QT Fish from Fellow Reefer's Tank?

[ca1ore]

What is the prevailing wisdom on this? In the past I have always put fish from LFS into QT, but have had problems with high mortality rates in QT (around 50%). Lately, I have been buying more fish from fellow reefers than the LFS, and have been putting them straight into the DT under the assumption that they were essentially 'quarantined', just in somebody else's tank!

 

[MrTuskfish]

I would QT a fish even if God gave it to me. I have a lot of fish ( re-stocked about 1,000 gals of DTs since moving after Katrina) and my QT survival rate is practically nil. If a fish does die during acclimation, I sure want that death to occur in the QT.
I'd tyro to find out what's causing your problems in a QT. Survival rates should (and are, IMO) significantly higher in a proper QT than going straight to the DT. There is a continuous stream of new threads on this forum section from folks who got fish or LR from a fellow hobbyist and a parasite came along with the deal.

 

[ca1ore]

I would QT a fish even if God gave it to me. I have a lot of fish ( re-stocked about 1,000 gals of DTs since moving after Katrina) and my QT survival rate is practically nil.

Assume you mean QT death rate?

I've only had four fish thru QT this time around - so small sample size may be skewing the percentage, but still, just lost a flame angel from LFS after three weeks in quarantine. Whereas fish from established tanks straight into DT are 5 for 5. But, is a risk, no question.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Assume you mean QT death rate?

I've only had four fish thru QT this time around - so small sample size may be skewing the percentage, but still, just lost a flame angel from LFS after three weeks in quarantine. Whereas fish from established tanks straight into DT are 5 for 5. But, is a risk, no question.

I always qt any fish regardless of where I got it from.
I would bet that if you put those 5 fish into QT they would still be 5 for 5. Certain fish from LFS are harder to acclimate because they may have disease and may not be aggressively eating. If you get a good specimine which is disease free and is agressivley eating your sourvival rate will go way up.

Is your qt cycled and are you performing frequent water changes? Are you medicating the new fish? Are they eating one day and then suddenly stop or are they just not eating from the start?

 

[ca1ore]

Is your qt cycled and are you performing frequent water changes? Are you medicating the new fish? Are they eating one day and then suddenly stop or are they just not eating from the start?

Yes, QT cycled with zero ammonia and nitrate. I keep the tank running permanently - when no fish, no water changes. When inhabited, 25% water change weekly with water from DT. Flame Angel, for example, appeared quite healthy and was eating pellet food. Went away for business for two days and when I got home he was pale, with tattered fins and a whitish body blotchiness. Started antibiotics, but to no avail.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Assume you mean QT death rate?

I've only had four fish thru QT this time around - so small sample size may be skewing the percentage, but still, just lost a flame angel from LFS after three weeks in quarantine. Whereas fish from established tanks straight into DT are 5 for 5. But, is a risk, no question.

Thanks for catching this, just a slight difference.