Do you NEED to Quarantine?

[raidedxelite]

So im about to start adding fish to my tank.

Is it necessary to Quarantine the fish before adding them to your tank?

Advantages -Disadvantages

 

[ca1ore]

Much cheaper and less frustrating in the long run to use a QT!

 

[Triggerfish]

Is it necessary to Quarantine the fish before adding them to your tank?
Depends on what you mean by 'necessary'?

Advantages -Disadvantages
able to pretreat for pathogens , isolate to get eating well, observe for health issues
only disadvantage really is fish death for some reason that may not have happened if it went right in DT. but to confirm that would be difficult.

 

[Deinonych]

In a word, yes - it's necessary for long-term success in this hobby.

Advantages:
- acclimate fish in a stress-free environment away from competition
- allow fish to adjust to prepared foods
- monitor and treat for disease without affecting other fish and inverts

Disadvantages:
- you don't get to enjoy your fish in the main display for a while (highly problematic for those with no patience )
- some fish have special care requirements like a sand bed that can complicate things
- requires additional cost and space for an extra tank

The advantages FAR outweigh the minor disadvantages. Not quarantining is like playing Russian Roulette IMO.

 

[Dmorty217]

QT and be sure, or drop and prey are the two choices you have... Couple that with time, money and effort and QTing is really your only and best option

 

[Blue Ring Sting]

I never had one before now I would not be caught without one. It is a ideal way of isolating any diseases on a newly purchased fish and ensure that he is healthy and happy before going into your main tank. There is nothing worse than your whole tank being infected. It is going to take longer for your new fish to enter your main tank but it will be so worth it.

Remember this:

"A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

 

[raidedxelite]

how do you know if a fish you get from the LFS has a disease ?

assuming it looks and is acting perfectly fine

 

[Allmost]

I did not QT for YEARS ... over 20.

then last winter, I got the smallest goldflake angel I could find, amazing fish, from a good diver ...

after placing it in tank, I lost all my stock within days !

now ... I would not put a fish in my main tank after some QT ...

if the fish dies in QT ... it would have died in the DT as well most likely

 

[Blue Ring Sting]

Its very difficult. External diseases are generally a lot easier to spot than an internal disease.

Its best you do a full QT using something like Seachem Paraguard it is prophylactic and prevents fungal, bacterial, internal and parasitic infections.

 

[Allmost]

I do not treat all fish.

rather I give them time in QT, and observe.

Prazi pro for all fish, cause flukes we can not see ... PP also works in internal and no bad side effects ...

 

[mbauma]

Don't the major suppliers like Live Aquaria and a good LFS do the same thing? I know LA does, I took the tour of their facilities in March. Their fish are all quarantined for about a month before they are moved in with other fish and then ensure they are eating before they are even offered for sale.

Treating all fish with a chemical would seem like a bad way to go about things if it's not necessary.

I'm just starting out and i'm waiting for part 2 from TBS on Monday and wasn't sure about setting up a QT with my first batch of stuff going in.

 

[Breadman03]

Do you count your money when the bank teller hands it to you? Tellers are generally very good at counting money, but mistakes do slip by.

QT is my recommendation.

 

[Allmost]

Don't the major suppliers like Live Aquaria and a good LFS do the same thing? I know LA does, I took the tour of their facilities in March. Their fish are all quarantined for about a month before they are moved in with other fish and then ensure they are eating before they are even offered for sale.

Treating all fish with a chemical would seem like a bad way to go about things if it's not necessary.

I'm just starting out and i'm waiting for part 2 from TBS on Monday and wasn't sure about setting up a QT with my first batch of stuff going in.

yet even LA advices QT ...

 

[mbauma]

So I am thinking 2 fish and a couple coral would be safe to start with after I get part 2 and the tank is stable for a week or so.

Would I put both fish into QT at the same time then?

 

[Allmost]

you can partition the QT with egg crates or something. so they dont bother one another.
get an ammo alert for QT as well. get them feeding, and make them fat.and look for any possible diseases or odd behaviour.

for corals, be sure to Dip them at the least.

 

[mbauma]

I bought coral dip already, but what's ammo? I assume you mean test for ammonia?

 

[Allmost]

I bought coral dip already, but what's ammo? I assume you mean test for ammonia?

ammonia alert by seachem.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Seachem_...water_Aquariums-Seachem-SC4111-FITKAM-vi.html

its very useful, lasts a year. continuos ammonia test ...

 

[Deinonych]

Don't the major suppliers like Live Aquaria and a good LFS do the same thing? I know LA does, I took the tour of their facilities in March. Their fish are all quarantined for about a month before they are moved in with other fish and then ensure they are eating before they are even offered for sale.

Treating all fish with a chemical would seem like a bad way to go about things if it's not necessary.

I'm just starting out and i'm waiting for part 2 from TBS on Monday and wasn't sure about setting up a QT with my first batch of stuff going in.

Diver's Den is more conditioning than actual quarantine, hence LiveAquaria's recommendation that you quarantine ALL new acquisitions. LA's "normal" stock comes from Quality Marine, a wholesaler, and I don't believe they implement any quarantine procedures due to the nature of their business. I've received livestock from them with crypto, so that pretty much says it all. Better to assume that every fish has been exposed to crypto, and do tank transfer (followed by a 4 week observation) as part of your QT protocol.

 

[sreefs]

In a word, yes - it's necessary for long-term success in this hobby.

Advantages:
- acclimate fish in a stress-free environment away from competition
- allow fish to adjust to prepared foods
- monitor and treat for disease without affecting other fish and inverts

Disadvantages:
- you don't get to enjoy your fish in the main display for a while (highly problematic for those with no patience )
- some fish have special care requirements like a sand bed that can complicate things
- requires additional cost and space for an extra tank

The advantages FAR outweigh the minor disadvantages. Not quarantining is like playing Russian Roulette IMO.

Very well said, for long term success! Everything wet needs to be quarantined
in my opinion.

 

[snorvich]

Not quarantining is like playing Russian Roulette. Nobody wins the game, some just get to play longer.