Copper and Turtles ????

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fwprawn

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 29, 2011
3,441
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38
New England
I have a 75 gallon tank that I had to treat for worms with Copper Safe.

Ever since (even after a proper cleaning) - I can't keep any catfish in it - they end up with rashes, which can only be from the copper. I was going to offload this tank, but then realized that it would be great for my smaller snapping turtle.

Are turtles affected by trace amounts of copper ? (Other fish are fine in the tank.) It's been sitting empty for a year now or thereabouts.
 
I avoid any med containing copper for use in a display tank, it permeates everything and then leeaches back out over time. Because of this I would only recomend it be used in a dedacated hospital tank or in a bucket etc. as a bath. To answer your question IMO small ammounts of copper short term will most likly be safe but not somthing I could promise long term. The fact that it's been sitting empty really means nothing as once filled it will begin to leech again. There is a product by Seachem called Cupisorb that can be used to absorb the copper as it is leeached out into the water. That's the best I can do perhaps someone with more turtle specific experiance will jump in.
 
I realized the consequences of using copper - You may remember my thread on here about treating the tank when my gars got worms from eating ONE SINGLE frozen shiner from the bait shop. It was a last-resort treatment when nothing else worked.
I have other 75's so this isn't a pressing matter. If it's not safe for turtles, I'll just pass it on. Good to know about the Cupisorb. I will recommend it to whomever ends up with the tank, if I don't keep it. Thanks!
 
I know you realize what copper does, part of my post was for any new members or guests with less experiance that don't know what copper can do. If they come across this thread in a search it will give them some info they may not have been aware of.
 
10-4!

I have posted the tank on Craigslist - and included the copper info, just to be safe - I wouldn't want anyone to have any unpleasant surprises if they had a catfish.

But, the turtle thing does make me wonder - I don't remember ever seeing anything about that.

Where might I get some Cupisorb, if I use it for one of my turtles? How is it applied, do you know?
 
A well stocked LFS or order on line. It is a resin you put in the filter like you would carbon etc. You could go to the Seachem web site for more info. I've never used it.
 
Thanks a lot! I think I'll get a bottle (or whatever it comes in) so that if I keep it, I'll have it - and if I sell it, I can just pass it on.
 
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