Can my fish get me sick?

[Incredulous_Ed]

Can my fish get me sick? could I get some fatal or life-changing disease by keeping fish? whenever I change the water, I start the siphon by sucking on it. Is this a bad thing? some one please answer the questions!

[Abbeys_Mom]

Yes, your fish can make you sick. The water can carry salmonella.

[Neithan]

Well.. I'm not trying to spook people, but there is the possibility of fish TB. If your fish are fine you shouldn't have anything to worry about from that though.

If you're worried about contracting something, get a siphon you don't have to start by sucking. If you're extremely worried, get long gloves for when you have to put your hands in the water. I know some people who have allergies use them to prevent getting rashes from the tank water.

[Glasstapper]

Just like water that is good for humans is not good for fish, water good for fish is not good for humans. Just think....they poop in that water.

You probably should see about getting one of those siphons that start with just a rapid up and down motion. I think I bought mine for $5 US.

[Abbeys_Mom]

Or you can start your syphon by filling the hose with water and plugging one end with your thumb till it is over the lip of the tank and below the water line.

[Lady Hobbs]

I syphon mine as well but have learned to get very, very fast at getting my mouth off it. Not so fast in the beginning but one needs to step up the pace after getting a mouthful a few times. I can hear the water starting up the tube now and no longer have that problem.

[Severus]

Or you can start your syphon by filling the hose with water and plugging one end with your thumb till it is over the lip of the tank and below the water line.

That is what i do, i just stick the entire hose in with one end plugged and it builds up enough pressure to start siphoning itself

[Neithan]

I have one with a little squeezable hand pump thingy on the other end, just waiting to see how long that thing actually lasts before the plastic decides it's had enough =P

[kimmers318]

EEEWWWW! Starting your siphon with your mouth....never considered it, there is a much simpler way! Have your bucket ready in reach....your vac ready to go into tank. Your gravel vac should have a large tube attached to a smaller hose. Simply fill the large tube by submersing it under water in the tank with the opening pointing up, as you pull it out of the water gravity will take the water downhill towards the end of the hose which you should have above your bucket with thumb ready to stop the flow. Once water is coming out the end of the hose cover it with your thumb, re-submerge the vac tube under water, once the vac tube is full again, simply turn it upside down and you are ready to vacuum...it will start siphoning water as soon as you release your thumb from the end of the tube. There is no chance of you drinking your tank water and if you can keep your thumb ready to stop the flow you never have to worry about objects being sucked up that you don't want sucked up (small fish, decor), if you simply plug the end of the hose with your thumb stopping the water flow, whatever is in your vac will fall back into the tank from simple gravity. For higher tanks I just set the bucket on a chair to keep it within reach.

[jeffs99dime]

for getting my cannister started, i stick a turkey baster in the outlet side of the hose and squeeze the ball.