mr. Clown Loach

when stocking your tank before you put your fish in do you have to quarintine fish because i never have and just want to make sure that you don't have to.

Shawnie

its a personal choice but highly recommended...it would only take one sick fish to completely destroy an entire stocked tank and QT tanks can be a big rubbermaid plastic container with a filter/heater/ and air stone...doesnt have to be fancy

Lucy

The very first fish in the tank don't need to be quarantined unless they're from different stores.
After that any additions should be q'd for at last 2 weeks. IMO.

katetnies

it is highly reccomended. i dont quarentine only because i work at the place i buy my fish and already know their condition

mr. Clown Loach

yes but why 2 weeks thats rediculous i would only do it for like half a week or maybe 1 if badly needed

ray_sj

Since I lost an entire tank of fish by introducing new fish without quarantine, I now quarantine everything for 3-4 weeks. And each time I've done it, I'm glad I did. Each new batch of fish had to be treated at least for one disease. Didn't matter where they came from.

It's a gamble if you don't quarantine. At least in my limited experience, the odds of a new fish introducing some disease is very high. Either that, or I'm very unlucky.

Lucy

I suppose somethings take at least 2 weeks to show up.
With amphibians it's recommended to quarantine them for at least 2 months because that's how long it can take for the symptoms of the deadly Chytrid Fungus to show up.
A fish can has Camallanus worms and the symptoms not appear for months.

Of course if you think quarantining is ridiculous, it's your choice whether to quarantine or not.

Shawnie

look at all your beautiful tanks...now imagine one sick fish put in there and everyone died...patience is a virtue in this hobby and 2 weeks is nothing compared to a lifetime of love to the tanks we already have established...but thats my and again its totally your choice

mr. Clown Loach

what type of thing can i use for quarintine tanks because i don't have an extra tank big enough?

Shawnie

walmart is having huge sales on their rubbermaid containers...sorta like toy boxes lol..but they have a ton of different sizes..that would be perfect and cheap..if you have a small extra filter laying around, always keep it running on your established tank..then it will always be available with good bacteria in the need for a qt tank..just move it over to the container when needed..otherwise, i wouldnt bother keeping it set up at all times...

Lucy

Here's an example of what Shawnie's talking about:
Quick and dirty quarantine setup

Shawnie

ty lucy!

mr. Clown Loach

the thing is how do you add the fish to the main tank after QT?

Lucy

You acclimate them the same way you acclimate them to a new tank.
The water in your qt should have the same water parameters and be the same temp as your main tank.
You can float them in a bag and add some tank water, a little at a time for about an hr. then let him go.

katetnies

petceter is having a luidation sale.. 25% off all petcetera kits. 20% off their other tanks

Amanda

I didn't QT, and I lost an entire tank.
I really regret not QTing those fish.

mr. Clown Loach

i usually just float them maybe add water if its not a hardy fish then let it ago...

katetnies

you also shouldnt be adding the water that is in the bag with the fish to your tank.

Amanda

When you get disease in your tank, you'll understand QT.

mr. Clown Loach

never gotten it never will and if i do i'll immediately get rid of my fish to a sepperate container.

soldieroffortune1974

Quarantine,quarantine,quarantine,quarantine every fish,every time Quarantine,quarantine,quarantine..............Oh yeah, did I mention quarantine?

here's a quick link to drip acclimating. It's the only method I use IMO,it's the best way to acclimate ALL fish,hardy or sensitive.

>>>>>> Can someone explain <<<<<<