New Fish (quarantine)

Hello.

I'm two days away from completing treatment on my tank for illness. I'm really wanting to get some new fish soon.

My finances tell me to get 2 harlequin rasboras (giving me 8) instead of 3-5 panda cories (would give me 6-8). Can/should I even quarantine 2 rasboras? I've had really good luck with them so far without quarantine. I'm also assuming that I can't put more fish into the same quarantine when the first ones are say half done? Can I quarantine more than one species at once? I've read they should be from the same tank. Not sure how this works with PetSmart fish because they're in such small tanks, but it might all be under the same filtration? I don't know.

How long should I wait after treatment to steal biomatrix beads from my AQ50 on that tank to start up an almost instant cycle in the AQ20, 10 gallon quarantine if I do quarantine something soon? Or can I just go with it?

Also, does anyone quarantine snails?

 

I would quarantine everything because the stuff in tanks already is expensive and so are meds so losing them all to a disease would kill me mentally AND financially.

As for snails, no need to quarantine. It's about the only thing I do not quarantine actually.

 

I would quarantine everything because the stuff in tanks already is expensive and so are meds so losing them all to a disease would kill me mentally AND financially.

As for snails, no need to quarantine. It's about the only thing I do not quarantine actually.

Could a cycle in a 10 gallon quarantine be sustained by 2 rasboras?

Also, how long would you wait to steal some biomatrix to establish a cycle for the quarantine being that the main tank is finishing antibiotic treatment?

 

Depends on if the antibiotics affect the Bio-filter or not.
Yes and no. They would produce a small amount of ammonia, but most likely not enough to feed a large bio-filter. You can quarantine different species in the same tank as long their water requirements are similar.

I would wait till you can get the Pandas and the Harlequins and quarantine them both in the 10. If anyone is sick you can treat them all at the same time, or get your money back if they don't make it. If you could I think the 2 Harlequins and 3 Pandas would be a good start. Then you can build up from there.

I never quarantine snails.

 

Could a cycle in a 10 gallon quarantine be sustained by 2 rasboras?

Also, how long would you wait to steal some biomatrix to establish a cycle for the quarantine being that the main tank is finishing antibiotic treatment?

What antibiotics were used? If they are meds that kill the cycle then it wouldn't benefit the other tank since both tanks would need to cycle again. You could always go grab a bottle of TSS+ for the 10 gallon and throw that in along with the rasboras for cycling. They are definitely enough for the cycle. I cycled my 36 gallon bow front with a single betta. He made more than enough ammonia to keep my cycle going and then I ended up giving him his own tank with some ghost shrimp and just added 2 guppies to keep up the cycle. I eventually then added two BN plecos and some mystery snails and later added my RCS. I am not adding anything else for the time being.

 

Depends on if the antibiotics affect the Bio-filter or not.
Yes and no. They would produce a small amount of ammonia, but most likely not enough to feed a large bio-filter. You can quarantine different species in the same tank as long their water requirements are similar.

I would wait till you can get the Pandas and the Harlequins and quarantine them both in the 10. If anyone is sick you can treat them all at the same time, or get your money back if they don't make it. If you could I think the 2 Harlequins and 3 Pandas would be a good start. Then you can build up from there.

I never quarantine snails.

Could I quarantine 5 pandas and 2 harlequins in a 10 together you think?

What antibiotics were used? If they are meds that kill the cycle then it wouldn't benefit the other tank since both tanks would need to cycle again. You could always go grab a bottle of TSS+ for the 10 gallon and throw that in along with the rasboras for cycling. They are definitely enough for the cycle. I cycled my 36 gallon bow front with a single betta. He made more than enough ammonia to keep my cycle going and then I ended up giving him his own tank with some ghost shrimp and just added 2 guppies to keep up the cycle. I eventually then added two BN plecos and some mystery snails and later added my RCS. I am not adding anything else for the time being.

Kanaplex and Jungle Fungus Clear Fizz Tabs? Don't think either bothers biological filter.

I was also concerned that if I used this media it would put the illness into the quarantine, but I guess the Kanaplex probably took care of that.

