Do you quarantine?

magpie

Still gathering data on quarantining. I'd like to know if you quarantine new fish and for how long.

This is a multiple choice poll.
If you choose yes, please also select one of the bottom 2 options indicating why you do.

Feel free to discuss below. :)


For me, my answer would be -
No, I don't but have had at least one disease outbreak w/addition of new fish.

It was ich, and it was most likely from a store that is not my usual LFS, but it was an outbreak nonetheless. Of course I can't be sure as the new additions weren't those that were affected by the ich.
(Is that usual, or is there a chance the ich was brought on by stress?)

I just got a 10 gallon kit setup with heater and all at Petco for $34. Pretty darn cheap, and I can use it for a fry tank in the future too.

Termato

A new fish should be quarantined for at least a week in a cycled tank with you other new fish. This guarantees that your fish are healthy when you put them into the permanent tank and will also allow them to get used to your water parameters. This will also allow the fish to calm down after the stressful netting and moving.

Yes you will have to move the fish after the quarantine but it wont be long or far.

That is what I suggest. Many people use their hospital tanks as their quarantine tanks.

Some species such as Dwarf Gourami that have a known hereditary defect should be kept in quarantine for up to a month to ensure the safety of your OTHER community fish.

magpie

Follow up question - if the fish come through the quarantine healthy and disease-free, could I scoop them say in a bowl instead of netting them again? If there are no issues, I wonder if adding the water from that tank is a problem?

Termato

If the tank is cycled...and you don't have a problem of possibly cross contaminating that would be fine....although wouldn't it be harder to use the bowl to catch the fish?

That really comes down to you at that point. I always net my fish. I dunno...

I have personally quarantined new fish to a one tank for almost a week or two. The only fish I wont be able to quarantine is my next fish which is going to be a BOlivian Ram because I am not using my hospital tank as a fry tank :/.

magpie

It might be harder! I just hate the thought of netting them a couple of times in fairly quick succession... but maybe it doesn't really matter.

Tazman

Best practice if the tank and QT tank are the same water parameters and no medication has been used,is to net them and get them in the display tank as soon as the QT period is over....adding them to the tank with the lights off and at night may help to acclimate better if the tank is already stocked.

Quarantine should last 3-4 weeks as it can take that long for diseases to show up sometimes, shorter time and you risk contaminating the main display tank if the fish has an illness which has not shown up yet.

magpie

Thanks, yes, I normally add new fish with lights off all day until the following day, no matter what time of day I add them.

Termato

I have never done this before. turning the lights off when I add fish. Great suggestion. I shall do this when adding my new Ram.

Thanks to the both of you for the information.

magpie

Yes, I think it helps both because the fish is less stressed in the dark environment, but also the other fish can't see it as well so are less likely to bother it, even if they're just curious and not aggressive.

It's hard, though, because you want to see them better! But for the good of the fish I restrain myself. ;)

Jayy

I've never quarantined before, but I would like to start. It's been mainly because of lack of space, but I'm sure I set up a ten gallon QT tank. Any advice?