copper levels

[dward254]

Hello,
Quick question about copper. I have been treating my tank with copper for the past couple of months and have finally got the levels back down to about .05 mg/l. Does anyone know if this level would be safe for a banded snake eel that I would like to put back into the tank?

[Guy W]

I don't know much about that eel specificly but most fish can tolerate low levels of copper in a tank. I know there are some that can't, such as a Flame Back Clownfish.

I'd do a google search on that eel and see if there are any resources that say weather or not the eel can.

Or wait for some more help. But I thought I'd put in my 2 cents and bump the thread up for you.

Guy

[VoodooChild]

I'd be worried since eels don't have conventional scales (they may not have any at all, come to think of it) and as such, they'll have a harder time with any medication. If the tank was previously used with copper, and not currently, then you might be ok.

[a_free_bird73]

I am surprised that you can measure 0.05ppm. In any case, 0.05 is still relatively high (since copper treatment starts taking effect at 0.15). If you are concerned about the eel and it is worth $$ then I would do a large water change and check that Copper is effectively undetectable with standard kits.

I have not had experience with saltwater eels and copper, but in fresh water small eel like loachs go absolutly nuts when there are traces of copper in the tank beyond a certain threshold. It is a very distinct behaviour which I have seen also in catfish which are sensitive to copper as well.

[VoodooChild]

Catfish don't have scales, and that'd be one big reason. Eels do, but they're very tiny and deeply embeddened in the skin.