18 Hours in an itty-bitty bag

[Empress]

I just bought 6 fish that will be arriving on my doorstep Wednesday morning from California.

My 20g long QT has been up and running fallow with a well-seeded sponge, HOB filter, Ammonia Badge, heater, powerhead, and light for 6 weeks. I’ve been ghost feeding every few days and ammonia is at zero. Temp is 76 and salinity is 0.19 – 0.20. I’m not trying for Hypo; I’m just keeping it low because it makes medications work better and provides more oxygen. Same for cooler temperatures.

Fish will have been in the bag for about 16-18 hours. They range from 1” to 2.5”. None are overly sensitive to copper or fresh water dips.

Here's my schedule:

1. When the fish arrive I plan to float for 30 minutes or so with the light turned off.

2. Then open each bag in a 5g bucket for drip acclimation for about an hour.

The fish are scared, tired, hungry and probably a little bit cold. I would like to do a freshwater dip and Rally bath BEFORE going into the QT. And I’d rather not use Prazi unless I really need to.

Now this is where I need your help. Help on Step #3.

3. For this step should I let them rest in buckets for a few hours (4-5 hours?) prior to doing the dip/bath? If not, when should I do the dip/baths? Remember these are tiny fish and very stressed out.

4. After the resting period, do 5 min freshwater dip in a black bucket to rule out flukes.

5. Do a 90 minute Rally bath to help dislodge any parasites and to provide instant relief and to help gills breathe easier.

6. Add fish to QT pre-dosed with Coppersafe at .5ppm and slowly ramp up to 2.0ppm over 3-4 days for two weeks. If I suspect velvet, speed up the level to 2.0ppm ASAP.

7. After 2 weeks in Cu, maybe do another fresh water dip prior to moving to observation to help remove some of the copper residue that might be still on the fish’s skin? Yes or no? Can’t hurt.

8. Remove fish from QT (Do not lower Cu level) and put in temporary holding bucket while breaking down QT for sterilization and airing out. I will put in a new seeded sponge from parasite-free DT. I need to reuse this same tank for observation.

9. Add clean non-medicated water to Observation Tank and spend at least 15 minutes each day watching for anything suspicious including bacterial infections. Slowly start to raise salinity and temperature to match DT. Observe for at least 2 weeks (3 is better).

10. If all are healthy and eating the fish will graduate to the display tank. Wheww! We made it. Glad that’s over!

Please, I'm open to any suggestions or comments!
Thanks,
Empress

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I put prime in the bad immediately upon opening.
for the rest. @Humblefish @melypr1985 They've got the links

 

[Robink]

I wouldn't medicate them right away. Just acclimate them to the qt tank and observe and make sure they're eating and ok before adding any meds or doing any dips,( I would personally wait 3-4 days min.) They have enough stress with being in the bag for that amount of time.

 

[Empress]

I put prime in the bad immediately upon opening.
for the rest. @Humblefish @melypr1985 They've got the links

These fish will come with a care package that includes some type of stress coat to add to the bag. It might be something similar to Prime.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

These fish will come with a care package that includes some type of stress coat to add to the bag. It might be something similar to Prime.

all bacteria to cut the ammonia immediately.

 

[Empress]

I wouldn't medicate them right away. Just acclimate them to the qt tank and observe and make sure they're eating and ok before adding any meds or doing any dips,( I would personally wait 3-4 days min.) They have enough stress with being in the bag for that amount of time.

Thank you! Your way sounds better. Not only does it relieve stress on the fish, but it relieves the stress on me too! I just don't want to add anything parasites to the QT. But I'll take your advice and take it slow. [emoji316]

 

[Empress]

all bacteria to cut the ammonia immediately.

Is that what they're sending me? Ammonia reducer? Should I use that?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is that what they're sending me? Ammonia reducer? Should I use that?

yes I do. Slime coat prime etc all cut the ammonia trapped in the bag.

 

[Empress]

yes I do. Slime coat prime etc all cut the ammonia trapped in the bag.

