QTing fish

Sobo's Reef · Jul 21, 2014

Hey everyone, just looking for a little advice. I just recently started a 20g L QT tank and added a Kole Tang and a green mandarin. These will be the first fish I ever QTed as I've been lucky but not so much with the past few fish I have gotten so time to do things the right way.

When should I treat for copper and parasites? Another local member recommends not to treat the mandarin with copper (bc of its mucus like scales) but I wanna treat the tang. The instructions on the bottle also say not to use with any other medication. So how can I treat for both? I'd essentially wanna treat the tang for ICH and parasites and treat the mandarin for parasites.

Kworker · Jul 21, 2014

It would be best not to treat both medications at once. I would be very hesitant to do treat Cu with the mandarin, I would lean more towards hypo. The issue is in both instances both Cu and Hypo will kill the food source. However, I am unsure why I have witnessed high amphipod populations in water treated with Cupramine. You will have a hard time keeping that mandarin well fed throughout the process, which in my opinion is the most important part in successful QTing is giving the fish a well balanced diet.

If I were you I would do Hyposalinity for 30 days than slowly bring the salinity up. Treat with two rounds of prazipro once salinity is back up to 1.023 or so. When doing Hypo you must make sure the salinity doesn't get above 1.009 or you may give the parasite wiggle room.

EDIT: Treating with Prazi DURING hypo is not advised. Only after.

Aquaph8 · Jul 21, 2014

Don't use copper with a Mandarin, they don't handle it well. Since they are already together, hypo is probably your best action if you decide to treat. I agree with everything above, it may be hard to keep that Mandy fed, try some small pellets and see if he'll eat them.

Sobo's Reef · Jul 22, 2014

Kworker said:
It would be best not to treat both medications at once. I would be very hesitant to do treat Cu with the mandarin, I would lean more towards hypo. The issue is in both instances both Cu and Hypo will kill the food source. However, I am unsure why I have witnessed high amphipod populations in water treated with Cupramine. You will have a hard time keeping that mandarin well fed throughout the process, which in my opinion is the most important part in successful QTing is giving the fish a well balanced diet.

If I were you I would do Hyposalinity for 30 days than slowly bring the salinity up. Treat with two rounds of prazipro once salinity is back up to 1.023 or so. When doing Hypo you must make sure the salinity doesn't get above 1.009 or you may give the parasite wiggle room.

EDIT: Treating with Prazi DURING hypo is not advised. Only after.

Do I have to use Prazipro? Can I use paraguard since I already bought it or this stuff no good?

Aquaph8 said:
Don't use copper with a Mandarin, they don't handle it well. Since they are already together, hypo is probably your best action if you decide to treat. I agree with everything above, it may be hard to keep that Mandy fed, try some small pellets and see if he'll eat them.

Yeah, I threw in a couple pellets last night, didn't touch em at first but I think they were eaten, whether it was by the tang or the mandarin, I'm not sure.

Aquaph8 · Jul 22, 2014

That's another issue, trying to feed him with that tang in there could prove to be difficult. I think I'd pass one on at this point and save the other for another day. For what's its worth Mandarins are pretty disease resistant, I'd consider a little different protocol for one. Maybe a piece of live rock and some chaeto with just an observation period without any other fish. The tang would get the full experience for sure though.

Sobo's Reef · Jul 22, 2014

Aquaph8 said:
That's another issue, trying to feed him with that tang in there could prove to be difficult. I think I'd pass one on at this point and save the other for another day. For what's its worth Mandarins are pretty disease resistant, I'd consider a little different protocol for one. Maybe a piece of live rock and some chaeto with just an observation period without any other fish. The tang would get the full experience for sure though.

Do you think I could get away with not QTing the mandarin? I mean I don't have anywhere to go with him now, he's mine. Can't return him and I don't wanna give him away either. But I also wanna try and feed him something other than pods Lol grrrr

miyags · Jul 22, 2014

I use cupramine for parasites (ICK) and prazipro for flukes (worm). Does your mandarin eat frozen brine shrimp?

Sobo's Reef · Jul 22, 2014

Not sure what he eats yet to be honest. Haven't even had him for a day yet

Aquaph8 · Jul 22, 2014

Sobo's Reef said:
Do you think I could get away with not QTing the mandarin? I mean I don't have anywhere to go with him now, he's mine. Can't return him and I don't wanna give him away either. But I also wanna try and feed him something other than pods Lol grrrr

I wouldn't throw him in my tank without at least an observation period, see how it goes but keep an eye on him cause they get skinny pretty fas t without lots of pods. Mine ate pellets really well and still got skinny in my QT.

Sobo's Reef · Jul 22, 2014

Well I guess I could just observe them for awhile and see what happens. I mean they both look okay. There's a small mark on the tang but I think he nicked himself at the store.

Bad Company · Jul 22, 2014

I've read that mandarins are pretty ick resistant, and a number of people recommend no QT for them. Their challenge is eating.

Sobo's Reef · Jul 22, 2014

Bad Company said:
I've read that mandarins are pretty ick resistant, and a number of people recommend no QT for them. Their challenge is eating.

That's what I've been reading. I'll start tryna feed him various things over the next few days and see how he does. I heard live brine shrimp or black worms works well