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February 9th, 2008
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Moderator ~ Betta Mommy
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Quarantine: an old subject needs to be brought up.
I think from some of the posts that I have read lately that the practice of quarantine of new fish before introducing them into the tanks is being pretty much ignored. Lately I have not heard anyone mention that they have placed their new fish in quarantine for the recommended time before putting them in with their other fish. Is it just considered unnecessary anymore to do this? Is this why we are having so many outbreaks in disease in the tanks now?
For a long time, no one would have thought of bringing home a fish and doing anything but putting them in quarantine for at the least 2 weeks and more probably 30 days in the case of some of the more fragile fish like Otos. Now I cannot remember the last time I have heard this mentioned. Is it happening and just not talked about or is there a general feeling that it is not a needed thing?
Please do not take this as an accusation of anyone. I am inquiring because it puzzles me. We have had a lot of sick fish and some who have died soon after being purchased and I am wondering with the outbreaks of disease that we are seeing are we doing our quarantines?
No one needs to answer me, I guess this is something to think about more than anything. I have been guilty of wanting to get the fish in the tank and skipping the quarantine at times too and it seems that when I do I always pay for it in the cost of fish life.
This is just my  worth. You may take it for a suggestion or a comment and perhaps an article for those who have not been exposed to the idea that we even do this.
Rose |
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February 9th, 2008
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Moderator
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I've noticed the same thing Rose and in fact recommended it to someone a couple of days ago but didn't get any response.
Carol
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February 9th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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The use of quarantine is a safeguard for our tanks and inhabitants, without it, sooner or later you will have issues, every thing new should be quarantined, be it fish, plants or even snails. Some people think that because they get their fish from the same place they don't need to quarantine, well sadly, you can walk into most LFS and find sick fish, and due to most of the tanks being linked to the 1 system, you run the risk of taking home a fish that looks ok now, but is carrying a disease that may not show for a week or more.... How many people have gone and got some new plants and put them straight into their tank... then a week or 2 later you see the posts " snails" or " worms "
Now I know you can not stop things going wrong in your tank.. sooner or later something will get through.. but a good quarantine system is your first line of defence.
I believe that you only have yourself to blame if something gets in your tank...
Why? because you let it..
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February 9th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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I honestly don't think many people quarantine new purchases that much anymore. At a guess, some of the reasons could be lack of having one, not sure what one is, anxious to get the new purchase in there (impatience in other words), been told not needed (aka getting bad advice) are what come to mind.
A quarantine tank (QT as I've now learned;  ) need not actually consist of a tank (especially when funds are limited). I have found it can be any large container that has a lid that is big enough to hold the fish or fishes. When I lived in England, the guy who introduced me to fishkeeping (who happened to become by best mate) used a plastic dustbin (trashcan). The big round type btw.
The only additional equipment needed is a heater, an internal filter (even the basic sponge filter works), and whatever medications you intend to use should the need arise. No lighting, no gravel, no plants or any other decor.
I personally use a 26g (100L) semi-clear plastic tote that you can pick up from places like Walmart or Dollar General. I gave it a rinse out with water, then wiped the inside with white vinegar, then rinsed it until the vinegar was all gone. Added 50% water from an established tank which was then topped up with fresh declorinated water, heater and filter and it's good to go. Since I always keep a spare sponge pad in my filters I was also able to seed the QT filter with beneficial bacteria.
It simple, not very expensive to put together but pays off big time in the long run.
Just my rambling
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February 9th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Yes. I do quarantine my fish. I have a 10G QT tank. Luckily when I bought my 3-4" angels I had an empty 30 that I could quarantine them with. I think I am going to start quarantining for 2 weeks though because with my betta I had him in for 1 week and then I introduced him with the main 10G with cories and last Saturday he got ich. I think it just took a while to show up.
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February 10th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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Hi!
I'm lucky here in the UK. My LFS's tanks are so good - quarantine is not necessary. I struggle to remember when I saw an ill fish down there. However, with all the other LFS's WHICH I DON'T VISIT you'd probably need it.