 

FIY, Petsmart fish are all under the same filtration. Same for Mr. Pets. Treat them them all as if they were from the same filthy tank.

I just had the plague sweep through my goldfish tank, and one possible reason is that I didn't QT. You should definitely QT imo.

 

FIY, Petsmart fish are all under the same filtration. Same for Mr. Pets. Treat them them all as if they were from the same filthy tank.

Awesome. That can make it a lot easier. Wonder why they only had the feeder fish under a sale ban due to ick last month then? They are in a walk tank just like the rest.

 

Awesome. That can make it a lot easier. Wonder why they only had the feeder fish under a sale ban due to ick last month then? They are in a walk tank just like the rest.

At best - maybe because they filter large stores in cells.

At worst - maybe they're giving the appearance that petsmart cares.

Sick feeders would wreck havoc on a tank, I suppose Petsmart can't be seen selling poison. If you buy a sick keeper fish though, and get your tank infected - well, what do you mean we sold you a sick fish? Here's a $2 refund for you $300 of dead stock. Could also be because they think fish disease spreads by physical contact. It's petsmart, you never know.

 

Could I quarantine 5 pandas and 2 harlequins in a 10 together you think?


Kanaplex and Jungle Fungus Clear Fizz Tabs? Don't think either bothers biological filter.

I was also concerned that if I used this media it would put the illness into the quarantine, but I guess the Kanaplex probably took care of that.

Honestly I have no experience with Kanaplex. I don't think JFC kills the Bio-filter, but don't quote me on that.

Yes I think you'd be fine to do 2 Harlequin and 5 pandas. Just keep up on the water changes and check the levels, but I if you have cycled media, then I think you should be just fine.

Yeah, if the media you are planning on using has been in the filter with the meds then the meds should have killed anything on the media as well.

 

Just ordered an Aqueon 50 watt heater for my quarantine for only $18!!! I plan to get new fish into quarantine first chance I get once it's here. Can't wait.

 

HI All,

A local well known Canadian Fish store has been providing me with really poor quality fish. The options in Canada are much more limited than in the states so it often times means going without or getting weak fish. I started with a QT and lost several of my cories which I figure was due to an internal parasite. I also lost a male Platy due to an internal parasite. I bought some new cories to keep my school up as well as 2 more platies and I see already that the new platys have parasites again and I am now worried about the cories. I am medicating right away and I am trying to save my remaining cories from the first batch, but I am thinking that I will lose 2 more.

What do people do?

 

HI All,

A local well known Canadian Fish store has been providing me with really poor quality fish. The options in Canada are much more limited than in the states so it often times means going without or getting weak fish. I started with a QT and lost several of my cories which I figure was due to an internal parasite. I also lost a male Platy due to an internal parasite. I bought some new cories to keep my school up as well as 2 more platies and I see already that the new platys have parasites again and I am now worried about the cories. I am medicating right away and I am trying to save my remaining cories from the first batch, but I am thinking that I will lose 2 more.

What do people do?

If it were me, I would stop going to the lfs and order online.

 

Hey, I'm Canadian too and I totally understand your struggle, like when people say to go to petco and you're like.. we don't have petco here. I recommend Big Al's if you live near one they take great care of their fish.

 

I think you need to find a new LFS...if distance is a problem than you are really stuck with the LFS or order online...when you get new fish do you treat them in your QT? If so how long do you treat them for? You might have to be more aggressive and QT them for maybe 4-6 weeks instead of some 1-3 weeks.

 

Are you sterilizing the QT after each use?. If you have been getting fish with parasites are you using a product from the start like paraguard?

Quarantine should be no less than 4 weeks.

Check around for local fish clubs, and see if any members are still breeding fish.

 

What makes you think it's an internal parasite? What are you treating them with?

