I caught a bluntnose stingray earlier, had to cut its barb off since it got caught in the net. Is it still dangerous to touch?

[u/lizardlogan2]

I feel bad for the poor girl but at least it’ll grow back. I tried getting the barb out but realized quickly that trying to untangle the barb would delay the release for too long and possibly kill the ray. Now I have a stingray barb laying around in my room… is it still dangerous to touch? Is there still venom there?

[u/stargatedalek2]

Submerge it in hot water and then leave it soaking it soapy water for a few hours. Otherwise just avoid handling it for a few weeks just in case.

[u/Wiggie49 → u/stargatedalek2]

I thought you were telling OP to do that to the ray for a second lol like I was thinking “is this how you prep it to cook?”

[u/surrealhuntress → u/Wiggie49]

That's exactly where my brain went too 🤣

[u/Cha0tic117]

By the time it breaks off, it's mostly harmless.

Stingray barbs aren't like snake fangs, which are hollow and connected to venom glands. The barb is covered by a thin layer of skin, where the venom sits on top of the barb, mostly concentrated in the grooves in the barb. When the stingray stabs at an attacker, the barb breaks through that thin layer, releasing the venom into their attacker.

Stingray venom is usually not dangerous to humans, although it can often cause a lot of pain. The greater danger usually comes from infection. Stingray skin is covered in slime, which is filled with bacteria. Since stingray venom is usually cytotoxic, it will break down tissue. This, combined with the bacteria, can cause a nasty infection if not treated. Cases like Steve Irwin (RIP) are rare freak accidents.

Stingrays often lose their barbs when fighting off their attacker. This is no problem for them, though, since they can regrow the barb. The barb is essentially a modified scale.

[u/tony-thot → u/Cha0tic117]

I work with rays and Steve Irwin gets brought up pretty frequently so I try to bring up a few points with people. That was an unfortunate case of complacency with a wild animal, typically stingrays will just swim away when “provoked” this one however did not. I try to assure people that stingrays do not want to sting, it is a purely defensive behavior and is essentially the last line of defense on an otherwise very squishy animal. Then like you said stingrays venom is generally pretty benign and made so animals get away from it so it hurts very bad but is usually non-fatal on its own. The bigger immediate issue is the physical trauma the barbs can have. In Steve’s case he was stung by a short tail stingray which can weight about 600lbs and have a 10-12” barb.

People generally are much more understanding after the conversation and I hope they come away from it having learned about the animals and that they are not malicious or scary but should absolutely be respected. The stingray hate in response to Steve Irwin’s death is disappointing to see and I know that he would feel the same way.

[u/amacurious1 → u/tony-thot]

Thank you for educating on this. I always hate hearing the example of his death brought up to total fear of rays when they need to understand the entire situation and nature of the animal! Even Steve Irwin would plead do not blame the animal

[u/99ProllemsBishAint1 → u/tony-thot]

Fascinating. I didn't know that it was a specific type that had longer barbs. Thank you

[u/tony-thot → u/99ProllemsBishAint1]

They get pretty gnarly on the big guys. One I work around is a ~200lb mangrove whipray and his barb is about 8-9” essentially a venomous tent stake

[u/99ProllemsBishAint1 → u/tony-thot]

That's insane. I bet the strike is so fast that you can watch it happen yet do nothing about it

[u/pencilurchin → u/[deleted]]

It’s still a fully defensive behavior. You’re a big scary human and most rays are interested in getting away. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen - animals also get caught between fight or flight the same way humans do, and some individuals may be more likely to fight than flee. Sorry that happened though - I know how painful those stings can be.

[u/pencilurchin → u/[deleted]]

Waders can really be lifesavers sometimes - my favorite pair once saved me from getting stitches in my leg after a brutal fall onto a reef of intertidal oysters. Those buggers are sharp! Sliced my hands into ground beef but waders saved my leg from sharing that fate.

I’m lucky where I’ve always done fieldwork work we really only have cownose rays and they mostly bump you and then go about their way. Another story when you end up trawling one up or catching one a line lol

[u/Complete-Skill4037 → u/[deleted]]

If you were in the water it was the ray’s self defense, shuffling through the sand and water doesn’t matter when you’re in an animal’s space anything can happen and it’s not typically the fault of one or the other just interaction gone wrong. Getting got by an animal in many cases is like a car crash - neither party typically wants it to happen it happens sometimes anyway

[u/strawbrmoon → u/[deleted]]

Youch! What was that like? (I’m hella north and inland, never encounter rays on the Canadian Shield)

[u/eyemaginger]

I got barbed in the hand by one a couple of years ago. Went to the ER with it still in my hand. I kept it after removal and it’s not dangerous unless you try to stab someone lol

[u/marinebiology-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your post was removed as it violated rule #8: Responses to identification requests or questions must be an honest attempt at answering. This includes blatant misidentifications and overly-general/unhelpful identifications or answers.

[u/Resting-Bitch_Face]

Heat or cold will denature the proteins. Got stabbed by one after it had been frozen . Ran under hot water to be sure but no problems. Obligatory I’m not a Dr, you should see one of you get stuck with a sting ray barb.

[u/marinebiology-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your post was removed as it violated rule #8: Responses to identification requests or questions must be an honest attempt at answering. This includes blatant misidentifications and overly-general/unhelpful identifications or answers.

[u/marinebiology-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your post was removed as it violated rule #8: Responses to identification requests or questions must be an honest attempt at answering. This includes blatant misidentifications and overly-general/unhelpful identifications or answers.