Quarantine Question

Slashdogg

Slashdogg

AC Members
Feb 15, 2005
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Port Elizabeth, South Africa
HI all...

After the second ich outbreak in about 2 months thanks to new additions I've decided that I'm buying another fish until I have a quarantine tank.

Most articles for FW said that a 10 gallon would be fine, as for substrate, well there seems to be some dispute as to whether there should be any or not. I presume that not having substrate makes it easier to clean the tank out.

Now this is where I get confused. The new addition was a juvenile Ancistrus triradiatus, and today (a week later) some of my black neons had white spot again (I've started treating them with salt and heat, I've read Daveedka's article and am following that, again). The thing is that even if I had quarantined the pleco I dont think it would ever have shown symptoms of ick due to their hard bony plating.

So... When placing a new fish in quarantine should you always treat for ick? (esp. in cases with the "ideal carriers" that seldom show visible outbreaks).

TIA
Ryan
 
I wouldn't bother treating for ich, or anything, unless there is a real need to do so. The thing is that ich will also attack a fishes gills. So even if your plec had no visible spots, it would still be irritated and will probably flash against your tank decor.
 
Bare bottom Q tanks are the best, and easiest way to Q new arrivals. You should never just treat something, the only time you should be treating a disease is when it manifests itself. The Q period is just to give you time to observe the fish, and combat potential problems you may encounter with a new fish, in a separate area so your other fish do not contract the same problems. They will save a lot of headaches. The Q size depends on the fish your Qing, for most community tropicals a 10gal is fine.
 
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