Copper in oysters and other seafood

Levinson

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 5, 2020
Messages
611
Reaction score
449
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I sometimes feed my invert-only tank with frozen oyster bits and my shrimps, crabs and others seem to love it.
But I read online that oysters are quite high in copper content which got me worried. Some say 1.3mg per 100 grams, others say 7mg per 100 grams. I don't know which is right but it is generally considered to have relatively high copper content. I also read bivalves often tend to have more copper in them compared to other seafood.
Is this something I should be worried about? Could copper in them accumulate in the tank over time and harm the critters? Should I stop feeding them oysters?
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

Reef Chemist
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
72,100
Reaction score
69,741
Location
Massachusetts, United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Some seafood is high in copper. I covered this in one of my articles. But it’s not typically a problem.


1).

Table 1. The copper concentrations present in certain shellfish.
Food
Copper Concentration (ppm wet)
Fish​
0.61​
Scallops​
0.27​
Clams​
6.1​
Crab​
7.4​
Shrimp​
1.8​
Oysters​
2.9​
Mussels​
4.8​
Lobster​
37.0​
 
OP
OP
Levinson

Levinson

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 5, 2020
Messages
611
Reaction score
449
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
OP
OP
Levinson

Levinson

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 5, 2020
Messages
611
Reaction score
449
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Some seafood is high in copper. I covered this in one of my articles. But it’s not typically a problem.


1).

Table 1. The copper concentrations present in certain shellfish.
Food
Copper Concentration (ppm wet)
Fish​
0.61​
Scallops​
0.27​
Clams​
6.1​
Crab​
7.4​
Shrimp​
1.8​
Oysters​
2.9​
Mussels​
4.8​
Lobster​
37.0​
Thanks for the good read.
After reading your article, I feel it might not be an issue. I run an ATS so algae will help out with the export.
Also, there's activated carbon, although I don't change it very often but I can if I need to.

I wonder if the inverts ingesting food sources containing copper could be an issue. I read somewhere that many inverts have ways of pushing copper out of their system after consuming them.
 
Back
Top