Qurantining crabs & shrimp?

[CookieJar]

Is a quarantine tank needed for crabs & shrimp? If so, can the same quarantine tank holding fish have crabs/ shrimp as well? I havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t heard or read much about getting ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“sickââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ crabs/ shrimp at the LFS. I guess if they're sick they die and disappear in the tank.

 

[eckrynock]

True... Some people may qt hermits to make sure there aren't any predatory hitchhikers (not all blue legged hermits are "blue legged"). But most people don't have any problems with that, just keep an eye on your new additions. Snails and crabs don't carry ich so you don't have to worry about that.

 

[Andrew]

Just to let you know, all inverts will die durning the qt process because they can't live in that low of a salt.

 

[Mish]

Whoa, just as a word of advice Ich can't live on inverts, but inverts can carry it into your tank. I learned my lesson. I would suggest QT for everything (3 weeks) this includes coral and live rock. QT does not mean low sg, just means not in main display.

 

[Andrew]

Corals can die in the hypo process as well. They cant handle to low salt.

 

[CookieJar]

thanks for the opinions- If I quarantine inverts it would be with regular tank water and I'd just observe them. Of course before I transfer them to the main display tank I'll be sure to give them a good iodine dip. (j/k )

 

[tonypittman]

Wait..QT doesn't automatically mean hypo-salinty, right? A QT is just a separate tank from the display tank...may or may not be treated with meds (ie:copper) or run at low salinity.

 

[Andrew]

A QT is where you put the fish into hypo. If your don't putting the fish into hpyo then its just a holding tank or hospital tank where you watch the fish, inverts, or corals before they go into the main tank.

 

[tonypittman]

OK...if QT does indeed mean that...then I have learned something new.....not the first or the last time, i'm sure. Thx, Andrew.

 

[Kabong]

QT is not just for hypo.
Many people use QT for observation and then decide if hypo or meds are required.

 

[szwab]

quarantine is a 6 week period for new addition before they go into your display. a good rule of thumb is if it's wet it wshould be quarantined. i would not do hypo in quarantine unless something expresses itself and you feel that is the appropriate treatment.
the purpose of a QY tank is to expose any unwanteds before adding to your tank.
while inverts do not get infected by ich and the like the water they come in could have it or it could have piggybacked. the 6 weeks will remove them by not providing a host for it's life cycle to complete

 

[Mike 1911A1]

It was always my understanding the a QuarantineTank (QT) was to isolate critters and water from the display tank. Not that the water or critters had to be different than the main tank ie:hypo.

 

[nemo g]

i got dis from a big book called a diktionary

quarantine: A condition of enforced isolation

nemog
<img src="http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/116775nemog_av.jpg"/>

 

[paOol]

can anyone explain "hypo" to me?

 

[szwab]

lowering the salinity so to make it more difficult for parasites to survive

 

[supertech3]

You may QT the inverts to observe them if you choose, I just send them to the main tank right away