Invertebrates/corals as vector for disease transmission

TastesLikeChicken

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I’m curious what the thought is of invertebrates and/or corals being a vector for disease transmission to fish (Ich/Velvet, etc)? Additionally if you do quarantine these things, how long do you do it for? Thanks.
 
I’m curious what the thought is of invertebrates and/or corals being a vector for disease transmission to fish (Ich/Velvet, etc)? Additionally if you do quarantine these things, how long do you do it for? Thanks.
While some people quarantine inverts and some coral, there is low risk of transmission But it does happen occasionally with Gastropod Parasites.
Dipping may help as will knowing your source where coral comes from.
I seldom QT coral but if I do, I place in a container of tank water for 5 days as worms are the most found with coral.
 
I seldom QT coral but if I do, I place in a container of tank water for 5 days as worms are the most found with coral.
could you elaborate on this? i don't QT either as i have limited space, but, is this container oxygenated and heated?

edit: to answer the OP, i do believe that inverts and corals are vectors to some parasites.
 
I’m curious what the thought is of invertebrates and/or corals being a vector for disease transmission to fish (Ich/Velvet, etc)? Additionally if you do quarantine these things, how long do you do it for? Thanks.
We keep ours in sterile fishless tanks for min 45 days to max 75.
 
Yeah, the full duration fallow period QT (usually recommended as 76 days) to prevent disease is a good way of preventing ich/velvet transmission via corals, inverts, macroalgae, etc. though the odds of these spreading the disease are relatively low in the first place. Personally, out of an abundance of caution, I would recommend quarantining in batches rather than not (unlike recommended in the article above) to ensure that you don't somehow transfer the free-living stage of the parasite into your DT, but that's just me.

This is not only good disease prevention practice, but it can also help you prevent the introduction of things like aiptasia, vermetid snails, and bubble algae into your DT after you add a new coral frag or something (you just keep an eye on the frag/invert/whatever during the 76 days to see if these or similar "pests" pop up while in QT - they'll be a lot easier to see and remove in a QT in many cases than they would be in the DT).
 
I’m curious what the thought is of invertebrates and/or corals being a vector for disease transmission to fish (Ich/Velvet, etc)? Additionally if you do quarantine these things, how long do you do it for? Thanks.

Anything wet has the potential to transfer infectious agents from one tank to another - aerosol droplets, your hands, etc. Here is my article on the topic:


Jay
 

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