How many do not quarantine?

[75mixedreef]

I don't quarantine mainly because I just don't have the space to set one up. I'm lucky my wife is alright with the tank being there at all. I get why people do QT, but I don't plan on ever having a $100 fish or all that many fish. My system is mainly corals. I did lose all my fish recently, but that was due to an ammonia spike when my DSB accidentally got a bit stirred up when moving to a new house. I have to admit that I was not as devastated as I should have been since most the corals made it.

I also think that a QT stresses the fish out more and increases the odds of losing a fish in the first week. I would rather put them in the tank in the evening as the lights are winding down than into an empty tank that is not very good at removing ammonia. I get that it works for people, but getting them into their final home faster seems more humane to me.

 

[jgln]

I can't imagine how I would be able to catch a fish without totally disrupting the tank and then probably still not have the target fish out of the tank. Probably do more harm than good in my case.

I had one weird issue with ick once after about a year of a new tank so not sure where it came from. Anyway I tried garlic in the food and it cleared up. I still have those fish today.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

It's a poor analogy, even with the cute little fishy brackets. Every fish tank known to man 'overcrowds' the fish if an open reef is your point of reference. Indeed, it is that infinite volume than renders something like ich far less problematic in an open reef than in our tanks (and accounts for the reproductive strategy). Whether your fish are parasite free I cannot say, though I recall studies suggesting that an average wild caught fish has something like 26 parasites.

I think I've read a few studies that back that up. And that's just parasites, not to mention the viruses and bacteria the fish also have on a regular basis.

 

[LED Jack]

I have never and will never quarantine. But I only have large tanks and most all of the fish I have added immediately adjust well to my large healthy tanks.

But I also never over populate my tanks nor try and keep sensitive or aggressive fish.

 

[BrianD]

I'm not sure of the point of this thread. From a risk mitigation standpoint, it is obvious that one should quarantine (try to find a public aquarium that does not).

People choose to roll the dice. That doesn't mean it is good husbandry.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

I'm not sure of the point of this thread. From a risk mitigation standpoint, it is obvious that one should quarantine (try to find a public aquarium that does not).

People choose to roll the dice. That doesn't mean it is good husbandry.

The point is there are people who have success without QTing. I'm just curious as to what that ratio is, because honestly I know more people who do not QT with success, and more people who QT with failure, than I do with people who QT and have no issues.

 

[surferarnie]

I didn't use to but got ick a while back. Next fish i get go in a qt tank.


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[Mrs. Music]

I'm not sure of the point of this thread. From a risk mitigation standpoint, it is obvious that one should quarantine (try to find a public aquarium that does not).

People choose to roll the dice. That doesn't mean it is good husbandry.

excellent point. the only point really.

 

[jcjrogers]

I'm not sure of the point of this thread. From a risk mitigation standpoint, it is obvious that one should quarantine (try to find a public aquarium that does not).

People choose to roll the dice. That doesn't mean it is good husbandry.

Though probably true in most cases, I think it is a little more complicated than that in real life. For instance, public aquariums have the facilities and knowledge to capitalize on quarantining but can still make mistakes. However, their successes likely outweigh their mistakes by far. Compare that to your average reefer with limited time, space, and knowledge. QT tanks are often small, don't have great filtration, and have large bio load swings due to the small volume of water. They typically are bare-bottom with a few pieces of PVC. One keeps a fish in this setup for 6-8 weeks while bombarding it with copper and other medications and/or handles the fish every three days to drop it in another tank with the same shortcomings as the first. During this 6-8 weeks, the reefer also has to make sure he doesn't accidently contaminate the DT. Since contamination could theoretically occur by evaporation or splash from the QT, there are no guarantees even if equipment, hands, and arms are always sterilized before entering the DT, which of course doesn't always happen.

Though quarantining fish probably reduces the chances of adding disease or parasites to the DT significantly, the probability of adding disease or parasites isn't zero and probably not even close. The flip side is that a small tank with poor conditions and all sorts of medications likely increases the chance of losing fish with no disease or parasites during quarantine or possibly shortening their lifespan.

My issue is with the mentality that those who do not quarantine are terrible, irresponsible, lazy, etc. when many have likely looked at the pros and cons and determined that in their particular situations, it is best not to quarantine.

 

[homer1475]

This thread....

:deadhorse1::deadhorse1::deadhorse1::deadhorse1::deadhorse1::deadhorse1:

Everyone knows they should QT, whether they do or not is their decision.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

I appreciate all the participation in my question. For those who feel strongly about QTing, please refrain from reiterating how everyone should quarantine. These kinds of comments are exactly what I didn't want on here because it intimidates those who choose not to quarantine and makes it uninviting for them to answer. This isn't about preaching to the choir. I'm legitimately wanting to know what the experiences are on those who do not or did not QT. There is an entire subform on RC that is dedicated to disease control and QTing. I am not looking for reasons to not QT, I am not looking for justification to not QT, I am looking for personal experiences because the negatives outweigh the positives on this forum because those who don't quarantine are intimidated into staying quiet.
Again, thank you for participating but please refrain from changing the topic.

 

[Green Chromis]

It's a poor analogy, even with the cute little fishy brackets. Every fish tank known to man 'overcrowds' the fish if an open reef is your point of reference. Indeed, it is that infinite volume than renders something like ich far less problematic in an open reef than in our tanks (and accounts for the reproductive strategy). Whether your fish are parasite free I cannot say, though I recall studies suggesting that an average wild caught fish has something like 26 parasites.

