Shrimp quarantine

[ThRoewer]

I was wondering if you really need to keep new shrimp for 72 days in a QT before adding them to a tank with fish.

The parasites we worry about can only stay on a shrimp by attaching as cysts to the hard shell of the shrimp.
So I think it should be enough to keep the shrimps separated until they have molded. After that they should be free of ich and velvet.

This should even work for hermit crabs if you force them to also to switch into a new sterilized shell.

Any reasons why this wouldn't work?

 

[Kidd Reef]

I was wondering if you really need to keep new shrimp for 72 days in a QT before adding them to a tank with fish.

The parasites we worry about can only stay on a shrimp by attaching as cysts to the hard shell of the shrimp.
So I think it should be enough to keep the shrimps separated until they have molded. After that they should be free of ich and velvet.

This should even work for hermit crabs if you force them to also to switch into a new sterilized shell.

Any reasons why this wouldn't work?

Good question, heres a quote from snorvich regarding a similar question i had in regards to quarantining Nassarius snails:"The most immediate issue is that snails also transmit a small amount of water which may initially transmit the infective part of the parasite life cycle. A week will eliminate that issue. But for absolute long term safety, 72 days is preferred."

im assuming this applies to shrimp to at least some degree as well. Personally i would do 72 days for the peace of mind, but that is me.

 

[ThRoewer]

Well the 72 days make only sense if the shrimp or crab doesn't mold. If it molds it sheds its entire outer skin so all eventually present cysts will remain on the old shell and the new shell of the shrimp or crab is clean.

Snails are a different thing as they don't shed their skin or shells.

 

[ThRoewer]

Oh and as for the water - of course even a shrimp that molded should be quarantined at least for 4 weeks to get eventual live stages of parasites to die off.
And if it molds within the first 3 days of quarantine I would wait for it to mold again before cutting the 72 days short for it.

 

[Kidd Reef]

Like i said 72 days is just my preference for my own personal peace of mind based on the information presented to me and was referenced with intention of you taking what you will from it with the differences in situations (snails in my case, crabs and shrimps in yours.) in mind.

For me the cons:the possiblity of me introducing parasites into my already stocked DT, outweigh the pros:me getting the satisfaction of having my specimen the tank quicker.

Im sure Crabs and shrimps molting effects the situation somehow but id rather not take my chances
But again that is just my personal opinion based on my own experiences

 

[Spar]

For me the cons:the possiblity of me introducing parasites into my already stocked DT, outweigh the pros:me getting the satisfaction of having my specimen the tank quicker.

Exactly - why rush things - acknowledging of course that different people have different tolerance levels. my size of tank and number of inhabitants does not allow for me to take chances. my 10g non-fish QT holds its own nicely for inverts and coral, so 72 days is no big deal.

 

[snorvich]

In theory a shrimp, coral, (or even fish) could have a cyst attached but it would have had to have been in a system containing fish. One molt and at least seven days of isolation will solve that possibility. Otherwise, if the item has never been in a system containing fish, a week is likely to be sufficient. For folks with a large embedded base of fish, 72 days in a ten gallon tank would be optimum. Those folks usually have a small invert/coral quarantine set up so 72 days is no issue. Hermits or snails that contain a small amount of water make me the most nervous.

 

[ThRoewer]

... One molt and at least seven days of isolation will solve that possibility. ...

This was my thinking. Whatever is attached to a shrimp or crab will stay attached to the old skin when it molds and the new skin should be clean and stay clean if there are no protomonts present, looking for new grounds to settle on.
Removal and disposal of the old skin will take care of Cryptocaryon and Amyloodinium cysts.
Add a week or two to make sure no free stages or other non encysting parasites are hanging out and the shrimp or crab should be good to go.

As for hermits - you can force them to switch into clean shells:
Pin down their current shell (clip, rock, superglue) and place a sterilized shell (same kind and size) opening to opening in front of it. After the crab realizes it is trapped it will escape into the new clean shell. Then you just need to wait until it molds and it should be clean as well.