Quarantine Fish yes or no?

[mjgonereefing]

Just curious who does or does not? I know I’m gonna get flack for this but I choose never again. No offense to anyone who does, good for you if you have great success but personally I don’t do it anymore and have not for the last 4 introductions. I think that a lot of fish die in the process and people say “oh well I’m glad it died in the QT and not the DT” well you probably killed it with all the medication you stuff thru the gills. Also I highly doubt you don’t already have at least ich already in your system. I’ll go first. I don’t

 

[Viking_Reefing]

A sterile WT tank where you poison the fish with various drugs without knowing that there is an issue? Heck no.
A separates reef tank for new arrivals where you can observe, condition and treat if need be? Heck yes.
I put together some thoughts on this subject a while ago that explains it better than I have the time to do on here :

 

[Saltees]

Just curious who does or does not? I know I’m gonna get flack for this but I choose never again. No offense to anyone who does, good for you if you have great success but personally I don’t do it anymore and have not for the last 4 introductions. I think that a lot of fish die in the process and people say “oh well I’m glad it died in the QT and not the DT” well you probably killed it with all the medication you stuff thru the gills. Also I highly doubt you don’t already have at least ich already in your system. I’ll go first. I don’t

Well, you can opt for the Tank Transfer Method or a month observation in another tank, both without using medication. The last thing you want is for the new fish to introduce velvet and wipeout all the the resident fishes. Just saying.

 

[mjgonereefing]

Well, you can opt for the Tank Transfer Method or a month observation in another tank, both without using medication. The last thing you want is for the new fish to introduce velvet and wipeout all the the resident fishes. Just saying.

No doubt that would suck. I am all for observation for sure but just don’t believe in dosing all that poison people do to a perfectly healthy fish

 

[vtecintegra]

Reminds me of those parents that refuse medical treatment for their kids because they don't believe in modern medicine.

 

[Stephen8169301]

I think if I had more space I would do an observe tank for a month or two and treat if needed but as of now I do not qt

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Reminds me of those parents that refuse medical treatment for their kids because they don't believe in modern medicine.

A more fair comparison would be “going on chemo on the off chance that you have cancer.” At least in terms of copper as prolonged exposure will cause damage.
Just chucking in the fish in your DT/not treating if there are obvious signs of disease is however not a good idea what so ever.

 

[lynn.reef.nerd]

A more fair comparison would be “going on chemo on the off chance that you have cancer.” At least in terms of copper as prolonged exposure will cause damage.
Just chucking in the fish in your DT/not treating if there are obvious signs of disease is however not a good idea what so ever.

I compare it more to vaccination of new personnel entering the country to prevent contagious diseases to the population. As far as I know, cancer does not transmit to others.

Yes, I do QT all fish entering my system.
I have lost over 20 fish to disease because of one instance of bringing in unquarantined livestock.
I have yet to lose a fish to copper treatment since starting QTing fish.
Most die from transportation to me within the first week. I like to observe for 1 week to make sure they are healthy and eating well for copper.

 

[am3gross]

Observe is what I do. I do this to make sure they are eating well also. I find that putting them in a tank with just the new additions that it is easier to get them to eat. Can also overfeed a bit to get them to start if they are finicky eaters. Also, buy from a trusted source. I get 99 percent of all my fish residents from one place. Currently in observation I have an Achillies Tang and a Copper Banded Butterfly. I will keep them in there for at least 2-3 months, make sure I can get them fat and healthy before going to gen pop.

 

[exnisstech]

It a personal choice and one that has been discussed many times

 

[mjgonereefing]

It a personal choice and one that has been discussed many times

Maybe you have discussed it many times. Why chime in?

 

[exnisstech]

Maybe you have discussed it many times. Why chime in?

Oh I don't know, maybe to encourage folks to use the search feature instead of posting the same stuff over and over

EDIT: a quick search brought up 17 threads with the same topic.

 

[Lps_lover12]

Here in Canada it’s very hard to get meds so I do a 30 day observational qt. Even if it was easy to get the meds I would only use them when needed. I don’t believe in pumping them with every med you can but I believe in qt for sure, I learned the hard way that qt is very important

 

[mjgonereefing]

Ok ok well maybe we can start over haha. I’m still gonna post whatever I want though

 

[jabberwock]

This thread is gonna get QT'd...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Our current quarantine protocol is kept updated here:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[EricR]

Personally, I do Hybrid Tank Transfer Method (HTTM) -- TTM with a couple of 150 ppm H2O2 baths spaced 6 days apart.
If I were to switch to full medicated QT, I'd follow the protocol noted in post #16.

 

[Dave1993]

if a human drank copper i wonder what would happen?
that's pretty much what is happening to the fish i don't see how it can be good for them myself maybe i'm wrong though

 

[Dave1993]

just done a quick google search and long term exposure to copper for humans can cause liver damage and death and we are much bigger than the fish imagine what its doing to them

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

if a human drank copper i wonder what would happen?
that's pretty much what is happening to the fish i don't see how it can be good for them myself maybe i'm wrong though

It depends on the form of copper and the dose. Amine chelated copper products are relatively non-toxic. Ionic copper and citric acid copper products are more toxic.

Sodium and chlorine are both deadly elements, but put together, they are just salt.

Jay