When to Prazi in Quarantine?

Pamela · Jul 15, 2016

New fishes arrived this morning and are in quarantine. I have the Prazipro, but feel intimidated about dosing my new fishes. Is it recommended to get them preventative-medicated right away, or should they be given a day to relax and calm down before adding meds to their water?

My second question regards feeding new arrivals. Should I offer them food in quarantine during the first couple hours of their arrival, or wait until later in the day? I don't want to overwhelm them, but also don't want them going hungry.

Thank you!

jd371 · Jul 15, 2016

After they settle down and get comfortable in the QT you can feed them a little bit. I'd make sure they are eating first and then run the Prazi, so give them a day or two.

Highgrade · Jul 15, 2016

+1 Feed for a few days and ensure they're eating well. Couple days to a week you should be ok to start treating with Prazi

Pamela · Jul 15, 2016

Thank you both very much for your responses. This is along the lines of what I was thinking, so I'm glad to have the confirmation. I fed them a little, and they eagerly wolfed it down. I'll wait a few day before using the Prazi. Thanks again!

melypr1985 · Jul 15, 2016

Hi pamela! You've gotten great advice there! We do want to make sure the new additions have a chance to get comfy and have a few good meals in their bellies before treating with meds.....unless they come in with velvet or something dire like that.

Remember to dose the prazi pro again in 5-7 days after a good water change.

good luck!

Pamela · Jul 16, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Hi pamela! You've gotten great advice there! We do want to make sure the new additions have a chance to get comfy and have a few good meals in their bellies before treating with meds.....unless they come in with velvet or something dire like that.

Remember to dose the prazi pro again in 5-7 days after a good water change. good luck!

I will, thank you! I do hope the meds don't make them sick, though. I worry about treating healthy fishes and killing them with my good intentions. I also feel really bad for them in that dinky little 10-gallon quarantine. They must hate that I'm their new mama. It's gonna be a long month!

Sgt Jonny · Jul 16, 2016

Here is a video on QT that talks about Prazi....This guy is pretty good.

Pamela · Jul 17, 2016

Sgt Jonny said:
Here is a video on QT that talks about Prazi....This guy is pretty good.

Thanks for that.

Something I've had concerns about with my quarantine tanks is the fact that there's no gravel or sand providing substrate for good bacteria to grow in, to help keep things in check, like I have in my display tanks (SW & FW). I understand why the bottom is kept bare in QT, because disease could breed in there and be difficult to clean out, but I just don't like it. It's ugly - every last littlest piece of poo and uneaten food shows up looking all dirty, and there's nothing to help out with keeping the water healthy. Am I supposed to do a small water change everyday in QT, vacuuming out the debris?

jd371 · Jul 18, 2016

Sand and rock would make it hard to keep medication at therapeutic levels, and when treatment is done and the medication removed there could be some still absorbed in the substrate and rock. If you always keep some filter material in the sump you'll always have an established bacterial colony ready to go into the QT. I have a HOB filter for the QT and keep one of the filter pads in the sump of my DT ready to put into it when needed. Use a net or turkey baster to remove any uneaten food. You should only need to do a small water change once a week unless needed in an emergency. This is a QT you shouldn't be concerned how it looks that's what the display tank is for.

Pamela · Jul 18, 2016

Yeah, I know it's not supposed to be pretty like a display tank, but we still have to look at it. HA!!

Anyway, those are some excellent suggestions, especially the turkey baster. Never thought of that, and it'll be perfect. Thanks!!

Another thing I did just last night was remove about 2 inches of water level on my QT so the return on the HOB has to splash down on the surface, hopefully giving my quarantined fishes a little more oxygen.

cmcoker · Jul 18, 2016

Pamela said:
Yeah, I know it's not supposed to be pretty like a display tank, but we still have to look at it. HA!!

Anyway, those are some excellent suggestions, especially the turkey baster. Never thought of that, and it'll be perfect. Thanks!!

Another thing I did just last night was remove about 2 inches of water level on my QT so the return on the HOB has to splash down on the surface, hopefully giving my quarantined fishes a little more oxygen.

Mark your water line as that will probably increase evaporation as well. At least it felt like it did for me..