 

HI all,

In answer to everyone's questions, danhutchins online is tough here, we get cold winters and more importantly, shipping is usually $50 which is a lot for adding anything to my tank. There is a better LFS, but they have a more rotating stock (and mainly focus in cichlids) more than 90% of the stock that I buy from them has no issues, I started with them, but in order to boost my numbers, I have to shop where I can get them. I got some bad advice from store #2 that all cories will school, which is not the case and I did not buy enough for a happy school. I went to store 1 where I am having all of the problems in order to boost my numbers.
Bettafishies126 Store number 1 is a large national brand that many recommend in Canada.
Fashooga I am at about 4 week point now, but I added all the fish to my main tank at week 3 in order to change the substrate in the QT. I lost almost all of the last bump of stock due to what I believe was a parasite. I was hoping to make a shrimp species tank, but instead, I bought new stock to replace what I lost. The shrimp are living in a basket in my main tank for the time being. My future plan is to use a 5 gal pail for QT purposes.
Thunder_o_b I did not steralize the QT between uses, I actually did not think of that. I have removed all of the substrate. Unfortunately since only my wife drives and her schedule is erratic, only a LFS is a good option for us, though I do try to get locally bred fish when possible, whether from a club, store or an individual.
TexasDomer I believe it to be a parasite as all of the cories became very thin and wasted away. I saw white stringy poop from the platy immediately. I am dosing both the main tank and the QT with food that I have added focus and metroplex to. I have levamisole on hand as I had to deal with camallanus worm in the past which I believe also came from the same store. I am also dosing with paraguard in case. I hate that, 1, I am having to medicate new fish for internal parasites, 2, that I am losing fish in such large quantities, and 3, that the issue is simply costing me money through no fault of my own.

this is all frustrating because I don't remember fish being this week 25 years ago, it was marine fish that used to have this reputation as they were mostly wild caught. This trend in fishkeeping really needs to change!!

 

What are you feeding the cories, and how often? If they're wasting away, it could be a nutrition/feeding issue.

 

HI all,

In answer to everyone's questions, danhutchins online is tough here, we get cold winters and more importantly, shipping is usually $50 which is a lot for adding anything to my tank. There is a better LFS, but they have a more rotating stock (and mainly focus in cichlids) more than 90% of the stock that I buy from them has no issues, I started with them, but in order to boost my numbers, I have to shop where I can get them. I got some bad advice from store #2 that all cories will school, which is not the case and I did not buy enough for a happy school. I went to store 1 where I am having all of the problems in order to boost my numbers.
Bettafishies126 Store number 1 is a large national brand that many recommend in Canada.
Fashooga I am at about 4 week point now, but I added all the fish to my main tank at week 3 in order to change the substrate in the QT. I lost almost all of the last bump of stock due to what I believe was a parasite. I was hoping to make a shrimp species tank, but instead, I bought new stock to replace what I lost. The shrimp are living in a basket in my main tank for the time being. My future plan is to use a 5 gal pail for QT purposes.
Thunder_o_b I did not steralize the QT between uses, I actually did not think of that. I have removed all of the substrate. Unfortunately since only my wife drives and her schedule is erratic, only a LFS is a good option for us, though I do try to get locally bred fish when possible, whether from a club, store or an individual.
TexasDomer I believe it to be a parasite as all of the cories became very thin and wasted away. I saw white stringy poop from the platy immediately. I am dosing both the main tank and the QT with food that I have added focus and metroplex to. I have levamisole on hand as I had to deal with camallanus worm in the past which I believe also came from the same store. I am also dosing with paraguard in case. I hate that, 1, I am having to medicate new fish for internal parasites, 2, that I am losing fish in such large quantities, and 3, that the issue is simply costing me money through no fault of my own.

this is all frustrating because I don't remember fish being this week 25 years ago, it was marine fish that used to have this reputation as they were mostly wild caught. This trend in fishkeeping really needs to change!!

Just to add, I already lost cory 1 from the new batch, and 1 from the last group is dying as I type this... I am so frustrated.

 

The way I do my QT tank is that It's substrate free. I like bare bottom for my QT so I can see whether the fish are pooping brown or white.

 

What are you feeding the cories, and how often? If they're wasting away, it could be a nutrition/feeding issue.

I am pretty sure it is not. I lost cories way to fast, but I am feeding quite a mix of foods including flakes and 2 kinds of pellets, frozen shrimp and algae wafers. That is another reason I suspect a parasite. But thank you for the ideas please keep suggesting in case I missed something.