Ok. How much? Just a drop or two?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok. How much? Just a drop or two?

yes several. There should be instructions I hope. But I eyeball my Prime to like half a capful.

My tip(and I hate giving them on fish) Dont panic, breathe..(can you tell I worry too.) Go one at a time. its been 18hrs already itll be fine, actually just being still is probably a relief for the fish. once you open the bag the ammoina changes, so drop the prime in and begin acclimating. I wouldn't open them all at once. its worked for me quite well.


Lets get some real fish folks in if we can. #reefsquad

 

[Brew12]

Ok. How much? Just a drop or two?

Is this from Blue Zoo Aquatics, by chance?

 

[Empress]

Yes, from Blue Zoo.

 

[Empress]

I love this forum and I don't know what I'd do without you guys!

 

[Brew12]

Yes, from Blue Zoo.

They make it easy. You will get a little syringe that you break open and just dump the contents of it into the bag when you open it. That will take care of the ammonia that builds up.

One word of caution.. the 5 gallon bucket might not work that well. They might not put all the fish in one large bag. It might come in multiple smaller bags. You may not have enough water volume to get enough depth in the bucket to cover the fish especially if you have to open and dump multiple bags.

You should be able to use the Styrofoam container it ships in as an acclimation container. They provide very clear directions on how to acclimate them and provide everything you need.

 

[Bob Escher]

I just bought 6 fish that will be arriving on my doorstep Wednesday morning from California.

My 20g long QT has been up and running fallow with a well-seeded sponge, HOB filter, Ammonia Badge, heater, powerhead, and light for 6 weeks. I’ve been ghost feeding every few days and ammonia is at zero. Temp is 76 and salinity is 0.19 – 0.20. I’m not trying for Hypo; I’m just keeping it low because it makes medications work better and provides more oxygen. Same for cooler temperatures.

Fish will have been in the bag for about 16-18 hours. They range from 1” to 2.5”. None are overly sensitive to copper or fresh water dips.

Here's my schedule:

1. When the fish arrive I plan to float for 30 minutes or so with the light turned off.

2. Then open each bag in a 5g bucket for drip acclimation for about an hour.

The fish are scared, tired, hungry and probably a little bit cold. I would like to do a freshwater dip and Rally bath BEFORE going into the QT. And I’d rather not use Prazi unless I really need to.

Now this is where I need your help. Help on Step #3.

3. For this step should I let them rest in buckets for a few hours (4-5 hours?) prior to doing the dip/bath? If not, when should I do the dip/baths? Remember these are tiny fish and very stressed out.

4. After the resting period, do 5 min freshwater dip in a black bucket to rule out flukes.

5. Do a 90 minute Rally bath to help dislodge any parasites and to provide instant relief and to help gills breathe easier.

6. Add fish to QT pre-dosed with Coppersafe at .5ppm and slowly ramp up to 2.0ppm over 3-4 days for two weeks. If I suspect velvet, speed up the level to 2.0ppm ASAP.

7. After 2 weeks in Cu, maybe do another fresh water dip prior to moving to observation to help remove some of the copper residue that might be still on the fish’s skin? Yes or no? Can’t hurt.

8. Remove fish from QT (Do not lower Cu level) and put in temporary holding bucket while breaking down QT for sterilization and airing out. I will put in a new seeded sponge from parasite-free DT. I need to reuse this same tank for observation.

9. Add clean non-medicated water to Observation Tank and spend at least 15 minutes each day watching for anything suspicious including bacterial infections. Slowly start to raise salinity and temperature to match DT. Observe for at least 2 weeks (3 is better).

