Immune Booster Suggestion For Adding New Fish?

Hi, I will soon purchase a few new fish (danios) to my recently (3month) set up tank which is fully cycled. I am not using a quarantine tank as I need to work on stocking my tank which only has 3 danios at the moment. I am limited to the rather questionable stock at my local pet stores and I've already had a fish loss which I believe was because the fish was ill when I got it. What do you recommend using as an immune booster/preventative for the tank that will help my fish defend against stuff brought in by the new fish, plus also benefit the new arrivals? I've read about so many options from garlic to melafix, etc. Anyone with experience have an opinion? Also, needs to be safe for live plants and nerite snails. Thanks in advance!

 

Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?

Once you learn to cycle your tank correctly, you will see your fish loss decrease dramatically. You'll be overcoming the #1 cause of death for fish, known as New Tank Syndrome. This is caused because people don't do their research before buying fish, and therefore do not properly cycle their tank.

Your fish do not need an immune booster. The best "immune booster" for a fish is good filtration, clean water (and I don't mean just visibly, I mean ammonia/nitrite/nitrate wise too), and high quality food.

 

Hi, I will soon purchase a few new fish (danios) to my recently (3month) set up tank which is fully cycled. I am not using a quarantine tank as I need to work on stocking my tank which only has 3 danios at the moment. I am limited to the rather questionable stock at my local pet stores and I've already had a fish loss which I believe was because the fish was ill when I got it. What do you recommend using as an immune booster/preventative for the tank that will help my fish defend against stuff brought in by the new fish, plus also benefit the new arrivals? I've read about so many options from garlic to melafix, etc. Anyone with experience have an opinion? Also, needs to be safe for live plants and nerite snails. Thanks in advance!

I would strongly suggest getting a cheap 5 gallon or 10 gallon tank and set up a QT/hospital tank. Fish from big box stores are unfortunately more susceptible to disease so putting your fish in a QT tank for 2-3 weeks will allow you to keep your existing fish healthy. You also won't have to dose anything in your main tank. Paraguard by Seachem is an anti-parasitic that you can use prophylactically while in QT.

A lot of people don't QT, but everyone who has ever had a fish bring in a disease that wiped out a bunch of their stocking will tell you to take the time and patience and QT your fish.

Boyd Enterprises makes a product called Vita Chem to help boost immune systems but it's not going to be anything that would overcome a fish bringing a disease into your main tank.

 

Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?

Once you learn to cycle your tank correctly, you will see your fish loss decrease dramatically. You'll be overcoming the #1 cause of death for fish, known as New Tank Syndrome. This is caused because people don't do their research before buying fish, and therefore do not properly cycle their tank.

Your fish do not need an immune booster. The best "immune booster" for a fish is good filtration, clean water (and I don't mean just visibly, I mean ammonia/nitrite/nitrate wise too), and high quality food.

Yes, I studied ALL about it! I did a long fishless cycle before I even added fish. My water parameters have always been excellent since adding the fish. I am just nervous about adding more. The reason I don't want to do the quarantine is that my danios tend to chase each other a lot and they don't have a proper school. One is a bit of a bully. I feel maybe that stressed the smallest fish, which died. I've read that having more will help them socially That's why I thought maybe I should do all I can to help them all adjust.

 

I agree that you should more danios, possibly before you get other fish. Mine bullied the other schools in my tank even though I kept their numbers up to 6-8. They're not my favorite fish. Good job on doing your research first, I wish I had done that. Lol I have no input on quarantining or any preventive measures. I haven't added anything new since I learned about it.

 

Since you asked about not QT, what I would do is really observe the fish at the store. Ask questions. Do they know how long they have had them at the store? Do their tanks share filtration, do they share nets, etc. Go back a few times to observe the fish you want. If they do share filtration, take a look at ALL the tanks. What may be in one tank will be spread to all. When you bring the fish home, do proper acclimation and don't pour the tank water into your main tank, gently net the fish out.
That said, I STRONGLY advocate for quarantine. I believe Petco is having a $1 per gallon sale, you could pick up a 10 gallon for a QT, if you are able. Good luck!

 

Yes, I have been carefully observing the local stores, that's very good advice. My closest Petco always seems to have something dead in at least one tank so I won't ever buy fish from there. I found one a little further that has very clean tanks and the guy who maintains them is helpful so I'll probably buy from there. I do have an empty, dry 5G but I'd have to purchase extra equipment and cycle it so that would take a while. I would definitely do it if I had a more established stocked tank though. I don't know if I have the resources to maintain two tanks with only 3 fish in each tank I'd like the main tank to have at least 6 fish, then consider the QT for future additions. That's why I was asking the initial question, so that if I do risk adding new fish directly, is there anything I can do to at least boost natural defense?

 

I would say to try to provide the least stressful tank as possible. Lots of plants (live or silk) and a calm environment would go a long way. Vitachem and garlic guard is said to boost immune, but idk if there’s any scientific proof to that. Clean water goes a long way, too.