The purpose of this thread is to try to gather information about the outcomes of methods R2R members use when adding new fish to the display tank, including those who do no quarantine at all. There are frequent discussions asking who, and how, and which is best, but not many that discuss the final results.
In that spirit I will ask that all who participate in this thread refrain from judgement. If you’d like to debate why “xyz” way is best, please do so in another discussion.
For purposes of this conversation, we’ll define a “mortality” in quarantine as ANY death, regardless of reason (including reefer error and simply unknown). We will leave long term survival rates for another discussion.
Also, a big “thank you” to
@MnFish1 for contributing to the thread idea and questions!
The questions of interest are:
1. Do you use any quarantine/isolation method?
It depends, if I buy from a good lfs, with good healthy livestock, then no. If I buy online sometimes.
2. If you use any method other than just adding the fish to the display tank, please describe it. Include medications, sterile tank vs. cycled with rocks and sand (or anything else), TTM, etc.
if I buy online I keep the fish only in a separate cycled tank with live rock, no sand. I’ll watch them to make sure they are eating well, and only medicate if needed. If they’re eating and don’t have bubonic plague, after a few days I toss them in the main tank.
3. Approximately how long have you been following your current method?
For saltwater, 9 years for brackish and fresh, atleast 15 years.
4. If you use any type of quarantine, what percentage (roughly) of quarantined fish live through the entire quarantine process? If you add fish directly to the display, approximately how many live to become part of your fish community?
They all lived until we moved across the country and I have to sell them.
5. Do you quarantine inverts and coral? If so, how?
No
6. Have you experienced disease outbreaks in your display tank while using your method?
Can’t say an outbreak, I’ve seen from time to time a few spots of ich, but I feed my fish well, and they have a good immune system.
Thanks in advance to all who participate
I’ll start….
1. Yes
2. About 2 1/2 years, give or take.
3. I use a 55 gal tank cycled with rocks and sand for approximately 30 days of observation – more as needed but rarely less. I make a point of watching my fish for a minimum 15 minutes/day, often longer. I have treated with antibiotics, praziquintel, and hyposalinity when needed.
4. To my best recollection, 82.1 % have lived through.
5. No
6. No
