How long in quarentine?

[mooseman]

Hey everyone,

I bought a Gold Severum last week and he has been in quarentine since then. My question is, how long do I need to keep him in quarentine to make sure he is OK to put in my tank?

Thanks!

 

[kveeti]

4 weeks.

Some people put them in after 2, but that might be pushing it, unless you have bought from the same LFS before and you know them to have quality stock.

 

[TJcanada]

Just gonna through out something I like to practice concerning Q... I prefer 6-8weeks, but that's just how I am.
Before adding your new fish to the main tank - add one from the main tank to the Qtank for about 2-3weeks(I do it for longer)... just "incase". Also I think it's a good idea to start adding the main tanks water to the Qtank when you add a "friend" from the main tank(if the main tanks water is in very good parameters). To me this heads off "what could be a problem" before releasing a Q'd fish into the main population.

Just my thoughts...works for me.

 

[kveeti]

Actually, I'd go with TJCanada's advice. Longer is better. Truth is, it's been so long since I've added fish to my tank, that I should probably update my ways! I have a quarantine tank up now with 3 pearl danios.... maybe I should wait longer.

 

[beviking]

Longer is better. Personally, I think kveeti's advice on 4 weeks is enough though, but then agian, I can't stand waiting longer than 2!!

 

[kveeti]

Originally posted by beviking I can't stand waiting longer than 2!!

LOL, well, that's it exactly! I guess I viewed quarantining like extended warranties on products - if it's a lemon you will know right away and therefore it is covered by the manufacturer's warranty. I have never purchased an extended warranty on anything.

Still, it is fish. Living creatures. My view was if it was ill, it would get sick right away due to the stress of being moved. Far as I can remember, any fish that was fine for 4 weeks made it through the fishy warranty.

But I still think TJCanada's advice is top notch.

 

[beviking]

Absolutely kveeti!! IME, if the fish lives a week, they'll be fine. Not to say they're disease/parasite free, but I pride myself on picking up on that stuff early. I still don't see why petco has a 15 day gaurantee? I'm not going to argue that they shouldn't, it just doesn't make sense, except for marketing of course. Oh, and an occasional otto death after 11 days! (it wasn't my fault - honest! )

 

[OrionGirl]

I guess you need to decide why you're putting the fish in quarantine.

If you're worried about the fish developing ich, then 2 weeks is a minimum, IMO, especially at temps below 75.

Look at the major diseases that a fish can introduce. Many of them won't show symptoms until after 2 weeks. Many won't show symptoms at all, they'll just spread it to your other fish. The purpose of a q-tank, IMO, is to prevent the entire tank from catching the problem, and to introduce the new fish to my water, my maintenance, my feeding, etc. 2 weeks is barely enough time for health clearance, much less anything else.

FWIW, commercial hatcheries that have disease issues aren't considered clean until they've tested clean for 12 consecutive MONTHS. Of course, a lot more is riding on healthy stock there, but it's a thought.

 

[TJcanada]

2 weeks is barely enough time for health clearance, much less anything else.

agree, totally(and with the rest of your post OG)



I Q aquarium fish for shorter period that I do our Koi - they get minimum of 6months - but it's more like 1yr since they aren't added to the main pond population until a year after purchase. What I've done with my aquarium fish seems to work for me - I'm just as eager as the next person to get them into the main tank, but I don't want to deal with the possible consequences either.