QuestionQUESTION: how bad is the poison in african barbels/catfish spines and how can it be treated? if you are stuck by the spines how long does it take to heal without treatment?
ANSWER: Tinashec; I have looked on the web for poisonous catfish and find that most if not all fresh water catfish have some sort of poison produced at the base of the three spike fins. However, nothing that I found indicated more than some sickness and pain from some species. All the articles said that death was very rare from the stick of a catfish fin. However, people who have allergies to such things as bee or wasp stings should not handle any catfish without some sort of protection. The name "barbell" produced no response. I have been stuck by catfish here in the United States many times with no more than a little pain. I didn't find any reason to be concerned so long as I had had my tetanus shots and take care that the wound does not become infected.
This is no guarantee that the catfish that you are speaking of might not be more dangerous than most of the others. If I were stuck by one of these I would check with the poison control department of your government if you have a poison control department. If not I would check with the nearest university biological department and ask them if there was more danger than just as I have previously mentioned.
I am sorry I cannot give you a definitive answer. There are thousands of species of catfish around the world with the largest number being in Africa.
Thank you for calling on me to answer your question. I hope this is of some help but if I were stuck by a strange catfish I would seek professional help. You might be more successful than I was if you looked on the web for more information.
I am
Jack L. Gaither (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole Georgia U.S.A.
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catfish
QUESTION: thank you for the response and it really helped alot.Also did a couple of researches here and i found that barbels are really poisonious.The poison may be too harmful in some cases in which the victim is allergic.In my case i only got swollen palms and there are painful with redish spots and they have lasted for three weeks now and dicovered that even my bro has suffered from this also.i tried to find the cure but all looks were vain but only found the African way.It is said that when you are stick by a catfish fin you should burn the spot with charcoal or a hot metal plate. hope this will help,this is the type of barebl that poisoned my hands.
AnswerThat sounds like an ornery critter. If I were going to handle this fish I would wear a good heavy pair of gloves. Also I don't think that burning the hands with either charcoal or a metal plate. I fear that would be inclined to result in more pain and possible infection. I have soaked my hand in a strong solution of baking soda, salt and warm water. This seemed to help the ones that I had. I never had one hurt for more than an hour or two.
Good fishing, Jack