10. If all are healthy and eating the fish will graduate to the display tank. Wheww! We made it. Glad that’s over!

Please, I'm open to any suggestions or comments!
Thanks,
Empress

Don't use rally use hydroplex for first time it's better and rally is better at using in the DT if you have a problem
( I have used both and have dipped new fish in hydroplex and then QT them

 

[Jongalt26]

FWIW, I am not an expert so be sure to verify the following. My method is just based on experience and a lot of research

If it were me i would temp acclimate only and set my QT at the salinity the fish arrived in. The fish only really need temperature (within a couple of degrees) and salinity matching, PH can have over a 1.0 difference without issue. Fish can handle a large salinity drop with little issue but can only go up in salinity by about .002 or they incur shock.

Ask Blue Zoo what salinity they keep their tanks at. Calibrate your refractometer then adjust your QT to match what they said. Once the fish arrive take a syringe (with a needle) and get a sample of the water to verify their salinity. If you dont have one handy a new meat marinade injection syringe works well.
If you have to you can open one bag to verify the salinity match but add ammonia reducer (once the bag is opened and oxygen is introduced the PH adjusts and the built up ammonia becomes more toxic).

QT, dip and medicate as you see fit.

Also, if your QT runs a lower salinity than your display you'll need to raise the salinity in the QT to match. Be sure to raise by only .002 per day which is roughly equivalent to 1/2 cup of salt per 25 gallons of water.
Also use a good instant read thermometer to make sure your QT temp is within a degree of your DT.

 

[malacoda]

They make it easy. You will get a little syringe that you break open and just dump the contents of it into the bag when you open it. That will take care of the ammonia that builds up.

+1
Like Brew12 said, if it's from BlueZoo there is no need to add Prime or any other ammonie detoxifier to the bag water. BlueZoo includes a plastic dropper filled with StressGuard. It not only helps protect the fish by acting as an extra slime coat, it also takes care of any ammonia in the water.

 

[melypr1985]

2. Then open each bag in a 5g bucket for drip acclimation for about an hour.

The fish are scared, tired, hungry and probably a little bit cold. I would like to do a freshwater dip and Rally bath BEFORE going into the QT. And I’d rather not use Prazi unless I really need to.

Now this is where I need your help. Help on Step #3.

3. For this step should I let them rest in buckets for a few hours (4-5 hours?) prior to doing the dip/bath? If not, when should I do the dip/baths? Remember these are tiny fish and very stressed out.

You want to be careful here because once you open those bags, the PH in the bag will rise quickly making any ammonia build up (considerable) become toxic. This is obviously a bad thing. I would suggest matching the salinity in all water involved in these steps to what is in the bags. You can ask the seller what they keep the fish at and match that before they arrive. This way they don't spend any time at all sitting in their shipping water to acclimate. You just temp float and release - or in your case, temp match, FW dip and Rally dip.

6. Add fish to QT pre-dosed with Coppersafe at .5ppm and slowly ramp up to 2.0ppm over 3-4 days for two weeks. If I suspect velvet, speed up the level to 2.0ppm ASAP.

I wouldn't suggest predosing the QT with copper at all. Even if the fish are not usually copper sensitive, there's no reason to take the chance. Start at 0 with the copper and raise it slowly over the course of a few days unless velvet is a problem.

. After 2 weeks in Cu, maybe do another fresh water dip prior to moving to observation to help remove some of the copper residue that might be still on the fish’s skin? Yes or no? Can’t hurt.

This isn't really needed and unless you have a medical reason to do it, I would just rinse in saltwater if you think it's important to rinse them.

Good luck with your new babies!

 

[melypr1985]

+1
Like Brew12 said, if it's from BlueZoo there is no need to add Prime or any other ammonie detoxifier to the bag water. BlueZoo includes a plastic dropper filled with StressGuard. It not only helps protect the fish by acting as an extra slime coat, it also takes care of any ammonia in the water.

The only problem with this is if there are any meds in the water of the QT that the fish are going into since detoxifiers are not something you want mixed with some meds. She stated that her QT will have copper in it already ( i suggest against that) and that before that they will go into a Rally dip. The detoxifier wont even be needed if she just adjusts the salinity to match what they are shipped in so the fish don't need acclimation. Temp match and done

 

[Humblefish]

I suggest reading this: How to Acclimate