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February 10th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HatchetHaven
Hi!
I'm lucky here in the UK. My LFS's tanks are so good - quarantine is not necessary. I struggle to remember when I saw an ill fish down there. However, with all the other LFS's WHICH I DON'T VISIT you'd probably need it.
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LFS that good would sell a lot of fish and stock. |
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February 10th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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Hi!
They sell basically everything I'm ever going to need. Probably one of the bets LFS's out there!
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February 10th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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I QT all my fish, but i've never QT'ed my plants (and i bet i'll pay for it haha)
I didn't even know plants needed to be QT'ed to be honest, but now I do hehe.
I should probably QT my fish for a longer period of time. I never knew about QT'ing until I registered here, and by that time I already had some Zebra's, WC's, and a upside-down catfish *gasp*.
I am currently QT'ing 3 ottos, though I strangely had 1 die with no reason... just looked in the morning and he was dead on the ground of the tank (another oddity.. he wasn't floating..)
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February 10th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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How long do you QT plants and how?
We are going to QT all of the fish we get.
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February 10th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Actually you don't have to quarantine live plants, you can disinfect them.
A place called Aquajake.com has the relevant info.
Here is the direct link: Click Here
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February 10th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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We do water changes every 2 days on our 120g african tank, plus our fish guy usually lets us know when the shipment is new or have been around awhile. For the most part we get our fish from other people we've met int he hobby. Betta are the only fish I get from our lfs and they are alone in a tank. With more expensive fish we usually qt them...no need to make the whole expensive tank ill.
Now if a fish looks beaten up or not 100% we will put it n a qt/hospital tank with meds until one treatment is done...or until the fish is healed.
But yes, qt is necessary especially if you can only get your fish from pet stores. I agree we need to all start using one.
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February 10th, 2008
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Moderator ~ Betta Mommy
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Thank you all for your comments. It is so nice to have a stimulating discussion once in a while on a topic that just comes to mind and does not involve a specific problem.
Thank you for the information on plant disinfection, D. It was really informative.
Rose
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February 10th, 2008
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Moderator
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chickadee
Thank you all for your comments. It is so nice to have a stimulating discussion once in a while on a topic that just comes to mind and does not involve a specific problem.
Thank you for the information on plant disinfection, D. It was really informative.
Rose
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Rose Aquajake is Jake from plantgeek.net 
carol |
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February 10th, 2008
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Moderator ~ Betta Mommy
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I KNEW it sounded familiar. Now I know where I read it before. Thanks, Carol.
Rose
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February 10th, 2008
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Moderator
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Welcome |
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February 11th, 2008
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Fish Bum
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I think this should be pinned. I'm new to fish owning so i looked up a bunch of things I should know in order to care for my betta. I didnt see this mentioned anywhere, or maybe I overlooked it. It's a no-brainer and I feel silly for not even thinking about doing it. Luckily I just own one fish so I didnt have to worry about it. But its good to know for the future.
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February 11th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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What Rose suggested in the beginning about qting them for a month rather then just 2 weeks is a good idea. In the future I will be doing this with any new fish I get. We should do this with all fish and not just the more sensitive ones like ottos. I am speaking from experience. When I bought Royell the Betta before RJ I had him in a qt tank for 2 weeks. He had absolutely no signs of disease at all, was eating and playing, even building huge bubble nests for me telling me how happy he was. After the 2 weeks I figured it was safe to put him in with his otto friends. Well 2 days after I put him in he came down with Dropsy. So he obviously had something brewing in his system, but hadn't been showing any signs and as soon as I moved him over he got sick. Had him for 2 more weeks, got him over the dropsy, and then he got hole in the head disease and died anyway. It broke my heart cuz he was the most happiest betta and I had no idea that he was sick. That's why I got him a namesake because he was such a great little betta and such a fighter during his trying time of illness. Natalie
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