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	Copper and inverts... why?
sundewd Fingerling Posts: 22 Kudos: 19 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Jul-2004	Ok, copper kills inverts, thats day one stuff. But, does anybody know why this is? Why only inverts are affected by copper and heavy metals, while fish go unharmed?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
Callatya Moderator The girl's got crabs! Posts: 9662 Kudos: 5261 Registered: 16-Sep-2001	might have something to do with blood.... not sure tho. Mammals have iron based blood and i'm pretty sure inverts have copper based blood... For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
Alkyne Mega Fish Posts: 1053 Kudos: 2064 Votes: 23 Registered: 29-Apr-2003	Copper is used in many biochemical reactions (including blood), and is necessary in some amount for all organisms including invertebrates , but in large amounts one of the effects in invertebrates is ann excess of mucous production resulting in problems with respiration among other effects.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
sundewd Fingerling Posts: 22 Kudos: 19 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Jul-2004	Thanks guys, well, I did a series of google searches and I found that invert blood is copper based. They have hemocyanin in their blood instead of hemoglobin. I guess an over abundance in copper makes oxygen harder to diffuse into their blood? very interesting
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
tetraman1225 Banned Posts: 155 Kudos: 51 Votes: 0 Registered: 03-May-2003	Yoll use way to many big words BUt no really that is interesting. What has copper in it that i should steer clear of for my shrimp and Julie? ( female crawfish) [span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-07-27 21:35][/span]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27


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