What should I be looking for 3 weeks into quarantine?

[djryan2000]

I purchased a tiny green coris wrasse from my LFS 3 weeks ago. I did not do any preventative treatment. My QT tank matches the LFS' salinity at 1.017. He was very skinny and pale when I picked him up but now has good coloration and a very fat belly.

Considering he hasn't shown any signs of ick or dropped dead from velvet, can I go ahead and add him to my DT? Are there any parasites that I have to watch out for at this point?

When I asked, my LFS did not recommend allowing evaporation to raise the QT tanks salinity before acclimation to my DT. They said to keep the QT consistent and then do it in one shot over the course of 2 hours (1.017 -> 1.025). Is this the best course of action?

 

[Sk8r]

I disagree with your lfs. Slow is good so long as the measure is accurate. Poorly done rapid acclimation probably kills more fish in this hobby than ich. And a lengthy acclimation after shipping is outright lethal. If you will read the sticky post 'death in bags' up top this will explain it.

 

[Uncle99]

Absolutely incorrect advice from a LFS.
When we are changing from a lower salinity to a higher one, you should never surpass 0.002 increase in salinity per day. Fish get very stressed when salinity increases quickly as it takes time for them to adjust in terms respiratory functions. That's why fish who are put into much higher salinities from much lower ones, usually sit on the bottom in a corner for a day or two and either make it, or die of stress.

I would move your fish upwards in salinity at a rate of 0.001 each day, so that process could take a week. I'm being very safe in the 0.001 per day rate.

We are three weeks in, eating, breathing, colour, I'd be good go, checking for parasites both visually and/or behavioral changes we look for all the time.
Watch for spots or dots of any type, scratching, rapid breathing, lethargic, glassy eyes, skin discoloration, swimming constantly into a direct flow, to name a few.


In contrast, fish moving from higher to lower salinity can be done same day.