Proper QT procedures??

[shadowcat]

Folks, I'm planning to acquire some new Syno's and before I place them in their new home I want to QT....Having recently added new loaches and introduced Ich to one of my tanks, I've learned my lesson. Are there any suggested procedures for QT of wild caught fish, aside from observation?? Should I go through a couple rounds of meds to eliminate any possible internal or external nasties?? High salt?? High temps. Those of you who do QT on a regular basis must have found a process that works.

[Bas Pels]

Should I go through a couple rounds of meds to eliminate any possible internal or external nasties?? High salt?? High temps.

This I certainly would not do: all medications have adverse effects, and if you treat a fis h for not existing illnesses, you will be certain that in the end the fish will get a desease - for lack of immunity due to the medication stress

I would advise observations, and perhaps it is a good idea to have a few medications easily available (if the pharmacy around is open 7 day a week, perfect, you can buy what you need, if the rearest is 100 km away, you better have them in house)

Immunity supporting agents, and very good care (clean water, good food, ample shielding) should do the work

[MatsP]

Also consider that good wholesalers will do some quarantine in their facilities - perhaps not the "required" 40 days. Of course, depending on the "quality" of the wholesaler, they may just take the fish out of the bag it got shipped from Africa in, and reship it to a shop or fishkeeper straight after it got in - in which case the fish has not had time to settle down and adopt to it's new environment...

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Mats

[shadowcat]

Mat, since it's difficult if not impossible to determine what procedures may have been followed before actually purchasing new fish, would you be inclined to agree with Bas, that medicating as a precaution during QT isn't a good idea? Bear in mind that until my recent outbreak of Ich, I probably hadn't medicated a tank in at least 10 years....never had any problems, at least none that I couldn't rectify with good house keeping. I mention that only as an indication that I'm not a really a medicating kind of guy by nature.

[MatsP]

Yes, my comments were not a disagreement with Bas's - just an ADDITIONAL that if anyone is likely to medicate against for example internal parasites,the wholesaler is the likely point, and you doing it a couple of days or weeks later is unlikely to have any great effect.

I'm definitely of the opinion that you medicate IF you have a problem, not "just in case" - but as Bas says, if you think it may be a problem, stock up some medecines.

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Mats

[shadowcat]

Thank you gentlemen. Your input is duely noted, and appreciated. Guess I'm just paranoid after my recent Ich infestation.....which fortunately I seem to have gotten under control.

[Richard B]

It always pays to err on the side of caution - i bet the mod's couldn't tell us the amount of times a post contains the lines "i bought it on an impulse as i just couldn't resist"

As for treating the stuff in quarentine - i'd echo the comments above - if it ain't broke, it don't need fixing!

Careful observation particulalrly against what is known & expected is the key

[shadowcat]

Thanks Richard. Yes, impulse buying is a problem....there always seems to be a new fish that you just HAVE to have and since you haven't seen it before you have to get it today or you may miss out....can't have that happen you know!! I really am old enough and experienced enough to know better.......at least I SHOULD be.

[Richard B]

I've been keeping fish of one type or another for over 30 years & i've bought on impulse many times despite knowing i shouldn't. Nearly everyone will tell you the same. (mostly though i have been lucky or had QT facilities available). I also have abstained, done research, moved fish to create a QT for new arrivals, gone back & missed fish (some which were the only time i've ever seen that species - grrrr).

However i must always say to anyone that it is better to research that special fish you've just seen, understand it's husbandry requirements, have a suitable tank available before purchase, quarantine upon purchase & only when you're 100% certain everything is ok (a month minimum) add it to already populated set-ups. So much could be at risk if you don't!!!

[MatsP]

The solution in most cases of "I want it now, but I can't take it now" is to offer a deposit to the shop (or, if it's not very expensive, a full payment may be needed), and then set up your environment to quarantine or whatever you need to do.

Most shops are happy to put a label "Sold to Mr X" on a tank.

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Mats

[DJRansome]

I quarantine all new arrivals in a separate tank for 3 weeks. The tank matches the conditions in which they were kept if I know them. If the destination tank has different conditions, I change the quarantine tank slowly over the 3 weeks.

After 3 weeks if the fish are disease free they go into the destination tank. I do not treat preventatively.