Pretreat or not to pretreat?

[mdbueno1977]

I QT'd both my clowns (very 1st fish in very 1st tank) for 30 days with no pretreating, just observing. They've been in my DT for 3 weeks now, going strong, eating and showing no signs of any health issues. Have Orchid Dottyback in QT now (1 week) and I plan on keeping him there for at least a month. I am now 2nd guessing if I should pretreat for disease (err in the side of caution)? He is eating great and is showing no signs of health issues. Thoughts? Thank you.

 

[Redfoxtang]

I’m a believer of always pretreating regardless if signs of disease is present or not. Clowns are really tough to tell as well because of its tough slime coat nothing may not be able to penetrate its coat but it could still potentially carry a disease. But this is a subject that could go either direction. I just tend to not want to chance anything.

 

[mdbueno1977]

Thank you. I think I'll do a 10% water change to my QT tomorrow, pull the carbon filter and start treating with Cupramine.

 

[35ppt]

I agree with redfoxtang. The fact is that fish can carry disease and look perfectly healthy for far longer than you would do observational QT so I choose to always prophylactically treat.

 

[mdbueno1977]

Thank you

 

[Redfoxtang]

Thank you. I think I'll do a 10% water change to my QT tomorrow, pull the carbon filter and start treating with Cupramine.

I would, if you can that is use Copper power instead of Cupramine. Copper power is less harsh on a fish and a little more forgiving.

 

[mdbueno1977]

I will look into that, thank you.

 

[CindyKz]

I am on the opposite side of the fence....I have found unnecessary medications to be riskier than a one month or 6 week observational QT in a fully cycled tank. I treat when I see signs and symptoms.

 

[35ppt]

I am on the opposite side of the fence....I have found unnecessary medications to be riskier than a one month or 6 week observational QT in a fully cycled tank. I treat when I see signs and symptoms.

The medications pose no risk if dosed correctly. I see more risk with adding untreated fish and possibly killing off all the fish in my tank. But to each his own.

/It's a lot easier to treat fish in a fully cycled aquarium before adding rather than having an emergency and having to set up a tank and immediately have to put fish it and struggle with ammonia.. No thank you.

 

[mdbueno1977]

Thank you. Everyone is giving me a lot to think about. I am glad that I am asking these questions now and for all the input.

 

[CindyKz]

The medications pose no risk if dosed correctly. I see more risk with adding untreated fish and possibly killing off all the fish in my tank. But to each his own.

/It's a lot easier to treat fish in a fully cycled aquarium before adding rather than having an emergency and having to set up a tank and immediately have to put fish it and struggle with ammonia.. No thank you.

That the "medications pose no risk if dosed correctly" is arguable, as all drugs have some side effect. I do think that practice makes better and that there is a learning curve. I've had better success using a tank cycled with rocks, sand and a small cleanup crew than I did with meds and a "sterile quarantine" so I am staying with it. I admit, the success could have a lot to do with gaining experience. I've been fortunate not to have a DT disease outbreak in about 3 years of this method. I observe the fish closely and carefully every day and can easily set up a hospital tank to treat if needed.

Not intending to argue, as you said to each their own and we all find our methods for success. Just giving the OP an alternate viewpoint.

 

[mdbueno1977]

Thank you for your input.

 

[Dbichler]

I look at treatments like this. Would I take chemo when I dont have cancer? Would I take chemo when diagnosed? Which one do you think is humane? Then again ive only once in three tanks had any issues without qt at all. I respect any decision anyone makes with this because we all just want what is best for our pets.

 

[35ppt]

That the "medications pose no risk if dosed correctly" is arguable, as all drugs have some side effect. I do think that practice makes better and that there is a learning curve. I've had better success using a tank cycled with rocks, sand and a small cleanup crew than I did with meds and a "sterile quarantine" so I am staying with it. I admit, the success could have a lot to do with gaining experience. I've been fortunate not to have a DT disease outbreak in about 3 years of this method. I observe the fish closely and carefully every day and can easily set up a hospital tank to treat if needed.

Not intending to argue, as you said to each their own and we all find our methods for success. Just giving the OP an alternate viewpoint.

I would never advocate a sterile quarantine. Rocks and sand or not, the tank should be fully cycled and have no difference between a DT other than the lack of rocks and sand which are replaced by fake decor and plants. That's my viewpoint.

/And I stand by my statement on meds, the worst side effects you get when used correctly are appetite suppression and immunity suppression which can be mitigated easily.

 

[35ppt]

I look at treatments like this. Would I take chemo when I dont have cancer? Would I take chemo when diagnosed? Which one do you think is humane? Then again ive only once in three tanks had any issues without qt at all. I respect any decision anyone makes with this because we all just want what is best for our pets.

The problem with that metaphor is that the meds commonly used in QT are not at all comparable to chemo. I would also point the TTM and TTM+H2O2.

 

[Redfoxtang]

I look at treatments like this. Would I take chemo when I dont have cancer? Would I take chemo when diagnosed? Which one do you think is humane? Then again ive only once in three tanks had any issues without qt at all. I respect any decision anyone makes with this because we all just want what is best for our pets.

As not a fan of this metaphor. I would say something like if your sick do you fight it off the natural way or do you take meds to help you fight it off faster?

 

[Dbichler]

The problem with that metaphor is that the meds commonly used in QT are not at all comparable to chemo. I would also point the TTM and TTM+H2O2.

Problem is nobody knows what these meds do to the fish. You could use any medical metaphor and make my point.

 

[Dbichler]

I'm not against treating just wouldn't personally prophylactically treat.

 

[35ppt]

Problem is nobody knows what these meds do to the fish. You could use any medical metaphor and make my point.

I disagree, I think it's reasonable to assume if the fish doesn't seem stressed during treatment and lives a full lifespan there was no harm. Of course we can't ask the fish how it feels but it's silly to suggest the meds used are akin to chemo. I would also again point out TTM and TTM+H2O2 which don't use any medications.

 

[Redfoxtang]

Problem is nobody knows what these meds do to the fish. You could use any medical metaphor and make my point.

We know that they help fish fight off diseases and prevent diseases from entering our tank when used at therapeutic levels. Some may say it stunts the fish life span but I have not seen this (so far) and as we most wont as there is always different variables at play.