Quarantine?

[thom336]

Its not to do with the decoration, it is to do with the fish feeling insecure as it does not have the protection of the shoal around it. It is a problem when buying a fish to add to a shoal - and in this instance my view stands that it is just going to be too stressed in qt, which will weaken the immune.

I also think that qt is a stressful experiance for fish, I know it has many advantages, but there are nearly equal disadvantages. I prefer to get my fish settled down ASAP rather than dither aroud moving them here there and everywhere. I know many people have had disasterous conciquences of skipping qt, but its a risk you take. if fish were qt in the shop (like most good shops should) then there is no point in repeating the process again I feel.

 

[sowhatifiamlazy]

Well, thanks people but I did what I have to do.
As thom336 said, it's not a decoration - it's because she's a shoaling fish and was frustrated because she was alone.
She was so nervous that she had some fast and irritable moves. I just couldn't watch that and put her into the main tank.
And guess what - in less than a minute she restored her colour back and was happily swimming with the rest of the gang.

 

[anonapersona]

salt dip?

A goldfish board I read recommends a salt dip for new fish, to remove parasites. Is this done with tropicals?

I've never done it, but as I might be adding new fish to existing tanks soon, I'm trying to decide what the best procedure would be.

 

[Tempest]

My quarantine tank has been transformed in to a heavily planted low light tank with some fish to keep it cycled. I haven't bought any new fish in quite a long while but if and when I need the tank as either a quarantine tank or even a hospital tank, it is easy to move those few fish to one of my larger tanks. Most of the plants in it are on driftwood which I can also move out if I need to medicate. I think the anubias is all I would move even then.

 

[cpr4cpu]

This thread is quite well timed. I broke my QT tank while cleaning it and thought "What the heck, I can skip using it this one time" and threw a couple Xiphophorus Variatus into my 125 gallon community tank. I now have the death toll at 65 fish, and thanks to the medications, most of my plants will probably die too.

I am plenty upset with myself and my lapse of better judgement. The parasites survived a salt bath, and two days of comprehensive treatment with Maroxy, Maracyn-Two and Malachite Green but unfortunately my fish did not.

My lesson is not as expensive as it could have been, it was a simple livebearer community and nothing exotic so I consider myself lucky. I broke my Cardinal Rule #1. You can bet the farm that I won't do that again. My new QT tank is set up jst like a mini version of my main tank with plants, a cave, wood (all epoxy coated so I can bleach and boil should I need to).

 

[tricksterpup]

Originally posted by RTR
I've run between 24 and 40 tanks at all times through that period.

RTR, Your a God among men..

Originally posted by RTR
Direct introduction of new fish is IMHO just about one of the dumbest thing an aquarist can do. If that is offensive I am sorry, but that is my opinion.

If your QT tank is stressful, fix that. That is easy and does not risk your existing tanks or fish. A plastic or live plant or two, a rock or terra cotta pot or two is not a big deal. Don't kid yourself that you are doing the wrong thing for the new fish.

This is so true.. I am 100% agreement with RTR on this.
About 99.9% LFS do not run QTanks at their locations, it is not cost effective. They will normally get the fish, un pack them and then place them in the tanks. If you don't believe me, go to your store and look around on shipment day. Most places do not keep that kinda room for QTanks, they would use those tanks and room for more fish to sell or display. I always have Qtanks on hand, either with live plants or plastic. But i always give the fish plenty of room to hide and feel comfortable. I would rather have one fish stressed than give an entire tank a parasite or illness. I have learned my lesson after loosing an entire reef tank of fish. This is something that many Oldtimers learn and many forget to do. But there are no short cuts in this hobby . I am not trying to sound elitist here but if you want to succeed in this hobby, you gotta follow the rules. We spout these rules for a reason to help you out. To help you reach your goal to having a healthy vibrant tank. There is nothing better than having a tank with fat colorful fish.
jim
CPR - there is no such thing as a simple livebearer. Sorry to hear of you loss. Must've been an incredible tank before it happened.

 

[wetmanNY]

Of course I'm now surrounded here with 10-gallon tanks that were formerly Qtanks.

My quarantines double as plant nurseries for the kinds of plants that grow on wood or rocks or coconut shell. The plants move into a bowl by the window if plant-trashing medications are required.

A salt bath on the way into quarantine is always an excellent idea. Why would anyone omit this step? You predissolve the salt and add it to the mix of travelling water and tank water that you're going to net the new fish out of. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago passes new freshwater arrivals through full-strength seawater in a temporary salt bath. Salting the water keeps you from being tempted to dump any travelling water into the tank.

And since praziquantel is so low in toxicity, and since flukes have dogged my steps off and on for years, prazi is now part of the "cleaning" regime newcomers have to pass through.

 

[tricksterpup]

Originally posted by wetmanNY
A salt bath on the way into quarantine is always an excellent idea. Why would anyone omit this step? You predissolve the salt and add it to the mix of travelling water and tank water that you're going to net the new fish out of. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago passes new freshwater arrivals through full-strength seawater in a temporary salt bath. Salting the water keeps you from being tempted to dump any travelling water into the tank.

I have forgotten about this, I havent done this in some time. It is a very good practice, I am more used to doing this the other way around and doing freshwater baths for saltwater. But it is a very good practice.
jim