TT for inverts??

[biomek]

Hey guys, I just finished up TT and a 4 week QT/Observation period with my first two fish and want to pick up some peppermint shrimp for my aiptasia. Since this is my first tank, i want to QT the hell out of everything LOL and was wondering what is the best way to QT inverts? Will TT work with them? If so, after that point, can they go to the DT or is there any reason to place them into QT after that? I'd rather be safe than sorry but was trying to determine if i could avoid a typical 12 weeks QT?

thanks in advance

 

[Shawn O]

I'm no expert, that's for sure, but figure if ich cysts can stick to things for a certain period of time I would imagine TT would work to exploit the life cycle of ich cysts that may be attached to anything you out into your tank. I would probably do the same for inverts were I adding any to a tank. If there are some disease/parasite experts here would not do so, please chime in.

 

[archangel91]

There are a few really good threads on the Fish Disease Forum, but from what I have read researching for my own QT, tank transfer works very well with fish as the ich attached to fish would be in the feeding stage and fall off after ~3 days, so transfering after they fall off makes sure they dont have a chance to reproduce and re-attach.

For inverts, coral, ect. the ich doesn't attach in the feeding stage, but can encyst onto them after they fall off the fish. Since they can stay encysted on the invert, coral, ect. for up to 72 days, the only real way to ensure they're not carrying an ich cyst that could hatch and infect your DT is to keep it in a QT with no fish for 12 weeks to make sure any cysts that may have been attached have time to hatch and die off.

 

[DDon]

If you are trying to be extra cautious, then for inverts just put them in a fishless qt for 72 days. Tank transfer wouldn't do anything since inverts are not carriers. The potential issue is they could have the tomonts encysted on their shells. When you move them from tank to tank with TT, the tomonts would stay on them unless they had hatched. If you put them in fishless qt, then once tomonts hatch they will die out since there is no host present.

 

[snorvich]

If you are trying to be extra cautious, then for inverts just put them in a fishless qt for 72 days. Tank transfer wouldn't do anything since inverts are not carriers. The potential issue is they could have the tomonts encysted on their shells. When you move them from tank to tank with TT, the tomonts would stay on them unless they had hatched. If you put them in fishless qt, then once tomonts hatch they will die out since there is no host present.

Correct. However the odds of them encysting on an invert is very low.

 

[biomek]

Thanks everyone. looks a 72 day QT then!