General Care Discussion :: Thermometer broke. Possible mercury poisoning?

[eugenetimpog]

Yesterday when I looked at the temperature in one of my turtle tanks it was so low err... It has a hole and some of the mercury got out. I have no idea how it happened but the hole is very round. I immediately took the turtles out and clean the tank. I think mercury didn't dissolve coz i found them underneath the rocks. They looked like silver grains of sand.. very small silver marbles.

Tiger and Bunsoy was exposed to mercury contaminated water not more than 24 hours. I haven't notice any changes in their behavior. They are still active and very lively but I am really worried. Does anyone had an experience like this? I've been transferring them into another tank then do a full water change on the other so that... if ever they have mercury in their system, when they excrete it, they wont be able to re-introduce it into their system. What else can I do? Are there any food that can absorb mercury?

[clc4912]

Aquarium thermometers generally do not have mercury in them. If the contents showed a read reading then the thermometer does not contain mercury and will not hard the turtles.

[eugenetimpog]

I really hope its not mercury but silver stuff looks mercury to me. I hope I'm wrong. The thermometer also have the red stuff in the middle but it didn't leaked out.

[Cramer]

It may be those little lead pellets that are in wax at the bottom of the tube. I doubt you have a mercury thermometer if you've bought it within the last 10 years.

Poke them with a stick, but don't touch. If they are solid they are fine. If liquid, then they are hazardous to you as well.

[clc4912]

Cramer is right. It is most likely the weights used to keep the thermometer upright in the tank. If it had red liquid then you do not have a emrcury thermometer and should not worry.

I would be more worried about making sure that you get all of the peices of glass out of the tank to avoid your turtle from eating any of it. Than can be more dangerous to his health than the other.

[TheComputerGremlin]

If it is in fact mercury (I'm a chemist), no harm should have come to your turtles. Mercury is insoluble in water, so it will just ball up and stay put. However, you have a small conundrum as to how to discard it. I would just try to keep it under water, and it is practically harmless. Find out how your city disposes of it (I'd say take it to a university nearby and have them do it if you can, I know exactly what chemical you need to mix with it to neutrilize it!)

If it's lead, get it out ASAP.

If you do have a red thermometer, however, and it leaked, that's alcohol, and you'll probably have to do a full tank change because the alcohol will go into solution with the water.

[megcornell]

Also, as you've now seen, turtles can't be trusted with a glass thermometer... it's too easy to break.
When you replace your thermometer get a digital one, they are much safer and only cost a few dollars more.

[eugenetimpog]

I checked my other thermometer. It is just as Cramer described. little lead pellets. Thanks guys for the help. I didn't think they could break the glass thermometer. I underestimated my turtles. I will just buy a digital thermometer. Thanks again guys.

[AnthonyGarcia]

yea. this is the same reason why i don't put a thermometer inside the tank. my turts would bite at it the whole day till it falls off the glass. anyway, the temps here are warm enough... much the same day and night (75-90F) so i did not even bother getting a water heater.

[eugenetimpog]

It is warm in here too. I don't really need a water heater. the water temp for my tank inside the house is 75-78. I just needed a thermometer for my tank outside the house. Summer is coming and i need to watch the water temperature.

[TurtleGirl08]

Glad to here that your turtles are okay, I have a glass one and they never borthered it, but now i think i am going to get a digital one just so this doesnt happen to me. Thanks for posting it mayeb others will get the same idea.

[eugenetimpog]

Thanks! I think you should. They have that glass thermometer for more than a year and I never saw them bite, hit or even show interest on it. I guess you'll never know what they are doing when you are not looking.