Oily Slick?

[jerky1280]

My turtle's tank has developed an oil slick on the top over the last few days. I skimmed most of it off this morning, but what could be causing this?

I was planning on putting in some fish this weekend, but I'm gonna hold off until this gets straightened out!

 

[RedTurquoise]

What kind of food are you feeding? Sounds to me like proteins gathering at the top! Not harmful therefore would not worry about it.

 

[jerky1280]

His diet is mostly Nutrafin turtle pellets. I fed him a pretty big cricket a few days ago, and he ate two feeder fish yesterday. He has eaten both in the past without any side-effects.

Someone from a turtle forum told me that they have noticed similar effects after their turtle consumes goldfish...does anyone know if it's possible that the fish caused my turtle to have oily excretments?

 

[RedTurquoise]

I know that pellets and flakes will give 'oily' slicks but not sure about the goldfish!

 

[colesea]

Oil slicks on the surface of the water is a result of an accumulation of organics in your tank. This can result from the animals eating high-protien diets without adaquate water filtration and tank cleaning. Turtles, which are 99% carnavores (most aquatic turtles should have a suppliment of fresh greens twice a week), should be eating high-protien diets.

Aggitation of the water's surface with an airstone or HOB filter should help break up the oil and prevent the slick from occuring. On a turtle tank I would suggest adding a protien skimmer to help keep organics down, or do more frequent water changes.
~~Colesea

 

[jerky1280]

Consensus from a few people suggests that it is caused by overfeeding the turtle on goldfish, which have a high fat content. I'm still sceptical, but I'm going to let the remaining feeder fish live to see if the situation clears up. I also raised my quickfilter so part of it is out of the water, to see if it will skim off some of the residue.

 

[colesea]

Keeping goldfish in the tank will probably add to the organics since now not only the turtle is producing waste, but so are the fish. Aggitation will help. You may notice a white, soap-like foam develop if the oil was bad enough. This foam is similar to the stuff you see created by waves on a beach. The foam is the componate you want to skim off the tank.
~~Colesea

 

[jerky1280]

I skimmed off most of the oil yesterday, and this morning it looks to be about back to normal. Hopefully this was a one-time occurence from feeding him too much fish at once.