QT of fish and shrimp in the same tank?

[mpderksen]

I'm getting my order tomorrow from LA for the first fish for my new tank (my 75 was full, so I HAD to start a second one....).
The order includes a goby and Chromis, as well as a cleaner shrimp. I want to do it right with TTM and QT. But I don't believe I can prophylactically treat the fish as the meds aren't good for the shrimp.
In this case, since the tank is newly cycled, and there have been no fish in there, if I put the shrimp in, does that put any risk of infecting it? Can any fish parasites potentially come on the inverts? I would think that as long as I keep the fish in a proper QT, anything the shrimp brings in would die off before the fish get introduced to the tank. Isn't a tank with just a shrimp "fallow"? Or am I misunderstanding that?
Or, should I keep everything in the same QT together and not treat unless I see something (this is risky based on the standard protocols I've read by the experts here).

 

[mpderksen]

The order from LA arrives tomorrow. Anyone have some advice?

 

[Betta132]

I don't think a shrimp needs to be QTed. Go ahead and pop him in.

 

[MellowReefer]

Some people say that shrimp can carry ich, but I think its more likely to be on a snail shell or a rock or frag plug and I never heard of someone saying they added a shrimp and got ich. I think having it in the tank with no fish for a month or more is plenty for any possible ich to die off (I'm assuming that's how long you are QTing the fish).

 

[Dmorty217]

ANYTHING wet can carry ich with it period

 

[mpderksen]

ANYTHING wet can carry ich with it period

In this case, everything will be in QT for a month, and 2 rounds of PraziPro, just to be sure.
So not worth it to risk going too fast at this point.

 

[lespaul339]

I never QT inverts.

 

[mpderksen]

I never QT inverts.

Might be overly cautious, but in this case, the tank has just finished cycling and the CUC is only going in today. My thought is to let them do their job for a few weeks anyway before adding the shrimp/fish.
My QT is as big as the new tank, so there's really no cramping. Other that maybe the goby and pistol would prefer not to have a bare bottom for the month...

The full list is
Neon goby
Yellow clown goby
Royal gramma
Pistol shrimp
Cleaner shrimp

After they go in, I'll order the 2 black snowflake clowns and let them go into the QT. When I get those, I'll get the 2 wrasses for my bigger tank and QT them together, even though they are going into different tanks.

 

[snorvich]

ANYTHING wet can carry ich with it period

That is correct. However, while tank transfer will work very effectively with fish, it is a bit more difficult with shrimp (where you must not transfer water). Since shrimp do not act as a host for parasites, it is the attendant water that may inadvertently carry the ich parasite. It can be done, just takes a bit more thought.

Also note, that if your CUC comes from a system with fish, it should be quarantined as well, ideally for 72 days. Unless of course, you do not transfer any water from the system it originated from.

 

[mpderksen]

That is correct. However, while tank transfer will work very effectively with fish, it is a bit more difficult with shrimp (where you must not transfer water). Since shrimp do not act as a host for parasites, it is the attendant water that may inadvertently carry the ich parasite. It can be done, just takes a bit more thought.

Also note, that if your CUC comes from a system with fish, it should be quarantined as well, ideally for 72 days. Unless of course, you do not transfer any water from the system it originated from.

The CUC is coming directly from John at ReefCleaners. Is a month with them in there sufficient while the new fish QT? I see you recommend 10 weeks. If this is best for the new additions to a new tank, I will follow your advice.
Note: 1 DOA, the cleaner shrimp arrived dead, while the pistol, 2 gobies, chromis and royal gramma are through drip acclimation and seem fine (lights out for now.

 

[Stevenliu9]

I really don't see the need to QT shrimp. And as for ich- it's like the cold virus for us, even when you think your tank doesn't have it your tank might just have it, but only breaks out when someone is under stress.

 

[igot2gats]

ANYTHING wet can carry ich with it period

It makes sense, but you can't medicate inverts....or am I wrong?

 

[snorvich]

It makes sense, but you can't medicate inverts....or am I wrong?

There is no need to medicate them. All parasites (except uronema marinum) require a fish host as part of the life cycle. Simply keep them away from fish for 72 days, less if you want to gamble.

Ich does not have to be in your tank.

 

[Dmorty217]

There is no need to medicate them. All parasites (except uronema marinum) require a fish host as part of the life cycle. Simply keep them away from fish for 72 days, less if you want to gamble.

Ich does not have to be in your tank.

^This. Seems redundant but once you deal with disease in your DT you will wish like hell you did everything the right way to begin with. TRUST me I have been in the hobby for 17 yrs (I'm 31) and just recently went thru massive loss while treating fish with disease and have lost over 3k worth of fish... Needless to say not a great thing to say the least. (And I was very confident about my saltwater abilities if you will)

 

[Betta132]

Put the shrimp in the tank and keep the fish out for 72 days. Anything carried on the shrimp will die off, as shrimp don't host ich. Shrimp gets time to burrow and doesn't have to live with sand, you don't have to worry about medicating shrimp, and no ich is introduced.

 

[mpderksen]

Put the shrimp in the tank and keep the fish out for 72 days. Anything carried on the shrimp will die off, as shrimp don't host ich. Shrimp gets time to burrow and doesn't have to live with sand, you don't have to worry about medicating shrimp, and no ich is introduced.

Perfect and straightforward. Exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you.

 

[igot2gats]

There is no need to medicate them. All parasites (except uronema marinum) require a fish host as part of the life cycle. Simply keep them away from fish for 72 days, less if you want to gamble.

Ich does not have to be in your tank.

Sounds good. When your cycle is complete, and you're ready to start your CUC, can you put your starter CUC together in one QT?

Or do you have to have each one in its own QT?