Observation quarantine timespan question-

[Beefyreefy]

So for those that perform an observation only quarantine, how long before you add your fish into the display tank?. I’ve read all the all the stickies and posts for the absolute lifespans of CI and velvet but I’m interested in the real world times people use for this 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 72 days? Frankly I’ve never quarantined before, just have dumped them in and fed heavy, never had a problem. All this talk of velvet running rampant has got me scared, so I set up a quarantine for a fox face and a powder brown tang I just purchased. I’m totally against prophylactic medication, so this is just for observation. The tank has live rock and water from the display tank but is not connected to it. My logic is that the new fish are exposed to any pathogens in the display tank, but the display tank won’t be exposed to velvet that the new fish may or may not have. So how long do you observe a fish this way before YOU think it’s ok to set them free? Has anyone ever had a velvet outbreak after 4 weeks from your last tank addition. Seeing the fish so healthy after my first week of QT really has me thinking I should dump them in, but I’m going to remain cautious.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I prefer proactively treating my fish but I’ve had velvet and Ich breakouts. No losses but it was a stressful time that I never want to relive.

I’ve had specimens that don’t show symptoms for up to 2 months. Even stores and reputable vendors such as live-aquaria divers den don’t keep the fish long enough to properly diagnose.

If your not going the medicated route I’d suggest minimum 2 months. I always conduct a FWD to see if there are any flukes present just to rule that out and you don’t have to use meds

Good luck!