![]() Some species of Octopus are immune to the sting of the Man of War and are often seen feeding and carrying portions of their tentacles. Due to the turtles skin and tongue thickness, the Man of War sting cannot penetrate and cause any effect on the turtles. The Man of war has few predators and the loggerhead turtle is one of the main threats. It also feeds on plankton and other smaller organism. The Man of war is a carnivore and uses it large tentacles to capture and kill small fish, and shrimp. Hot packs are also helpful when applied to the affected areas. Medical attention should be considered if other symptoms worsen. Vinegar was a popular flush for the sting, but now some doctors believe it aids in the spread of the venom. To treat a Man of War sting it is recommended that the area been flushed with warm salt water immediately and then a mixture of ammonia and water. It is best to stay clear of this venomous creature. Other symptoms of the man of war sting include allergic reaction that causes airways to swell and make breathing difficult, high fever, and shock. Rarely does the sting cause human death, but the venomous sting to humans last up to 3 days with the main sting subsiding after 3 hours. The Man of War’s sting is extremely painful to humans and leaves a whip like lacerations and welts on the surface of the skin. These tentacles can sting even while detached from the bladder or separated and washed ashore. The venomous tentacles of the Man of War are used to paralyze and kill fish and other prey. The below water tentacles on average are about 30 feet long, but some have been measured as long as 150 feet, given the Man of War a large area to lure and capture its prey. The bladder can also deflate when attacked allowing it to sink below water level. The above surface bladder is small and can be up to a foot long in size with its purpose to act as a flotation device and a sail for the organism below. This is the main reason you will see them driven into back channels and the bay waters surrounding the Florida Keys, and the reason they so often wash up on beaches. They have no propulsion system and move from place to place only by on the wind, tides and water currents. The Man of War lives mostly is tropical waters and float on the surface of these ocean and back bays. They are very unique creatures, as most of us think they are a jellyfish, but they are actually totally different and made up from other organisms called zooids. They are easily identified by the gas filled blue bladder that floats on the water’s surface and sometimes wash up on our beaches. The Portuguese Man of War is popular this time of year in the waters surrounding the Florida Keys.
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