Keeping fish entertained in QT

[jasonrusso]

I had to pull my 3" kole and 5” Harelquin Tusk out of a 210 and put them in a 55g QT to treat with CP due to a velvet outbreak. They are doing well and the treatment is over, but they are in there for 5 more weeks while the DT is fallow.
The QT is BB with some 3 1/2” PVC pipe elbows.

I watch them on the camera while I am at work and it looks like they are very bored. The tang sometimes swims rapid loops around his nori clip for 10 minutes at a time. The Tusk swims the same pattern over and over.

I don't want them going crazy (is that possible)it getting over stressed because of small tank. Is there anything I can do to occupy them? More pipe? Stack it up different?

 

[Crixus]

If they aren't the only fish in the tank, you will need to pull all of them out.

 

[cmcoker]

I put plastic aquarium plants in my qt to give them something besides pvc pipe that can be sterilized and reused. I don't know if it matters to the fish, just seems better than a few inches of pipe and foot or more of water column above it.

 

[jasonrusso]

If they aren't the only fish in the tank, you will need to pull all of them out.

I don't understand what this means

 

[ngoodermuth]

You can entertain them by offering different "grazing" foods. Try feeding them a clam or mussel on the half shell, a piece of something meaty on an algae clip, different varieties of algae (red, purple, etc) things like that. Just make sure you remove any uneaten food at the end of the day.

Adding new pipe joints or different shaped hiding holes might help as well.

 

[4FordFamily]

You can entertain them by offering different "grazing" foods. Try feeding them a clam or mussel on the half shell, a piece of something meaty on an algae clip, different varieties of algae (red, purple, etc) things like that. Just make sure you remove any uneaten food at the end of the day.

Adding new pipe joints or different shaped hiding holes might help as well.

X2 great suggestion.

Fish are not intelligent enough to "go crazy" S you describe but it can impact their stress levels I imagine which can impact health.

 

[Paul B]

Maybe try a little vintage Linda Ronstadt.

 

[tcarter1936]

+1 on the foods if they are eating. Fatten them up on. Clams and blackworms if you can get them. Maybe some lrs food as well. They need all the strength they can get dealing with velvet.

 

[jasonrusso]

+1 on the foods if they are eating. Fatten them up on. Clams and blackworms if you can get them. Maybe some lrs food as well. They need all the strength they can get dealing with velvet.

The velvet is gone. It's now a holding tank until the DT goes through fallow.

I saw some algae starting to grow this morning. Hopefully that will keep the tang occupied for now.

 

[Empress]

If you're done medicating and have some rock that didn't come from your display, put a couple pieces in there with them. That might make them feel more at home. And it'll give them something to naturally graze on if there's algae on it. Or even some dry rock.