Should Inverts be Quarantined?

[willhoward]

Hi, there's ALOT of info, methods and tips on how to QT new fish, what should be in the QT, what should be done and what not. But I've never found any article that explains how to do it with Inverts, like crabs, snails, shrimps and corals. Does this mean that one need to follow the same procedures as with fish (I know however that low salinity {hyposalinity} and Cu will kill your inverts), or does it mean that you do not have to QT them. If it is the latter, does this mean that inverts doesn't get sick?

Thanx for any input

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Definitely QT EVERYTHING, and do so seperately. There are many animals that can hitchhike in on other invertebrates or even liverock that predate on invertebrates. Take Polyclad Flatworms, Pyramid Snails, parasitic Isopods, Eunicid Worms, and a host of other animals that come in on the invert's body or the rock they came in on.

 

[kevin2000]

Some do .. most don't.

Your best bet is to purchase from LFS that keep inverts separate from fish (ich need a fish to perpetuate their life cycle)

 

[luke33]

Agreed with Kev, I QT fish, but not inverts, to risky imo, unless you have a tank set up for just inverts, corals and whatnot

 

[willhoward]

I understand that there might be some hitchhiker stuff on the inverts, but can the invert itself be sick or get sick from stress or such?

Are all worms bad? Say I see a worm in my liverock, should I get it out?

 

[luke33]

No inverts can't get ick, they can only carry it with them. There are rare cases of bristleworms being bad for your tank, usually if they are small there fine, and some are even fairly large and fine. I still have a 6" fireworm in my tank, and he's a great detrivore eater. Leave em be.

 

[ArgonDreams]

Steven Pro wrote a great article on this very subject. In short, everything should be quarantined for various reasons. Here it is:

An Ounce of Prevention is worth a pound of Cure: A quarantine tank for everything.