Could handling coins before putting hands in a shrimp aquarium kill shrimp?

No, handling coins and putting your hands in the tank is not going to kill them. Inverts actually NEED some copper, it is what their blood is made of. But like anything, there are toxic levels that cause harm. Unless you dose copper into the tank, I doubt you'll ever have a problem. When I say dose... I mean intentionally add toxic amounts of copper. Even CSM+B contains copper and dosed normally will not kill shrimp.

the coin residue won't kill them, but money is crawling with disgusting things. Please wash your hands before and after putting them in your tank!

Hemocyanins (also spelled haemocyanins) are respiratory proteins in the form of metalloproteins containing two copper atoms that reversibly bind a single oxygen molecule (O2). Oxygenation causes a color change between the colorless Cu(I) deoxygenated form and the blue Cu(II) oxygenated form. Hemocyanins carry oxygen in the hemolymph of most molluscs, and some arthropods, including the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. They are second only to hemoglobin in biological popularity of use in oxygen transport.[1] Unlike the hemoglobin in red blood cells found in vertebrates, hemocyanins are not bound to blood cells but are instead suspended directly in the hemolymph.

yes he is right
Forget about that Tetra stuff. Do wc and have a good filtration

even if you leave the pennies in there they are just copper plated now anyways.

Hey since you guys are talking copper and at least small amounts are ok, i was going to use black fluorite in my new tank instead of ada but i saw there was copper in it. Would i be safe using the fluorite as primary substrate ?

Just FYI. Pennies are made of brass plated zinc. Brass doesn't dissolve into water readily, and is less easily corroded than copper. This is why it was often used for ship fittings for centuries before there were things like stainless steel, or easily produceable aluminum.

No discoverable amount of copper would come from the penny, to your hand, and into the tank. That being said, money gets around, and there's no telling what could be on the coins.

Copper plated, not brass

http://www.livescience.com/mysteries/070129_penny.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-penny-made-of.htm

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Pennies are zinc with copper plating.

I would be careful with Isk guard.
It's pretty strong for some sensitive fish, too.

Yes, black fluorite alone is fine for shrimps....that is all I have in mine and all of my shrimps have been just fine. BTW, I actually didn't even know that black fluorite had Cu in it.... :biggrin:

But like I said, all of my shrimps have been thriving beautifully in it.

Gunplameister said:

Hey since you guys are talking copper and at least small amounts are ok, i was going to use black fluorite in my new tank instead of ada but i saw there was copper in it. Would i be safe using the fluorite as primary substrate ?

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