Hermit crabs and Marine Ich

[Punisherb273]

I am setting up a 29 gallon FOWLR for my son and this is my second venture in to saltwater. I have been keeping freshwater fish for 15 years. I have completed a fishless cycle with ACE hardware ammonia and finally decided to add a fish after doing some large water changes to get nitrates down to 0. Purchased a green clown goby from the only reputable fish store in my area, and the next morning it had signs of marine ich. I couldnt get it to eat anything and it died after a few days. I decided that I need to be better with this tank about quarantine and have a tank set up. My sons birthday is at the end of April and I want to let the display tank go fallow while I cycle the quarantine tank. My question is since i have already completed the cycle, could I add hermit crabs and clean up crew to the display tank and just feed them so I don't have to ammonia dose for the next two months. Ive read that hermits cant get ich, but I dont want to take any chances of this stupid fish introducing ich into my display tank and going through the quarantine process only for the ich to still be present in the display. Anyone with some advice would be appreciated.

 

[wkscott]

Hermits cannot get ich but they can carry it on their shells. As long as the tank is fallow of fish, the ich will die off. You can add the CUC as planned. Since the CUC can bring in fish disease get them now so they can be in the DT for the full fallow period. Feed the CUC and you won't need to add anymore ammonia.

 

[Maritimer]

+1

The same applies to any CUC or other shelled invertebrate - they can't "catch" ich, but any of those with a hard shell (crabs, shrimp, molluscs, frag plugs) can carry an unhatched tomont into your tank. That's why the "fallow" clock resets to 76 days after the most recent introduction of anything wet.

By the way - Welcome aboard, Punisherb273!

~Bruce