QT for inverts?

[kilroy217]

Is there a need to QT inverts, for example cleaner shrimp? If so, what is the recommended procedure?

thanks!

 

[scooter31707]

I have a 10 gallon QTsetup just for inverts. I leave them in there for 90 days.

 

[2000se]

I really need to get some snails in my DT but need to QT them. I wonder, would 100 cerith snails even be ok in an 8 gallon tank with a piece of live rock for 90 days?

 

[OrionN]

I QT all my Anemones and Clams. Snails ti remove each and clean them to make sure there are no parasitic snails (look identical to clam parasites but do not cross infected from snails to clams). I quarantine all corals, but do not QT other mobiles invert.

 

[ThRoewer]

I really need to get some snails in my DT but need to QT them. I wonder, would 100 cerith snails even be ok in an 8 gallon tank with a piece of live rock for 90 days?

100? Probably not.

 

[2000se]

100? Probably not.

haha.. I read that like "Really, 100?"

so what would be a reasonable number? 20? 40?

 

[scooter31707]

I was told if your LFS/vendor keeps their inverts in tanks by themselves, then you may be ok, but if they are in with fish then you are taking a chance not quarantining them.

 

[jnw240reef]

Is it up to 76 days fish free? Even if your lfs has an invert system. No telling how long since they put the last batch in.

 

[ThRoewer]

haha.. I read that like "Really, 100?"

so what would be a reasonable number? 20? 40?

I would go with at least a liter (~quart) per snail => 100 snails / 4 = 25 gallon

So 40 if QT is a 10 gallon tank, 80 if it's a 20 gallon QT. Keep in mind that you also have to feed these guys.

 

[2000se]

Thanks Roewer - Also, how much bio-load do you think these guys put on filter? Just as heavy as the fish or are they a very light load?

 

[ThRoewer]

Is it up to 76 days fish free? Even if your lfs has an invert system. No telling how long since they put the last batch in.

The last batch added has no effect on ich (or velvet) as long as they kept in separate sections of a system.
It is the ich cyst that can stay around for 3 months (only 6 weeks for velvet), the hatched ich tomites die after 48 hours and are only infective for the first 24 hours of that period.

So an invert QT does not prohibit later additions as long as you can trace who was added at which time.

Thanks Roewer - Also, how much bio-load do you think these guys put on filter? Just as heavy as the fish or are they a very light load?

The load should be rather light. A simple flow pump and some gravel should be enough. More important would be to add a skimmer.

 

[jnw240reef]

The last batch added has no effect on ich (or velvet) as long as they kept in separate sections of a system.
It is the ich cyst that can stay around for 3 months (only 6 weeks for velvet), the hatched ich tomites die after 48 hours and are only infective for the first 24 hours of that period.

So an invert QT does not prohibit later additions as long as you can trace who was added at which time.



The load should be rather light. A simple flow pump and some gravel should be enough. More important would be to add a skimmer.

So your saying that there is no chance that a cyst could of attached itself to a snail shell?? It needs to be 76 days fish free. Adding anything to the system resets the timer

 

[2000se]

it could have attached yes, however I think what is being said is that the cyst will hatch very soon, and die within 24/48 hours if a fish (host) is not found.

 

[ThRoewer]

So your saying that there is no chance that a cyst could of attached itself to a snail shell?? It needs to be 76 days fish free. Adding anything to the system resets the timer

No reset with inverts.
Ripe parasites have only a short window of time in which they can encyst (18h for ich). Once encysted they are fixed to whatever they have encysted on. There is no way they can move over to another invert.

After excystment the infective stages have also only a certain window of opportunity in which they must find a fish or they will die.

The primary risk with inverts are attached cysts, but they can't move. Also without fish no new cysts can be created.

So an invert needs to stay in a fishless system for 3 month to be sure all possible cysts are gone, but newly added inverts can't "infect" inverts that have already been in the QT for a while. So no resetting of the clock.

If you want to be extra safe you can keep inverts first for a day in a separate container to avoid bringing in ripe parasites that haven't attached yet.
Also after the 3 month are over for inverts you can repeat this with them before they go into the DT to make sure possibly hatched infected stages have died off.

 

[jnw240reef]

No reset with inverts.
Ripe parasites have only a short window of time in which they can encyst (18h for ich). Once encysted they are fixed to whatever they have encysted on. There is no way they can move over to another invert.

After excystment the infective stages have also only a certain window of opportunity in which they must find a fish or they will die.

The primary risk with inverts are attached cysts, but they can't move. Also without fish no new cysts can be created.

So an invert needs to stay in a fishless system for 3 month to be sure all possible cysts are gone, but newly added inverts can't "infect" inverts that have already been in the QT for a while. So no resetting of the clock.

If you want to be extra safe you can keep inverts first for a day in a separate container to avoid bringing in ripe parasites that haven't attached yet.
Also after the 3 month are over for inverts you can repeat this with them before they go into the DT to make sure possibly hatched infected stages have died off.

Live rock, frag plug, invert shell. It doesn't matter. In theory ich can be transferred on any wet hard surface we we place in our tank's.

 

[ThRoewer]

Live rock, frag plug, invert shell. It doesn't matter. In theory ich can be transferred on any wet hard surface we we place in our tank's.

You better educate yourself on that theory from primary sources (= research papers, dissertations, scientific publications) and not just follow rumors and opinions which are circulated on forums.

It is true that ich cysts can come with (nearly) any wet item, but it cannot be transferred from one hard surface to another without a fish present.
Once encysted the tomont is immobile until the tomites hatch (excyst).

 

[jnw240reef]

You better educate yourself on that theory from primary sources (= research papers, dissertations, scientific publications) and not just follow rumors and opinions which are circulated on forums.

It is true that ich cysts can come with (nearly) any wet item, but it cannot be transferred from one hard surface to another without a fish present.
Once encysted the tomont is immobile until the tomites hatch (excyst).

Please read again. I didn't say from one hard surface to another hard surface. I know what the life cycle is.


Yes I agree that once attached it is immobile, but in theory can't that hard surface the cyst is attached to( live rock, frag plugs or invert shells) be moved to another tank and cause an outbreak?Especially in a tank that has been infected?