First off, I want to be clear that I'm no way endorsing this or suggesting anyone try it. I'm not even considering it for myself right now, not until after I've done further research. I'm just thinking out loud and would like everyone's feedback/input on this idea.
Ok, I know the rules we all should play by is to QT for 9 weeks. This allows for any parasite/disease that might develop the time to show itself. I also understand that most, if not all, diseases will starve to death in 9 weeks time without a fish present to feed on.
But what if you treated a fish you QT'd prophylactically from Day 1 w/Prazi, Cupramine and an antibiotic? Basically, hit them with what I call "the kitchen sink". Would a 4 week QT period then be sufficient because most, if not all, threats would have been neutralized by then? Assuming, of course, that the fish shows no visible signs of anything after the 4 week QT period.
I guess (playing Devil's Advocate here) some exotic disease could still possibly slip through the cracks and be unaffected by all the different meds. I'm asking because I used to do aquarium maintenance, and the owner treated all his fish shipments prophylactically with Coppersafe and Maracyn 1 & 2 for 1 full month before transferring the fish to the clients' tanks. He didn't use Prazi because frankly, we didn't even know what Flukes were back then. In the 2 years I worked for him, we never encountered any diseases in any of our 60+ clients tanks. And talking with him the other day, he claims he's never had a disease show up in any of his clients' tanks in the 30+ years he's now been in business. If the fish died and/or showed signs of disease, it always happened during the 4 week QT period. Of course, any fish that did show signs of disease during the 4 week QT period was treated as a "special case" and was moved into another QT for several months of treatment/observation.
Ok, I know the rules we all should play by is to QT for 9 weeks. This allows for any parasite/disease that might develop the time to show itself. I also understand that most, if not all, diseases will starve to death in 9 weeks time without a fish present to feed on.
But what if you treated a fish you QT'd prophylactically from Day 1 w/Prazi, Cupramine and an antibiotic? Basically, hit them with what I call "the kitchen sink". Would a 4 week QT period then be sufficient because most, if not all, threats would have been neutralized by then? Assuming, of course, that the fish shows no visible signs of anything after the 4 week QT period.
I guess (playing Devil's Advocate here) some exotic disease could still possibly slip through the cracks and be unaffected by all the different meds. I'm asking because I used to do aquarium maintenance, and the owner treated all his fish shipments prophylactically with Coppersafe and Maracyn 1 & 2 for 1 full month before transferring the fish to the clients' tanks. He didn't use Prazi because frankly, we didn't even know what Flukes were back then. In the 2 years I worked for him, we never encountered any diseases in any of our 60+ clients tanks. And talking with him the other day, he claims he's never had a disease show up in any of his clients' tanks in the 30+ years he's now been in business. If the fish died and/or showed signs of disease, it always happened during the 4 week QT period. Of course, any fish that did show signs of disease during the 4 week QT period was treated as a "special case" and was moved into another QT for several months of treatment/observation.
