Sad news plus, advice needed on quarantine procedure

[adobo]

Some might remember that I posted about a sick percula (or maybe ocellaries) about a week ago:

Clownfish on its side, floating vertically, sometimes swims upside down

I have clownfish . No idea what kind. At first I thought it was an ocellaris. Then I thought maybe a percula. Perhaps it is a mix. Anyhoo, had her about 3 months now. I never put her in quarantine and never treated her with meds prior to putting her into the display tank. About 2 weeks...

www.reef2reef.com

Well, we lost her. I don't mean she died (although she is most certainly dead). When I say we lost her, I mean, she disappeared.

Both her and her male companion were in a DT. When she started showing symptoms, I pulled her and her buddy out and put them both in a hospital tank. I started treating the hospital tank with general cure. The day after the second treatment of general cure, she was nowhere to be found. I took everything out of the tank and still could not find her. Although there was a cover on the tank, the only think I can think of is she jumped out in an area that was not properly covered and then my cat got to her. Other than that, what became of her is as great a mystery as what became of Amelia Earhardt.

Anyhoo...

The other clownfish is still sitting in the hospital tank. He's been through 2 rounds of general cure (administered about a week apart). I called the store I got him from and found out that although they have an impeccable retail floor, they do virtually nothing to treat for disease in their livestock. Before returning this guy back into the DT, I am thinking now would be a good time to introduce him to a new companion (hopefully they bond).

I intend to quarantine the new clownfish in a more proactive manner. I am planning on following humblefish's approach (to certain degree anyway) which would be to:

• Set up a new quarantine tank (I already have an unused tank) with pvc elbows and a hang on back filter.
• I will pre-dose it with copper power to 1ppm
• I will increase copper power concentrations to 2ppm over a few days
• At some point, I will treat the tank with 2 doses of general cure

So here are my questions:

1. Is there any reason why I shouldn't put my old clownfish in the new quarantine tank? I don't know if the old clownfish has ich or not but this seems like a good time to take proactive measures.
2. Should I have concerns about putting the old clownish through what would be 4 rounds of general cure (over the course of let's say 3-4 weeks)?
3. Is there a better way to go about this?

 

[Uncle99]

I don’t treat any fish with copper unless I know what I am treating. Copper is tough on fish.
I don’t use anything on fish unless there is a known reason to do so.
I do feed them well and carefully what them eat and what they are eating, or not eating for that matter.. I watch them carefully in terms of colour and behavior.
There’s more chance of pairing success when new adds are much smaller, same species, same colour and pattern. That’s not to say no mix, just what is easier and more likely.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Some might remember that I posted about a sick percula (or maybe ocellaries) about a week ago:

Clownfish on its side, floating vertically, sometimes swims upside down

I have clownfish . No idea what kind. At first I thought it was an ocellaris. Then I thought maybe a percula. Perhaps it is a mix. Anyhoo, had her about 3 months now. I never put her in quarantine and never treated her with meds prior to putting her into the display tank. About 2 weeks...

www.reef2reef.com

Well, we lost her. I don't mean she died (although she is most certainly dead). When I say we lost her, I mean, she disappeared.

Both her and her male companion were in a DT. When she started showing symptoms, I pulled her and her buddy out and put them both in a hospital tank. I started treating the hospital tank with general cure. The day after the second treatment of general cure, she was nowhere to be found. I took everything out of the tank and still could not find her. Although there was a cover on the tank, the only think I can think of is she jumped out in an area that was not properly covered and then my cat got to her. Other than that, what became of her is as great a mystery as what became of Amelia Earhardt.

Anyhoo...

The other clownfish is still sitting in the hospital tank. He's been through 2 rounds of general cure (administered about a week apart). I called the store I got him from and found out that although they have an impeccable retail floor, they do virtually nothing to treat for disease in their livestock. Before returning this guy back into the DT, I am thinking now would be a good time to introduce him to a new companion (hopefully they bond).

I intend to quarantine the new clownfish in a more proactive manner. I am planning on following humblefish's approach (to certain degree anyway) which would be to:

• Set up a new quarantine tank (I already have an unused tank) with pvc elbows and a hang on back filter.
• I will pre-dose it with copper power to 1ppm
• I will increase copper power concentrations to 2ppm over a few days
• At some point, I will treat the tank with 2 doses of general cure

So here are my questions:

1. Is there any reason why I shouldn't put my old clownfish in the new quarantine tank? I don't know if the old clownfish has ich or not but this seems like a good time to take proactive measures.
2. Should I have concerns about putting the old clownish through what would be 4 rounds of general cure (over the course of let's say 3-4 weeks)?
3. Is there a better way to go about this?

