Would you say this is risky?

[glenlikes_stuff]

So my friend has a Copperband Butterfly that he wants to give to me as it is eating his coral (mine is FOWLR).

But he has had ich in his tank in the past (not this particular fish) although he hasn't seen any sign of ich in the last couple of months...

He has only treated his tank with UV and I'm not sure what else... but none of the 100% methods.

I don't have a quarantine tank... would it be very risky for me to take this fish? And when I say that I know it's always a risk without a quarantine tank but would you say this is more of a risk than if I had just purchased it from the aquarium?

Thanks

 

[Aznreefer]

Can't really say! Individual lfs have their own receiving method, some are better than other. I would say the risk is the same w/out QT, the only different would be that the fish is not stress out from shipping so the odd is better that it wouldn't have a breakout. On a personal note your tank is FOWLR so any outbreak can easily remedize with minimal effort. GL with your decision!

 

[MrTuskfish]

Can't really say! Individual lfs have their own receiving method, some are better than other. I would say the risk is the same w/out QT, the only different would be that the fish is not stress out from shipping so the odd is better that it wouldn't have a breakout. On a personal note your tank is FOWLR so any outbreak can easily remedize with minimal effort. GL with your decision!

How do you " easily remedize with minimal effort'?

 

[MrTuskfish]

So my friend has a Copperband Butterfly that he wants to give to me as it is eating his coral (mine is FOWLR).

But he has had ich in his tank in the past (not this particular fish) although he hasn't seen any sign of ich in the last couple of months...

He has only treated his tank with UV and I'm not sure what else... but none of the 100% methods.

I don't have a quarantine tank... would it be very risky for me to take this fish? And when I say that I know it's always a risk without a quarantine tank but would you say this is more of a risk than if I had just purchased it from the aquarium?

Thanks

I don't see it as "risky"; IMO, its a sure thing. If you take this fish,you are almost certainly be going to introduce ich to your tank. Maybe time to set up a basic QT?? BTW, UV does next to nothing to control ich.

 

[glenlikes_stuff]

Ahh... I'm so torn! Any more thoughts?

 

[chasekwe]

If you don't QT you've almost certainly already got ich in your system. I don't see why adding another fish would make any difference assuming you have it's other needs met.

 

[snorvich]

Ahh... I'm so torn! Any more thoughts?

Torn? Introducing ich is acceptable? If you can quarantine properly, go for it. If not, pass.

 

[sTefaniA]

QT is only usefull when every fish is QT'd. So if you don't have a QT tank, I am guessing you didn't QT any of your fish? If so, chances are very high you already have ich somewere in your tank, and I don't see the use of QT this single CB, just because you know it came from a tank were ich has been a problem.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I think I see both sides of this; although as a strong advocate of QT, I sure can't give a positive opinion on keeping a fish that you know carries ich. It is possible, though unlikely, to have an ich free system without ever putting any fish into QT. there still are a few LFS that QT and/or treat with copper. Almost all fish have been treated with copper somewhere along the way.
Personally, I can't even imagine taking this fish; but I can't imagine (or remember) any parasites in any of my DTs either. With all the advances in this hobby, since I started 30+ yrs ago, its hard to believe that QT is still not a universal practice. I don't know of a single recognized author or any hobbyist whose advice I would take, that doesn't strongly recommend QT. For the cost of one moderately priced fish; most diseases and parasites need never be part of your life. (My Son, home from College for the week-end, is making cracks comparing QT to the ''precautions" in his love life--enough said.)

 

[glenlikes_stuff]

Thanks for everyones comments... there has been a lot to think about!

I know its a risk not having a QT... I was just trying to establish whether the risk was greater taking a fish I know has lived in a tank with ich present at one point... which from the comments I think it is.

So I am not going to take it as I don't want to increase the risk any more than I have to. And I remember reading on one of the stickys here not to take a fish out of pity... so I'll take that advice too!

 

[MrTuskfish]

QT is only usefull when every fish is QT'd. So if you don't have a QT tank, I am guessing you didn't QT any of your fish? If so, chances are very high you already have ich somewere in your tank, and I don't see the use of QT this single CB, just because you know it came from a tank were ich has been a problem.

This might make a little sense (very little) ....if catching ich was the only reason to Qt. Velvet, for example, is more deadly than ich and easily spotted and cured in QT. There are many diseases and parasites that show up in QT, or the sick fish simply dies without infecting the DT. Just because you don't QT now certainly doesn't mean you shouldn't start.

 

[snorvich]

This might make a little sense (very little) ....if catching ich was the only reason to Qt. Velvet, for example, is more deadly than ich and easily spotted and cured in QT. There are many diseases and parasites that show up in QT, or the sick fish simply dies without infecting the DT. Just because you don't QT now certainly doesn't mean you shouldn't start.

What he said. :love1:

 

[ssavader]

+1- just bite the bullet, go to your LFS and get a 25-40 gallon tank, florescent light, HOB filter, copper sulfate, and Prazipro and you will never have this agonizing dilema again.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Given the copperband sounds like it (and the rest of the tank) is in good condition, is there any sentiment for just running the fish through a freshwater dip and then moving it to the DT? I know this isn't as good as a quarantine, but it would provide some basis for taking the risk. Also, we don't know what the OP has at risk in his existing FOWLR - a lot of established fish or just a couple of hardy ones.

I agree, though, that a QT is the least risk way to go.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Given the copperband sounds like it (and the rest of the tank) is in good condition, is there any sentiment for just running the fish through a freshwater dip and then moving it to the DT? I know this isn't as good as a quarantine, but it would provide some basis for taking the risk. Also, we don't know what the OP has at risk in his existing FOWLR - a lot of established fish or just a couple of hardy ones.

I agree, though, that a QT is the least risk way to go.

And we have no way of knowing what other parasites or disease the fish carries.

A FW dip does absolutely nothing to kill ich or similar parasites. There are many reasons to QT everything, preventing ich is just one. Anyone who has had to tear apart a large tank in order to QT sick or parasite-infested fish would probably agree. If there is one thing that every person in this hobby, who I would take advice from, has in common; QT EVERYTHING, ALWAYS.

 

[MCCOOL]

QT EVERYTHING, ALWAYS.

:thumbsup:

With as much money as we all pour into our tanks, I don't understand why so many people put up such a stink about quarantining things (not anyone in this thread specifically, The OP seems to have taken the sound advice, but I see it all the time elsewhere on this website)

Qt'ing is cheap, easy insurance as far as I'm concerned.

 

[MrTuskfish]

:thumbsup:

With as much money as we all pour into our tanks, I don't understand why so many people put up such a stink about quarantining things (not anyone in this thread specifically, The OP seems to have taken the sound advice, but I see it all the time elsewhere on this website)

Qt'ing is cheap, easy insurance as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah, its strange. I have never read any book, etc, on the subject of our hobby/addiction that doesn't say the same thing. Yet half the threads on this forum seem to be debating the need to get parasite infested fish out of a DT or to just try "curing" them with water quality, diet,garlic, etc. Why not just QT in the first place? I'm beginning to have a theory: RO/DI units, skimmers, reactors, etc are new toys and fun----QT is boring. But, I learned about QT the hard way too....never again.