quarintine

[bleeding]

Can anyone explain or point me to a thread that describes the correct way to quarintine fish that come from the LFS before putting them into my commuity tank?

 

[SftWrmRain]

I think it's pretty simple for most people. Put your fish in a separate, or QT tank for 2-6 weeks until you are confident it doesn't have communicable diseases. At that point, place it with your other fish. Your QT should be up and running even if you don't have fish to put in it. I keep mine cycled with plants and snails.

 

[bleeding]

What if the fish dosent show any signs but has a disease? Should you do "preventative" meds or anything in the QT tank?:huh:

 

[J double R]

well, thats the point of the QT tank. so that if the fish DOES have an illness, and isnt showing yet, there is time to figure it out and treat it before you expose your other fish to the disease. chances are, if you have your new fish in there for a minimum of 2 weeks, youll see SOME sign of disease if a fish has one.

 

[icecubez189]

qurantine your fish for a minimum of two weeks. most people do it for a month or month and a half. by this time, nearly all illness, diseases or problems should come to your attention if the fish has any. there really is no medication you can add for preventive measure. let time take it's course and do a visual inspection daily to catch those problems. before even buying fish, make sure they look fat and healthy already.

 

[5xevy]

chances are, if you have your new fish in there for a minimum of 2 weeks, youll see SOME sign of disease if a fish has one.

Agreed. Of all the fish I've ever had that became sick from the LFS, they've ALWAYS showed signs within the first two weeks...if they made it that long.

I used to not have any QT tanks, but learned the hard way how one fish can wipe out your entire tank.

 

[Rbishop]

3-4 weeks minimum, more if I have the slightest doubt. I am not about to risk several hundred to thousands of dollars of fish, or all the hours that went into the tanks, on a rush to put new inhabinants in.

 

[5xevy]

Exactly. Well said.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

A good rule of thumb for fw is for tank raised fish 2 weeks and for wild caught 4 weeks. That means they go for that amount of time with no fish showing any symptoms or dying. Longer doesnt not hurt.

A quarenteen tank can be done either cycled or uncycled. there are advantages and drawbacks to either method. If you have to hit a cycled tank with certain meds- you will kill the bacteria. If you do it uncycled, you have to do 25% waterchanges every few days the whole time the fish are in it.