The only issue I see with running the first clown through quarantine along with the new one is what happens if they don’t get along? My basic quarantine is 30 days copper, then a round of GC or Praziquantel, followed by two weeks of observation. You must treat prophylactically with copper else protozoans will too often get through to your DT.
Jay

 

[adobo]

The only issue I see with running the first clown through quarantine along with the new one is what happens if they don’t get along? My basic quarantine is 30 days copper, then a round of GC or Praziquantel, followed by two weeks of observation. You must treat prophylactically with copper else protozoans will too often get through to your DT.
Jay

What salinity do you keep your quarantine tank? I have mine at 35ppt now but in reading what others are doing, I think they are keeping theirs lower to minimize stress on fish.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What salinity do you keep your quarantine tank? I have mine at 35ppt now but in reading what others are doing, I think they are keeping theirs lower to minimize stress on fish.

I keep most of my QTs at 28 ppt. The fish just have to work a bit less to maintain osmotic balance that way.

Jay

 

[JGT]

I keep most of my QTs at 28 ppt. The fish just have to work a bit less to maintain osmotic balance that way.

Jay

Maybe a dumb question, but then why don’t we maintain a sim salinity in our DT’s? If it’s less work which in my mind =less stress wouldn’t that be better all around?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I do maintain my fish only tanks at that SG, but it is too low for many invertebrates/corals, so people run full salinity in those types of systems when they mix fish and inverts.

Jay

 

[adobo]

I keep most of my QTs at 28 ppt. The fish just have to work a bit less to maintain osmotic balance that way.

Jay

When moving your fish from QT (28ppt) to a DT (let's say 35ppt), what does your procedure look like?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Some might remember that I posted about a sick percula (or maybe ocellaries) about a week ago:

Clownfish on its side, floating vertically, sometimes swims upside down

I have clownfish . No idea what kind. At first I thought it was an ocellaris. Then I thought maybe a percula. Perhaps it is a mix. Anyhoo, had her about 3 months now. I never put her in quarantine and never treated her with meds prior to putting her into the display tank. About 2 weeks...

www.reef2reef.com

Well, we lost her. I don't mean she died (although she is most certainly dead). When I say we lost her, I mean, she disappeared.

Both her and her male companion were in a DT. When she started showing symptoms, I pulled her and her buddy out and put them both in a hospital tank. I started treating the hospital tank with general cure. The day after the second treatment of general cure, she was nowhere to be found. I took everything out of the tank and still could not find her. Although there was a cover on the tank, the only think I can think of is she jumped out in an area that was not properly covered and then my cat got to her. Other than that, what became of her is as great a mystery as what became of Amelia Earhardt.

Anyhoo...

The other clownfish is still sitting in the hospital tank. He's been through 2 rounds of general cure (administered about a week apart). I called the store I got him from and found out that although they have an impeccable retail floor, they do virtually nothing to treat for disease in their livestock. Before returning this guy back into the DT, I am thinking now would be a good time to introduce him to a new companion (hopefully they bond).

I intend to quarantine the new clownfish in a more proactive manner. I am planning on following humblefish's approach (to certain degree anyway) which would be to:

• Set up a new quarantine tank (I already have an unused tank) with pvc elbows and a hang on back filter.
• I will pre-dose it with copper power to 1ppm
• I will increase copper power concentrations to 2ppm over a few days
• At some point, I will treat the tank with 2 doses of general cure

So here are my questions:

1. Is there any reason why I shouldn't put my old clownfish in the new quarantine tank? I don't know if the old clownfish has ich or not but this seems like a good time to take proactive measures.
2. Should I have concerns about putting the old clownish through what would be 4 rounds of general cure (over the course of let's say 3-4 weeks)?
3. Is there a better way to go about this?

If you did not originally quarantine the clown - do it now

 

[JGT]

I do maintain my fish only tanks at that SG, but it is too low for many invertebrates/corals, so people run full salinity in those types of systems when they mix fish and inverts.

Jay

Ah, Ok. Figured corals factored into this somehow. Thanks.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

When moving your fish from QT (28ppt) to a DT (let's say 35ppt), what does your procedure look like?

I bring the QT salinity up to match over a day or two, adjust for temperature, and if the pH is close, just move them over.

Jay

 

[adobo]

If you did not originally quarantine the clown - do it now

He's in a QT now and been through two rounds of general cure. Since I intend on adding another clown eventually, it seems now is the right time to do it - quarantine and treat them together (copper power plus two more rounds of general cure I guess) and also, introduce them to the DT at the same time so neither one feels like he has home field advantage.

 

[adobo]

I don’t treat any fish with copper unless I know what I am treating. Copper is tough on fish.
I don’t use anything on fish unless there is a known reason to do so.
I do feed them well and carefully what them eat and what they are eating, or not eating for that matter.. I watch them carefully in terms of colour and behavior.
There’s more chance of pairing success when new adds are much smaller, same species, same colour and pattern. That’s not to say no mix, just what is easier and more likely.

I get that. But I am going to treat for the most common diseases and then observe.

I talked to the two places that I go to most frequently. Both shops look top notch. Neither does anything of substance treat their livestock prior to selling to the public. I have to believe that the supply chain to my house is infested with with all kinds of fish disease. The chances of these guys getting to me "clean" seems infinitesimally low.