Quarantine Procedure

[drawman]

It's been a few years since I've bought a fish. I am getting a two-barred rabbitfish (Siganus doliatus) today. I am going to put the guy in quarantine but I am wondering what methods people use for all of their fish (hyposalinity, copper, just observation, etc.).

TIA

 

[John Dawe]

This is what I do: 1) when fish arrive, place in bucket and give a 45 minute formulin bath. The place in a small tank 10 - 15 gallons (makes it easier to dose the meds) and lower the salinity to 1.09 to 1.15 over several days. For the first 3 - 4 days add metronidazole, full dose each day, I do a 90% water change each day, since the QT tank does not have a biofilter or has a small piece of cellpore from another tank.
After 3 to 4 days stop the metronidazole, give a formulin bath again and start prazipro for 5 days. Then, move the fish up to 29 g and add a biofilter (cellpore from another tank). Keep at low salinity for a total of at least 3 weeks then gradually raise it up over several days. There is always a seachem ammonia alert on the tank so I do not have to test the water for ammonia, may have to change it twice a day in the smaller tank.
As far as feeding, feed the fish a little bit several times a day (3-6 times) or every time you check on it.

 

[drawman]

What are the exact roles of formulin, metronidazole, and prazipro? Are they all meant to attack internal parasites?

I didn't get the fish today due to a packing error from the company we ordered from. I will try again in the next week or so.

 

[John Dawe]

Formulin-for external parasites
metronidazole-hexatemia
prazipro-flukes
hyposalinity-ick
This is what a friend does at his fish store with all his fish. If you buy his fish and it dies in your tank, something is wrong with your tank.

 

[drawman]

I've never heard of hexatemia. It looks like I need to do some reading overall. Thanks for the help!