Dumb Question, I’m Sure

Why do we quarantine bettas when they’ve been in a cup alone?

 

Why do we quarantine bettas when they’ve been in a cup alone?

It depends.

If you're adding the betta to it's own tank with no other fish or inverts, there's no need. You can dose whatever meds you might need into that tank with no effect, and if the fish is sick, you don't have to worry about it infecting other fish.

If you're adding the betta to a community tank, or a tank with lots of snails/shrimp, you're quarantining to avoid infecting your fish and/or to have a tank where you can dose copper-based medications, since invertebrates are sensitive to copper.

 

I only quarantine my bettas if they’re breeders, going into a community, or going into a sorority. When I get a new fish that will be alone (etc. my Sen. Bichir till I find a partner for it) it makes more sense to me to put it into the tank and then treat the tank.

 

Why do we quarantine bettas when they’ve been in a cup alone?

Personally I have never quarantined a betta and not but because I did'nt have another tank to but because I keep them alone especially my male. Also because I keep females together so they can all have the same meds. Lorekeeper does have a very good point. If it is to a community fish tank you'd probably want a quarantine tank. I have never quarantined fish because I don't have another tank to and that's because i've only had bettas. But I am starting to get into other fish so I need to invest lol.

 

Why do we quarantine bettas when they’ve been in a cup alone?

Very good question. I might do it if he was going into a tank with other fish but by himself like 90% of Bettas are? Why?

 

I did and probably still should but I guess in the cups it gives a false sense of security since I got lazy and haven't been. Will it come back to bite me, perhaps it has in the past. Now if its going in a tank by itself you are accentually qting it.