QT Inverts- Explain Process

[snake42490]

Hey, I am wanting to add some Fire Shrimp and Scarlett hermits to my tank and was wondering what you guys do for QT protocol. How many days in a QT tank is good so I don't introduce disease into main tank? Especially curious about ich if someone could explain.. I finally rid my tank of the parasite and don't want to even think about reintroducing it.

**Please correct me if i'm wrong**
I know inverts can't host ich, BUT can ich attach to the inverts to then later hatch and infect the tank.

I was planning on putting them in an established QT tank without any meds for 12 days and then putting them in the display tank.

 

[MellowReefer]

The length of time people do varies a lot and you have to go with what you are comfortable with. I hear a lot of people saying 10 weeks if you want to be absolutely sure. Most strains of ich have a life cycle of no more than 2 weeks, and almost all are no more than 4 weeks, but there were studies showing some lasted as long as 9 weeks. I think the risk is so small that it will live that long without a host in an 80 degree tank, so I QT everything for 6 weeks. On the other hand there are plenty of hobbyists who say the risk of something carrying ich are so small they don't bother at all. As for me, I know that I either got ich from a new coral I didn't QT, or a fish that I QT'd for 5 weeks but didn't copper, so now I QT inverts and treat all fish.

 

[Dmorty217]

Inverts don't get diseases like ich, so if it is present it would be in the water the invert came in. I would suggest the tank transfer method which would be 2 weeks.

 

[snake42490]

I know Inverts can't be a living host for the parasite to live on, but it is possible for ich to attach itself to a snail shell... In that case I take it I just need to wait it out. Technically wouldn't I need to wait 9 weeks before introducing any snails to my tank? Do you guys know of any place you can buy Inverts that come from fishless systems? This would solve my problem

Thanks!

 

[Dmorty217]

Don't know of any place that has just inverts with no fish in the systems at all, good luck with your search