Divers den fish QT

[ca1ore]

Interestingly, and because I keep track of these things, my survival rate of fish beyond a year isn’t materially better for DD versus regular LA. Now i do concede that’s it’s not an entirely fair comparison because I generally only buy harder fish from DD (thus worth the premium). For more common, less expensive fish, I favour LA.

 

[saltyhog]

Interestingly, and because I keep track of these things, my survival rate of fish beyond a year isn’t materially better for DD versus regular LA. Now i do concede that’s it’s not an entirely fair comparison because I generally only buy harder fish from DD (thus worth the premium). For more common, less expensive fish, I favour LA.

Ca1ore, do you mean of the fish that make it to your DT or all fish? If they make it to DT, I haven't noted any longevity difference either. I do think I've lost a slightly higher percentage of LA fish, but I haven't been keeping records.

 

[ca1ore]

Yes, good question. Fish that survive to a year divided by all live arrivals. For example, I have bought 21 fish from DD since 2013 (when I started keeping track) and I have 15 of them for more than a year (nominally 70%). I have 5 more DD fish bought more recently that are still alive so they’re not yet included. No DOA from DD. I have bought 49 fish from regular LA and I have 33 for more than a year (66%). Three DOA. So LA is worse for me, but not materially so. My best success rate has actually been NYAquatic with 25 fish bought and 23 still with me a year later. I am close to them though, so I can pick up rather than them having the stress of shipping; though 15 of them were damsels, so pretty hardy.

Most of the fish that die, do so before ever making it to the display. Other than homicidal anthias, the only two fish I lost in the display in 2018 were my diamond goby (old age) and a new flame wrasse (bullied maybe). I thought my quoyi might be a third, but he’s rallied.

 

[mattzang]

Yes, good question. Fish that survive to a year divided by all live arrivals. For example, I have bought 21 fish from DD since 2013 (when I started keeping track) and I have 15 of them for more than a year (nominally 70%). I have 5 more DD fish bought more recently that are still alive so they’re not yet included. No DOA from DD. I have bought 49 fish from regular LA and I have 33 for more than a year (66%). Three DOA. So LA is worse for me, but not materially so. My best success rate has actually been NYAquatic with 25 fish bought and 23 still with me a year later. I am close to them though, so I can pick up rather than them having the stress of shipping; and 15 ofvthem were damsels, so pretty hardy.

Most of the fish that die, do so before ever making it to the display. Other than homicidal anthias, the only two fish I lost in the display in 2018 were my diamond goby (old age) and a new flame wrasse (bullied maybe). I thought my quoyi might be a third, but he’s rallied.

just out of curiosity, have you outlined your qt procedure anywhere? i'd love to check it out

 

[ca1ore]

I spent a lot of time on RC, so it’s probably there somewhere. Not sure if I replicated it here. Is pretty simple though. I keep one QT running 24/7 setup as a proper reef with sand and rock - that’s for the really finicky fish like leopard wrasses, achilles tang or potters angel. The other QT tanks are filled as required. I only use a single dose of NGP to ease initial acclimation or shipping stress. I do keep an array of meds on hand, but I only treat if symptoms present - otherwise I just observe and feed and feed. 6-8 weeks and if clear into the display, usually via social acclimation box. I’m not a particular fan of prophylactic treatment - I personally think it best to build up a fish’s immune system so that it can handle various pathogens without issue. The bacteria that can take down a stressed new fish also exist in the display yet they don’t affect healthy fish. OK, probably best to never let velvet or uronema into your tank, but these will show in QT with observation.

 

[PDR]

No, I think they do what they claim; it just isn’t a full quarantine and stuff slips through. I’ve always viewed it as conditioning - getting up to 1.025 and eating. Perhaps they should be clearer about it, but they do state that folks should do their own QT. BTW, QT doesn’t havecto mean a cocktail of meds; it can be a few weeks of observation and non competitive feeding.

It's possible they may do what they claim, but their attention to detail is so lacking that I have a hard time thinking it is much of a benefit overall. To be fair they do recommend everyone do their own QT.

 

[radiata]

<SNIP><SNIP><SNIP> I only use a single dose of NGP to ease initial acclimation or shipping stress. <SNIP><SNIP><SNIP>

OK, What's NGP? I can't find it in our acronym listing.

 

[ca1ore]

Ah yes, sorry. Sometimes called NFG, NGP = nitrofurazin green powder. Basically a broad spectrum anti bacterial with methylene blue. Very good for shipping-related ammonia burn.

 

[ca1ore]

It's possible they may do what they claim, but their attention to detail is so lacking that I have a hard time thinking it is much of a benefit overall. To be fair they do recommend everyone do their own QT.

Well, as I noted above, my own personal data for DD versus LA only favors the former slightly, so I’d generally concur that the benefits are perhaps overblown. Of course, some unusual fish are only available on DD.

 

[EmdeReef]

So far got fish with everything but velvet. 2 regals died of uronema, 1 pyramid butterfly had a terrible bacterial infection, PBT with ich, multiple fish with flukes, goldflake with internal parasites, and a majestic angel I ordered for a friend had an isopod...

I still buy on DD mostly for some guarantee the fish are eating which is usually 2/3 of the battle especially with some more difficult angels etc.

At the very least should always observe fish in a QT.

 

[sean rand]

I got an extremely virilent form of velvet from DD, I kept the fish in qt for a month and it didn't explode until he went into the dt, wiped out fish I had raised for years from an inch. The method many of these places use to treat and qt today just suppress the diseases and makes them even more resistant to treatment.

Did u treat for anything in QT or just observed?

 

[ngoodermuth]

^^ why I treat all of my fish prophylactically with copper or cp...

 

[shoelaceike]

I actually took my chances and added it straight to my DT. This was about 3 weeks ago and so far so good.

 

[sean rand]

I actually took my chances and added it straight to my DT. This was about 3 weeks ago and so far so good.

I wish you luck. It's a hit or miss, I learnt the hard way

 

[lakai]

Pretty sure they dont run copper but somebody else will confirm

They seem to do observation qt rather than a full medicated qt .

14 days of "hyposalinity" 1.018 which I don't even know if its low enough to be considered hyposalinity and mild copper .

Then transfered to their main system with "elevated" copper.

7:00 min mark