Fish Tank Filter Allergy

The most common causes of allergies to fish tanks start with the food the fish are eating. In addition, any allergies to seafood, shellfish or snails can cause an allergic reaction when you are cleaning the fish tank or handling the filter.

Causes

Many allergies to fish begin with what is fed to them.

With a few exceptions, fish food is made from fish or other sea creatures. Contact with the food, or inhaling the air around the food, can cause an allergic reaction, according to the Canadian Food and Drug Administration. Because of the long shelf life of fish food, dust can gather around the food and aggravate allergies. In many fish tanks, small snails can mysteriously appear. They hitch rides in water from the pet store or on store-bought aquarium plants and can contaminate the water. Feeding the fish too much can cause food to become lodged in the filter, causing an allergic reaction to the fish tank filter. Anything the fish do not process ends up in the poop, which is filtered and can cause an allergy to the fish tank or an allergy to the filter.

Symptoms

Fish tanks that are open to the air can cause allergic reactions.

Allergic reactions to the fish filter can present on the skin or through problems breathing. Skin reactions can range from redness to severe hives when the skin contacts the water of the fish tank. It can happen immediately after exposure or take several minutes to appear. Respiratory (breathing) problems can occur with exposure to fish food. Allergens can become airborne when the flakes are crushed while feeding. Aquarium filters can also cause the food and feces to combine with the air, which can cause allergic reactions such as itchy eyes, sneezing and in the most extreme cases, anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a serious, often life-threatening allergic reaction that includes but is not limited to swelling, trouble breathing and vomiting

Prevention/Solution

Rubber gloves can prevent contact allergies to fish tanks.

The easiest way to prevent a fish tank or fish tank filter allergy is not to have a fish tank. For people who love aquariums, this is not an option. To prevent allergic reactions, keep the area around the fish tank clean of all water and food. Consider purchasing arm-length gloves to cover all of the arm while cleaning the fish tank. Change the fish food from flakes to pellets to minimize the amount of flakes that get into the air. Cover the top of the fish tank with a lid to minimize the amount of allergens stirred up by the flow of water. Consider purchasing a canister filter (a common one is a Fluval) rather than a filter than hangs on the back of the tank. Canister filters need to be cleaned less often, and they contain the majority of the allergens, exposing fewer to the air to cause an allergic reaction. For extreme allergic reactions, Anaphylaxis Canada is a useful resource for identifying a reaction and treating the symptoms.

References

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Seafood Allergy
• PubMed: Aquarium Allergy--Fish Food, Another Domestic Allergen
• Anaphylaxis Canada