Dozey

I’ve got my new fish in the q-tank and sure would like to get them into my tank. What is the suggested quarantine time for new fish? I believe it’s three weeks but I sure hope I’m wrong. My tank has a clown pleco (spook) that lives up to his name. He spends his time is his cave. And then there is Houdini, our gold apple snail. He’s really neat to watch but lets face it… he’s a snail.

So again the question is, how long should new fish be quarantined?

Lucy

I had always heard at least 2 weeks.

TFA101

three weeks is best and should be considered minimum. longer if a disease shows up

Dozey

Hmm “at least” two weeks, so the 3 weeks sounds like the “real safe” time. DOH! I was afraid of that. We’ve had this tank cycled and ready to go for 2 months. Boy it sure would be nice to see something moving around in the tank. Fishlips wouldn’t let me put her cat in the tank. Lucy’s cat looks really cute in her tank. OK so at least another 2 weeks.

Is this a hobby or a lesson in patience

fishlover78

I would give them 2-3 weeks. yes three weeks if your a worrier (just kidding!) -fishlover78

fishlover78

this journey is both a hobby and a test of Patience!

Lucy

Both.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey, if is is anything like poor Peek-A-Boo he has been in QT since oct. lol and i hope not too much longer or he will never know what a tank is lol. bella

Dozey

Well Fishlips and I did watch the snail do a lap around the tank tonight. A fascinating two and half hours that was. And this was in addition to the micro-second that we think, maybe, possibly, most likely we saw a fin of the pleco.

Bella, if you can do then I guess I can give it my best effort too. But gosh, two months of staring at plastic plants and panty hose is wearing me out.

Lucy

Oh Lordy!

FishJones

Dozey, you have the patience of a saint waiting 3 weeks for your new fish in a QT,
I know I couldn't wait that long.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey; Get some plastic fish lol that will match your plastic plants and give you more to watch lol bella

Dozey

Well I don't know about that but I do have 3 good sized welts on my forehead from banging my head on the desk.

Big Al's was all sold out... I knew I should have gotten them on the 26th but after the big brawl for the pythons I just didn’t have the strength left to go after the plastic fishies.

shih-tzu mom

Ok, Dozey, point made lol bella

jdhef

Plus do you really have the patience to quarantine the plastic fish for three weeks?

dancerhas

I would say two weeks is a good amount of time if they look pretty healthy. For us that was enough time to treat for parasites, discover & treat ICH, and for one fish to have babies and then die. I don't personally think their should be a "maximum" time to quarantine, the safety of your established tank is worth it.

^to be taken with a grain of salt, as I don't always follow quarantine "rules" very well.