Rat feces and the tank.

[terror]

Hi,

just wondering what will be the effect of rat feces on tank. if the filter media i used had rat feces. and i wasn;t able to clean it really well?
i'm having problem with a tank and backtracking. it started when i installed mysump. which had matala mats. but these matala mats had rat bits and also some rat feces. but i did rinse them before using it.

thanks.

 

[Lupin]

Hmmm...Did you use rat poison or anything harmful that can be touched by rats?

 

[terror]

Hmmm...Did you use rat poison or anything harmful that can be touched by rats?

hi,

I'm not really sure but i don't think rat poison was used. I'm just suspecting what caused my tanks problem and backtracking it might be the addition of my sump tank with matala.

thanks.

 

[Rbishop]

I wouldn't think it was a wise choice unless you had sterlized them before use. I probably would have made a choice to get other ones or use something else.

 

[wataugachicken]

theoretically, the rat waste should break down in the tank the same as fish waste once the tank is cycled. however, i would be more concerned about the possibility of disease. the warm moist environment of a tank could become a breeding ground for who-knows-what. i'd be wearing some elbow-length gloves about now.

 

[Dangerdoll]

yeap, me too... as much as you are seeing the rat feces, I would guarantee there is also urine on those parts... ammonia... just rinsing wouldn't be enough in my opinion, though I might not have used it at all...

 

[THE V]

I'd run some carbon in your system just in case there are any harmful chemicals in your tank floating around. I sincerely doubt that this is the root cause of your problem. It might be disgusting to think about buy most rat feces is actually pretty inert. They have extremely strong digestive tracts that break down an amazing variety of things.

 

[Jessu]

I have a pet rat and chances are they scented the filter media. I think putting in some prime in and you will be fine. Rat pee has allot of ammonia.

 

[terror]

I have a pet rat and chances are they scented the filter media. I think putting in some prime in and you will be fine. Rat pee has allot of ammonia.

thanks after more than a month my tank has nitrite now
hopefully , it completes cycle soon. but i will haver to keep an eye on my water parameters

 

[rrkss]

I'd run some carbon in your system just in case there are any harmful chemicals in your tank floating around. I sincerely doubt that this is the root cause of your problem. It might be disgusting to think about buy most rat feces is actually pretty inert. They have extremely strong digestive tracts that break down an amazing variety of things.

I concur with this one. If the feces were dry chances of any hazardous bacteria entering the system is close to 0 as well. I would not be too worried about the rat feces. If there was poison in them, your fish would already be dead.