Thermometer busted

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OscarMan0315

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2011
336
1
16
East Coast
So i came home today to find my glass thermometer smashes. Im assuming that my oscar hit it, but my question is will it harm my fish, there were some black balls in the bottom of it and a few fell in when i pick it off the bottom, will this kill/harm my fish??
please help!
 
I've had it happen a few times without finding all the balls. Never caused any harm to any fish. You should still try and get everything out, but don't worry a lot about it.
 
If it contains mercury, it could be harmful to both you and your fish. Better to be safe than sorry. Remove the fish and quarantine. Clean out your entire tank and throw out in a sealed container the thermometer. You may not want to do this because it is a lot of work. Mercury poisoning is serious.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/mercuryspills.htm
 
Was it a Top Fin thermometer? I was wondering about these balls and thinking that mercury is liquid form at room temperature. I discovered Top Fin thermometers do not contain mercury.
 
I do not think any modern thermometers use mecury anymore, I have heard most use some form of alcohol as the indicator fluid.
 
Angler said:
Was it a Top Fin thermometer? I was wondering about these balls and thinking that mercury is liquid form at room temperature. I discovered Top Fin thermometers do not contain mercury.
Click to expand...

This quote is true, however many aquarium thermometers use mercury.
 
My Red Dragon FH decided to smash her thermometer a few months ago. I removed the broken glass and metal balls. I have had no health issues with her since.

A plastic framed thermometer has been a great replacement. I removed all glass thermometers from my tanks after this incident. She has not been able to smash the plastic one.

Good luck.
 
It will not harm them.
 
white15 said:
If it contains mercury, it could be harmful to both you and your fish. Better to be safe than sorry. Remove the fish and quarantine. Clean out your entire tank and throw out in a sealed container the thermometer. You may not want to do this because it is a lot of work. Mercury poisoning is serious.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/mercuryspills.htm
Click to expand...

I do not think it had any mercury in it, it had a bunch of metal balls at the bottom of the thermometer, some fell in my tank so i used my magnavore magnet to get them out.
 
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