Ttm with sand-sifting fish

[aquamann183]

Hello everyone, what is the best way to apply the tank transfer method with a lawnmower blenny and diamond goby?

The two possibilities I can think of are:
1.) Use no sand but I've heard they won't really eat fish food/frozen foods.

Or

2.) Use sand in the two tanks I'm using for the ttm but then I'd have to basically throw away the sand on each transfer, correct?

What do you all recommend? Thanks!

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[hkgar]

Too conserve sand, I would just use a tupper ware bowl, or something similar for a sand place.

 

[aquamann183]

Too conserve sand, I would just use a tupper ware bowl, or something similar for a sand place.

Okay, so just have a sand area and not the whole bottom. Is sand from the DT safe or do I need new sand?
Also, definitely have sand over no sand?
Thank you!

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[Tastee]

My Lawnmower Blennie eats pellets (Dainichi) with no issues, and that's all he had in the 2 weeks he was initially in a BB QT. He was fine.


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[Louis Z]

Yes sand should be either discarded or disinfected after being used in Qt/HT. I have been doing the TTM with meds . What I mean is I initially use Seachem paraguard as a dip (instructions on bottle) before going in a tank. While in each stage of a new tank I dose with General Cure. If the fish actually show active signs of ick I do the complete 4 trnsfers. If they don't show signs I have shortened the time in a bare minimum tank with the usage of the meds by doing only 3 transfers. The last tank adding what is necessary to comfort the fish for a much longer observation time before being added to DT. I usually keep fish out for a month or more before adding to the DT. I realize it's a catch 22. If the fish Is anxious and uncomfortable , they refuse to eat. . Sometimes they never eat and wither away . I have had that with Pygmy angel, clown tang and a yasha goby . what's worse death by ick or death by bare tank anxiety? Now I have to say that my bare minimum tanks contain limestone holey rock, limestone bricks and limestone tile pieces . I make caves and hidey holes to comfort the fish . After using that in a tank they get disinfected in a dilute chlorox bath followed by a rinse, vinegar spray, final rinse , and dry . Then they are ready to use again.

 

[aquamann183]

I decided to put a plastic container in the tank with some sand as mentioned above and will throw out the sand for each transfer. The diamond goby loves the sand and will just chill in it, the watchmen blenny just hides all the time.

All I dose so far is prazipro on the 2nd and 4th transfer. Not because I think this is the best way possible, I'm just not familiar with other things such as freshwater dipping or using other chemicals while doing the TTM. but so far the goby, blenny, and 2 clowns are doing great!

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[Louis Z]

Well you are doing great by Qt and TTM, prazi, and observation . The Freshwater dip and paragaurd that I use are for flukes . Those are trematode worms that attach to gills or body of the fish. Often times the only symptom of scratching against tank items are your only indicator . There is also an eye fluke. Most of them are susceptible to FW dip . I do it for 2 mins others do it longer . It's a shock to the parasite and they detach . There is report that fish were dipped in FW yet the flukes remained , so that is why they used paraguard and it worked . It has been working very well for me also.

 

[aquamann183]

Well you are doing great by Qt and TTM, prazi, and observation . The Freshwater dip and paragaurd that I use are for flukes . Those are trematode worms that attach to gills or body of the fish. Often times the only symptom of scratching against tank items are your only indicator . There is also an eye fluke. Most of them are susceptible to FW dip . I do it for 2 mins others do it longer . It's a shock to the parasite and they detach . There is report that fish were dipped in FW yet the flukes remained , so that is why they used paraguard and it worked . It has been working very well for me also.

Sounds great! I'll have to start doing that.
This might be a dumb question, but you just use rodi water correct? And what do you do to put the fish in and out of the water as easily as possible without much trouble?

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[Louis Z]

Yes rodi water is what I use . If you are worried about a delicate fish , you can add baking soda to the rodi to bring up the pH. I have a black bucket that I add enough water to cover the fish as it swims. The fish are not as anxious in black. Then I transfer them by net to an awaiting new tank . I never put them back in the same tank from which they were held . As for Seachem's paragaurd their dip directions is to use 3ml per gallon and soak fish in for an hour. The fish never seem to be in distress with paraguard . I also add an air stone on low to be on the safe side. With formalin an air stone is recommended. I know the fish go in with flukes cause I seem them in LFS scratching against objects . Usually one treatment is sufficient to knock the flukes off . Seachem states that it can treat ick and velvet but I have not tested it. Then I add General Cure which is a powder of praziquantel and metronidazole . I haven't seen any fish show ill effects to it. The prazi is indicated for parasites and metro is used for protozoan infections. So does metro attack the infective stages of ick and velvet? I don't know for sure but with protocol the fish come out super healthy after dosing it each time in the new tank in the TTM . The one thing I have to worry about is ammonia in the tank after 2 Days .