this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2023
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[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 120 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

I read in another thread on a other website that the original poster of this picture had some sort of liver disease and was dying from it, and sorta went YOLO at the chance to pick up a blue ringed octopus. They knew how dangerous it was, but for once the phrase "it will hurt the whole time you're dying" was met with "it already is"

[–] 50MYT@aussie.zone 82 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I know someone who gave CPR on someone bitten by one of these.

They lived because of the CPR. They came out of hospital fine, except they were now blind because their eyes were open staring up at the hot summer Aussie sun for the entire time they were getting CPR etc.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl -2 points 2 years ago

They came out of hospital fine, except they were now blind

I'm concerned that you don't know what "fine" means. but seriously, I'd probably prefer to be sightless, but still alive too...

[–] burgersc12@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Besides, how likely is it for that tiny octopus to bite you, unless you are literally trying to get bit?

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 42 points 2 years ago

More than zero

[–] Gork@lemm.ee 98 points 2 years ago (3 children)
[–] Jay@sh.itjust.works 164 points 2 years ago (2 children)

"The blue-ringed octopus, despite its small size, carries enough venom to kill 26 adult humans within minutes. Their bites are tiny and often painless, with many victims not realizing they have been envenomated until respiratory depression and paralysis begins.[11] No blue-ringed octopus antivenom is available.[12]"

Ok. Then I'd rather have a dog.

[–] qisope@lemmy.world 104 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Pretty sure no dog antivenom is available either. I'm just going to get a venomous snake to be safe.

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 68 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This is why you start with small bites and build up an immunity. Then work your way up to larger breeds. You think people have chihuahuas because they actually want one?

[–] Rayspekt@kbin.social 46 points 2 years ago

Best explanation as to why people have chihuahuas I've ever read.

[–] LetterboxPancake@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 years ago

Good call. Dog venom works by sneaking into your heart, and they don't even have to bite you.

[–] dojan@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

This is correct. Tetrodotoxin. Like in pufferfish. It blocks nerve signals to muscles causing paralysis. There is no antivenom.

If you got it from eating pufferfish, best you can do is administer activated charcoal to absorb as much as possible that hasn’t already made it into the bloodstream. After that, all you can do is manually run the heart and lungs until it wears off.

So you basically need to be really close to a hospital or clinic, somehow convey what’s happened (while possibly unable to talk or move) and be lucky enough that said hospital has the resources to maybe keep you alive until it is out of your system.

[–] Lord_McAlister@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Some more hopeful information about this little bugger:

It's not ACTUALLY venomous. As in it doesn't inject you with a lethal substance, rather, it injects you with a nerve-toxin which disables your ability to open/close your lungs, which kills you. This sounds just as bad, but it means if you can get to a hospital, and make it to a ventilator, you'll be back to normal by the next day.

[–] Cypher@lemmy.world 46 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Venom doesn’t need to be lethal to be venom.

Venom is a toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action.

Blue Ringed octopuses are venomous.

[–] Catweazle@social.vivaldi.net 5 points 2 years ago

@Cypher @Lord_McAlister@lemmy.world....and lethal

[–] takeda@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago

The scary part is that it looks like you won't even feel that you have been bitten, and will know that when you start having problems breathing, and when that happens every second counts.

The person holding it could already be dead.

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 13 points 2 years ago

They can be identified by their yellowish skin and characteristic blue and black rings that change color dramatically when the animal is threatened.

Anything that becomes more visible when you threaten it... you're not the threat.

[–] MartinXYZ@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 years ago

A video, originally posted on TikTok, of a tourist in Australia handling a blue-ringed octopus went viral in January 2019.

Is that where this picture is from? Or did a second person think it was a good idea?

[–] Omgarm@lemmy.world 38 points 2 years ago (2 children)

But look at the blue dots! It has to be harmless.

[–] youCanCallMeDragon@lemmy.world 32 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I know this is a joke but the blue dots are literally the universal language for “don’t fuck with me”

[–] DesolateMood@lemm.ee 18 points 2 years ago

To be fair, there is an alternative that says "I am defenseless and trying to look like a more intimidating thing" in which case the thing would be harmless

[–] jgardner10@lemmy.world 18 points 2 years ago

And the blue rings are a warning, when you can see them, you are really in trouble

[–] NorthWestWind@iusearchlinux.fyi 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The Splatoon 3 player base had gone through this 4 months ago

Blue ring octoling, from a Splatoon 3 in-game band

[–] agitatedpotato@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 years ago

That girllll issss poooiiiisonn

[–] Loid@lemm.ee 15 points 2 years ago

I don't like the funky and colorful creatures. They are always so clingy! It's like they want you to touch them for the rest of your life.

[–] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What's going on with the person's skin?

[–] scottyjoe9@sh.itjust.works 30 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Their hand is half in very clear water.

[–] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 years ago

Wow... That's what happens when you wake up in the middle of the night and start checking Lemmy

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Tiny animals in the sea are the most lethal, apart of this cute octopus also

It can kill in minutes from the shock caused by the pain (Irucandji syndrom, no antivenom)

A bather was pricked in the neck by this cone when he found it on the beach and held it to his ear to listen to the noise of the sea. He died in seconds.´

The Box Jellyfish also can kill in minutes by cardiac arrest, worse, these jellyfish can see and actively attack

[–] reaper_cushions@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I mean, you shouldn’t lift aquatic creatures out of the water, ever, but what else is happening in this picture?

[–] plumbercraic@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I can't believe I'm seeing this. Sure hope it's fake.

[–] cobra89@beehaw.org 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] plumbercraic@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Wow. This is like a commandment for aussie kids. Do not. Ever. Fuck around with things you don't recognise at the beach. I didn't pay much heed to many rules but this one seemed like a good idea - even to dipshit child me.

[–] Bene7rddso@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago

Do not. Ever. Fuck around with things you don't recognise

FTFY

[–] HikingVet@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 2 years ago
[–] ComradeR@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Ann Reardon (the australian YouTuber) almost touched one by accident. Luckily, she threw the shell they were in fast enough.

[–] MargotRobbie@lemm.ee 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Jesus christ. That's terrifying.

Please don't mess with wild animals in Australia. Just... no.

[–] Owl@hexbear.net 2 points 2 years ago

I know an Australian who is convinced we're all weird for thinking their animals are dangerous when we have moose and bears.