:fish1: Harmful parasite free, their are so many parasites that are not harmful to our fish. :fish1:

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Parasites, by nature of the definition, are harmful. While it is counter productive for a parasite to kill it's host, it does deplete them of resources. I speculate one of the reasons why fish in the ocean do not die of marine velvet or ich (in plague proportions as I am sure there are deaths here and there) is because of the massive water volume and movement that does not allow for the parasites to multiply in numbers large enough to decimate the host populations. There are also predators that eliminate debilitated fish thus knocking down numbers, plus plankton eaters which remove the parasites from the water column. I would dare say every fish in the ocean is infected with some sort of detrimental disease, but environment plays a key role in keeping the disease in check.
For example, fleas do not normally kill a cat or dog. However if the cat or dog is contained in an environment where the fleas can overpopulate they can and will cause anemia in the dog or cat which will then result in the decline of the animal and allow it to become susceptible to illnesses that would otherwise not harm it.

 

[Green Chromis]

Quote:
Originally Posted by homer1475 View Post
This thread....



Everyone knows they should QT, whether they do or not is their decision.

:fish1: If you buy or collect healthy fish, have an uncrowded tank, and feed high quality live, frozen, and dry foods, I feel you won't need to quarantine your fish, unless you have a nicely set up, large enough tank to quarantine the fish in. After reading the threads on this post, it seems like a lot of people lose a fair amount of fish, thru the use of their quarantine systems, which may be under size, for said purposes, thus causing more undo stress on their already over stressed fish. :fish1:

 

[Str8Down]

My LFS runs copper in their fish only tanks and salinity at 1.020. I feel that they have QT'd it for me better than I would be able to

 

[Green Chromis]

Parasites, by nature of the definition, are harmful. While it is counter productive for a parasite to kill it's host, it does deplete them of resources. I speculate one of the reasons why fish in the ocean do not die of marine velvet or ich (in plague proportions as I am sure there are deaths here and there) is because of the massive water volume and movement that does not allow for the parasites to multiply in numbers large enough to decimate the host populations. There are also predators that eliminate debilitated fish thus knocking down numbers, plus plankton eaters which remove the parasites from the water column. I would dare say every fish in the ocean is infected with some sort of detrimental disease, but environment plays a key role in keeping the disease in check.
For example, fleas do not normally kill a cat or dog. However if the cat or dog is contained in an environment where the fleas can overpopulate they can and will cause anemia in the dog or cat which will then result in the decline of the animal and allow it to become susceptible to illnesses that would otherwise not harm it.

:fish1: Hi, if all parasites are harmful to fish, and my fish are extremely healthy, then I must assume my fish are parasite free. And my fish are in a closed system also, with only around 100 gallons per fish of NSW. Maybe it's the fact that I feed my fish a very healthy diet of live and fresh frozen foods that keep my healthy, long lived fish alive, also maybe its because I put very little stress on my fish, because they are wild caught by myself, with nets only, and I due not put undo stress on them thru the practice of quarantining them in a small tank. :fish1:

 

[EMeyer]

Its just a risk mitigation strategy. Telling people they should or should not QT is silly. Yes, it will reduce risks. Just like never getting into a motor vehicle will dramatically reduce your risk of death and dismemberment.

We have a bunch of people who risk life and limb daily when they get into their cars (accepting some risk), turning around and telling people they should mitigate risk of their pet fish getting sick.

Theres no "should" or "should not" here. Clearly it would reduce the risk. Its up to each persons' risk tolerance to decide what to do with that information. Its not as if QT is a zero cost strategy after all

 

[ktownhero]

The point is there are people who have success without QTing. I'm just curious as to what that ratio is, because honestly I know more people who do not QT with success, and more people who QT with failure, than I do with people who QT and have no issues.

Yeah, well, the majority of people that smoke never get cancer... but if you made a thread asking for only people to respond who are smokers who never got cancer, you'd find that kind of odd, wouldn't you?

The reason you see people fail using QT is the same reason you see many people fail in general: they aren't equipped to handle the process correctly either from a knowledge or husbandry standpoint. People screw up ammonia/nitrite issues in QT, screw up medications, stress fish out, etc. Just like anything, if you do it *wrong* then it will turn out *wrong*.

What you have to keep in mind is that most people in the aquarium hobby -- and I'm including all forms of aquaria here -- aren't really good at it. Most people either don't have or totally ignore good advice. Most people get info from LFS or Petco employees. Don't judge something like QTing based on the masses, base it on high-level reef keepers that know what they are doing. And, in that demographic, you will not find people who fail using QT much.

tl;dr: QTing correctly is better than not QTing... But not QTing is better than QTing incorrectly. IMO.

 

[StrikerKratos]

I didn't quarantine until I lost enough acropora to buy a new car after adding a single infected frag.
I learned the hard way that if it's wet, it's dipped & quarantined 30-60 days, period.

 

[MMacro]

I'm not sure of the point of this thread. From a risk mitigation standpoint, it is obvious that one should quarantine (try to find a public aquarium that does not).

People choose to roll the dice. That doesn't mean it is good husbandry.

This.
I quarantine and dip everything wet. As it has been said a million times over quarantine tanks don't have to be expensive or fancy. I have spent no more than $100 on all my equipment for my two 20 gallon TTM tanks.