QT Cleaner Shrimp

[Barrier Grief]

I get the whole "if it's wet, QT it" thing, but...

When QTing a cleaner shrimp, what exactly should I be looking for in the way of problems/disease? Is a full 6+ weeks necessary? How do I know it is OK to put in DT?

Want to do it right, but not sure what "right" is in this case

 

[snorvich]

I get the whole "if it's wet, QT it" thing, but...

When QTing a cleaner shrimp, what exactly should I be looking for in the way of problems/disease? Is a full 6+ weeks necessary? How do I know it is OK to put in DT?

Want to do it right, but not sure what "right" is in this case

I would not worry about QT cleaner shrimp, but I would be very careful not to transfer any water from bags taken from a system that contains fish. By the way, cleaner shrimp do not eat ich or other parasites found in our tanks.

 

[Barrier Grief]

Really? Figured I'd have to do something, but wasn't sure ... so just acclimate/visually inspect, pull out of transfer water and toss em in? That's easy.

I know they do nothing for ich, etc..., but want one, well, because they're cool and add character to the tank.

Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

Really? Figured I'd have to do something, but wasn't sure ... so just acclimate/visually inspect, pull out of transfer water and toss em in? That's easy.

I know they do nothing for ich, etc..., but want one, well, because they're cool and add character to the tank.

Thanks!

I too love shrimp and have multiple kinds in each tank (although never copper banded). Be sure specific gravity is the same before putting into your tank and change it slowly when acclimating. Most LFS keep shrimp at 1.025 in their holding tanks, but not all do, so be careful.

 

[b0bab0ey]

I would not worry about QT cleaner shrimp, but I would be very careful not to transfer any water from bags taken from a system that contains fish. By the way, cleaner shrimp do not eat ich or other parasites found in our tanks.

What other inverts can you add to the DT without QT?

 

[snorvich]

What other inverts can you add to the DT without QT?

Well, if you want to be totally safe, you can add any invert or coral with 3 days of isolation. However, the odds are such that very, very rarely will any invert bring in a parasite cyst so 3 days isolation is quite sufficient. The vast majority of people add inverts with no isolation incurring no problems as long as no water is transferred in with them. I dip corals in Revive or Coral Rx but this is not to kill fish parasites.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Well, if you want to be totally safe, you can add any invert or coral with 3 days of isolation. However, the odds are such that very, very rarely will any invert bring in a parasite cyst so 3 days isolation is quite sufficient. The vast majority of people add inverts with no isolation incurring no problems as long as no water is transferred in with them. I dip corals in Revive or Coral Rx but this is not to kill fish parasites.

I have a 20L w/T-5s, LR, sand that I use as an invert QT. No fish. I normally keep all new corals/inverts in this tank for 9 weeks before adding to the DT. So, would 3 days isolation be sufficient in this kind of setup? Or are you meaning 3 days isolation in a BB/rockless tank with nothing else in it? Like we QT the fish.

 

[walvis]

A misconception about cleaner shrimps!
I'm taking 'm out since more so a nuisance to LPS when target feeding.

 

[snorvich]

I have a 20L w/T-5s, LR, sand that I use as an invert QT. No fish. I normally keep all new corals/inverts in this tank for 9 weeks before adding to the DT. So, would 3 days isolation be sufficient in this kind of setup? Or are you meaning 3 days isolation in a BB/rockless tank with nothing else in it? Like we QT the fish.

No, your setup is fine for corals and inverts. 3 days is sufficient for isolation. Remember that ich (or velvet) needs a fish host and inverts are not hosts for parasites.

 

[snorvich]

A misconception about cleaner shrimps!
I'm taking 'm out since more so a nuisance to LPS when target feeding.

While not relevant to this thread . . . there is an easy way around that problem: first solution would be to use LPS pellets which are not appealing to shrimp or fish (there are at least three on the market; I get mine from Cherry Corals), or alternatively use tupperware (or equivalent, there is nothing magic about the brand) domes with holes which isolate corals from fish or shrimp.

 

[krzyphsygy]

I would not worry about QT cleaner shrimp, but I would be very careful not to transfer any water from bags taken from a system that contains fish. By the way, cleaner shrimp do not eat ich or other parasites found in our tanks.

I'm a little confused on this statement as in the stickies and in other threads it talks about not transfering equipment and other things from a tank infected with ich to another tank because of cross contaimination. Now a snail's shell that might be in a tank infected could carry ich to another tank, yours, and then infect your fish.
Also what would 3 days do?? If ich lives for up to 3 weeks as the life cycle and possible up to 9 weeks on some strains, what is 3 days going to do? The inverts might NOT be infected, but can transfer the parasite to another tank where there are fish.