Quarantine Help

[TL44]

Hey everyone,

I found a reputable shop with a hands on owner. I just purchased two black storm clowns and he wouldn’t release them right away because they do the quarantining process to assure healthy stock.
would you still quarantine the fish once you brought them home or would that be overkill for them?

Thanks

 

[Cell]

Depends on your trust level of the LFS and what their QT procedure is and your level of acceptable risk.

 

[TL44]

Good question. My first thought is to quarantine them. I don’t like the risk. But I also don’t want to stress the fish by performing multiple quarantine methods unless that’s not a real thing

 

[Cell]

First step is to figure out their protocol. Assuming its satisfactory, personally I'd forgo another round of prophylactic treatment and just do a 4 week observational QT if I didnt know the LFS all that well. Eventually I'd get to the point where I could trust them and skip the observation period all together.

 

[TL44]

First step is to figure out their protocol. Assuming its satisfactory, personally I'd forgo another round of prophylactic treatment and just do a 4 week observational QT if I didnt know the LFS all that well. Eventually I'd get to the point where I could trust them and skip the observation period all together.

You just touched on a key point. No, I don’t know them well at all. Just did basic research and did a meet and greet. I liked that they wouldn’t release the fish to me right away but like you said, once I trust them completely, I’ll proceed accordingly.
Thanks

 

[nereefpat]

I would do my own QT.

Most fish stores don't have the ability, and it doesn't make fiscal sense, to properly QT and treat all fishes. For the most part, QT at a store is just keeping new arrivals separate to get them eating and catch any immediate huge problems that would lead to big immediate losses.

 

[TL44]

Good point. My only concern is that if they do a proper quarantine with a copper or other method that I’d also administer, would it be too much for the fish? I asked if I could just do the quarantine but it would make their guarantee null and void

 

[PatW]

Quarantine has 2 purposes. One is to determine whether a fish has a disease and to treat it before contaminating your display.

The other purpose is to take the stressed fish. Fish you buy are nearly always stressed from being shipped multiple times. They are often thin and frail. I stick them in my QT and fatten them up. They get used to the food and they get some weight.

My display can be rather stressful. It has established fish and they can be a bit aggressive and competitive. I want new fish to have the energy to be able to adjust to the challenge.

 

[TL44]

Nice read.
my tank is still new and developing. I currently have no fish since I lost the two I had to uronema.
Also, I have no corals, just sand and rock.
so being that this environment isn’t or doesn’t appear to be stressful, would you still QT ?

 

[Kynzo]

Find out if the store copper treats their fish while they qt. If so I'd probably just go with an observational period for a few weeks. If not, I'd proceed with a regular quarantine of copper for external parasites and your choice for internal ones.

 

[Uncle99]

Nice read.
my tank is still new and developing. I currently have no fish since I lost the two I had to uronema.
Also, I have no corals, just sand and rock.
so being that this environment isn’t or doesn’t appear to be stressful, would you still QT ?

Yes, QT yourself.
Trust no one with your friends.