bottle fish eat?
Bluebottles are foraging predators that feed mostly on larval fish and small crustaceans and mollusks. Their predatory tentacles are equipped with stinging cells that are used to paralyze and capture prey. The bluebottle, or Indo-Pacific Man o’ War, is not a jellyfish but a siphonophore, which is a colony of tiny, specialized polyps working together as colonies. The bluebottle is easily recognized by its blue, gas-filled sac (pneumatophore) that floats on the water’s surface.A sting from a bluebottle causes an immediate sharp pain and acute inflammatory skin reaction, which has a linear appearance (Figure 1). The pain is worsened if the tentacles are moved or the area rubbed. The intense pain can last from minutes to many hours, and can be followed by a dull ache involving the joints.Often called bluebottle jellyfish or the Pacific Man of War, bluebottles are clusters of polyps usually located in the Indian and Pacific oceans.The bluebottle uses its tentacles to catch, sting, and kill its prey. The venom it uses is a mix of phenols and proteins that are deadly to their prey, but not to humans. Immediately after you get stung by a bluebottle, you will feel an intense jolt of pain.
What is the first aid for a bluebottle sting?
Hot water immersion can be applied after initial treatment, but to be effective, heat needs to be applied as soon as possible after stinging. Apply hot, but not scalding, water (ideally at 42–45°C), or a heat pack for 30–90 minutes or until the pain resolves. If you see a bluebottle on the beach, first please don’t touch its tentacles! They can still sting you even when they are dead.Hot water is better than ice packs at reducing the pain of bluebottle jellyfish stings. Do not put vinegar on the sting. It may increase the pain of bluebottle jellyfish stings.Immerse the area where the bluebottle sting has occurred in hot water (45 degrees Celsius – no hotter than the rescuer can comfortably tolerate) for at least 20 minutes or, if this is not possible, direct a hot shower on the area for this length of time.Minor stings can be treated at home with ice packs, pain medication, antibiotic ointments, and bandages. Jellyfish stings can sometimes cause a severe allergic reaction that includes trouble breathing or swallowing. Call 911 right away if you or someone you know is having these symptoms.The tentacles are venomous and can deliver a painful sting, even when washed up on the shore. Bluebottles are generally brought to the beach by north easterly winds and warmer currents. Bluebottle stings can be very painful and can cause welts, rashes, nausea and muscle spasms.
Should I go to the hospital for a blue bottle sting?
When to seek medical treatment. There are some instances when you should get further help, including for in rare cases where bluebottle stings cause an allergic reaction. You should call 000, or see a lifeguard, if: the sting covers a large area or is on the face or neck. Bluebottle Stings The duration of symptoms depends on the person, their medical history and the size of the sting. Typically, the pain from a bluebottle sting lasts an hour, redness for 48 hours, and a rash can last up to a week.Box Jellyfish (Sea Wasp) This creature stands out as not only the deadliest jellyfish, but also one of the most potent venomous species in the world. Sea wasp venom can cause paralysis, heart failure and even death within minutes, so immediate medical treatment is crucial in the event of a sting.It’s extremely painful, but in most cases, doesn’t require a visit to the emergency room! If left untreated the symptoms generally resolve within one to two weeks. Dis- coloration of the skin may last one to two months. Although jellyfish stings can be quite painful, most are minor and get better with home treatment.As well as dousing jellyfish stings with vinegar or hot water, the new EMS policy says lifeguards should scrape venom sacs from the skin. Clark said if lifeguards aren’t in sight, beachgoers could remove the sacs in a pinch, as long as they’re careful.Old wives’ tales, information on the internet, and even some first-aid books contain misinformation on how to treat jellyfish stings. In the past, wet tobacco, meat tenderizer, ammonia, ice, and even urine were recommended; these methods have since been proven useless.
What happens if a bluebottle stings your eyes?
You should definitely see a doctor if: the area of the sting covers a wide area, such as most of the leg or arm. You should definitely see a doctor if: the area of the sting covers a wide area, such as most of the leg or arm.Wash the sting area with soap and water. Remove any rings in the sting area right away, before swelling gets worse. Apply to the area a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice. Keep it on the sting for 10 to 20 minutes.If you have a very itchy and swollen sting, you may be able to hit a chemist and get some cream prescribed. You can apply hydrocortisone cream topically to reduce inflammation if it isn’t going away.First-aid care Use water that’s 110 to 113 F (43 to 45 C). It should feel hot, not scalding. Keep the affected skin immersed or in a hot shower until the pain eases, which might be 20 to 45 minutes. Apply 0.
What to do if stung by a blue bottle fish?
First aid for bluebottle jellyfish stings If you’ve been stung by a bluebottle: wash the sting site with sea water (not fresh water) remove any tentacles by hand or wash them off with sea water. C) for 20 minutes; make sure the hot water will not burn you. Considered the most deadly creature in the sea, the box jellyfish may be beautiful to look at, but it has enough venom to kill a human in a matter of minutes.If you see a bluebottle on the beach, first please don’t touch its tentacles! They can still sting you even when they are dead.Avoid stepping on beached Man-of-War since the stinging cells remain toxic even when the rest of the organisms have died. Stings produce what seem to be burning rash streaks where the tentacles have made contact.In the following days, do not expose the area of the body with the jellyfish sting to the sun and do not apply sunscreen as the skin is likely to become more inflamed and the redness turns into persistent pigmentation.
Do blue bottles have venom?
When the bluebottle tentacles (dactylozooids) come into contact with prey (or our skin), they release stinging cells, called nematocysts. These are like minute harpoons, piercing their prey and injecting venom. The venom comprises of a mixture of phenols and proteins. Often, it’s best to rinse a sting with vinegar. Vinegar is a weak acid that might keep the stingers from firing for some kinds of stings (especially from dangerous types like box jellyfish). Do not rinse with fresh water (like tap or bottled water) because that can make more stingers fire.As soon as possible, rinse the sting site with large amounts of household vinegar for at least 30 seconds. Vinegar is safe and effective for all types of jellyfish stings. Vinegar rapidly halts the thousands of tiny unfired stinging cells left on the surface of the skin after tentacle contact.Wash the tentacles and venom off the affected area of your body with seawater. Don’t use freshwater. Using tweezers or gloved hands, remove any tentacles you see in your skin. Apply vinegar or rubbing alcohol to the affected area to stop any more firings of nematocysts.First aid for bluebottle jellyfish stings If you’ve been stung by a bluebottle: wash the sting site with sea water (not fresh water) remove any tentacles by hand or wash them off with sea water. C) for 20 minutes; make sure the hot water will not burn you.