 

HI Aqua Lover, I'm also in the GTA. It's tough to get the fish you want locally!

I don't have any advice on your parasites treatment, but just a couple of thoughts on lfs.

Big Als are a pretty large chain, but are all independently run, so stock, prices and staff knowledge really varies from store to store. (and I've even found within my local Big Als, the staff's knowledge varies too.)

Maybe try Angelfins online? They seem to have a pretty good selection, and the shipping cost wasn't too bad when I did an estimate recently. (They're in Guelph, I think to ship about $35 in fish to me, east of Toronto, was about $18). I haven't personally bought from them, so I can't vouch for quality etc. Good luck!

 

The way I do my QT tank is that It's substrate free. I like bare bottom for my QT so I can see whether the fish are pooping brown or white.

The platies are pooping white for sure. I haven't seen any poop from the cories yet but I attribute that to the way they swim. The substrate is white sand so I can actually see the feces quite easily.

HI Aqua Lover, I'm also in the GTA. It's tough to get the fish you want locally!

I don't have any advice on your parasites treatment, but just a couple of thoughts on lfs.

Big Als are a pretty large chain, but are all independently run, so stock, prices and staff knowledge really varies from store to store. (and I've even found within my local Big Als, the staff's knowledge varies too.)

Maybe try Angelfins online? They seem to have a pretty good selection, and the shipping cost wasn't too bad when I did an estimate recently. (They're in Guelph, I think to ship about $35 in fish to me, east of Toronto, was about $18). I haven't personally bought from them, so I can't vouch for quality etc. Good luck!

Thanks that is certainly better than shrimpfever which quotes 50ish for guaranteed live fish shipping. I have purchased levamisole from Angelfins in the past, but not fish stock. Where do you generally buy?

 

I'm also in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area, for those not near us).
I totally empathize with everything you've written AQUA_LOVER . I've had some frustrating quarantine losses lately. I think the old latin 'caveat emptor' or 'buyer beware' has to apply. Every time you go to buy fish, you have to be prepared to walk away empty-handed if you see signs of poor health. And you need to be ready to set up and use a QT if you're actively looking or shopping for fish.
I've never yet bought online, so I can't comment on that side, but given the investments we make in our fish, and how they affect our own mental well-being (I'm thinking of the stress that comes from unhealthy fish, which is ironic now that I think about it because stress is what also causes the fish to be unhealthy in the first place - it's a vicious cycle!), I'm not yet comfortable buying sight-unseen. I'll continue to buy locally, and ask tough questions when/where I do.
I know you said your wife's sched for driving is erratic, but you're within a 1-hr one way drive of at least 5 other Big Als locations, and as noted above, they're all managed differently. I scout many of the locations regularly and like the Scarb location best, but if you can, visit during off-peak hours, when you can get better customer service. With a cooler in the car, a 1-2 hr trip home should be fine for any fish you find/like/buy.
Final note: you mentioned that you're medicating, what are you using? Parasites are only one potential cause of symptom-less mortality, it could also be bacterial.

 

I'm also in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area, for those not near us).
I totally empathize with everything you've written AQUA_LOVER . I've had some frustrating quarantine losses lately. I think the old latin 'caveat emptor' or 'buyer beware' has to apply. Every time you go to buy fish, you have to be prepared to walk away empty-handed if you see signs of poor health. And you need to be ready to set up and use a QT if you're actively looking or shopping for fish.
I've never yet bought online, so I can't comment on that side, but given the investments we make in our fish, and how they affect our own mental well-being (I'm thinking of the stress that comes from unhealthy fish, which is ironic now that I think about it because stress is what also causes the fish to be unhealthy in the first place - it's a vicious cycle!), I'm not yet comfortable buying sight-unseen. I'll continue to buy locally, and ask tough questions when/where I do.
I know you said your wife's sched for driving is erratic, but you're within a 1-hr one way drive of at least 5 other Big Als locations, and as noted above, they're all managed differently. I scout many of the locations regularly and like the Scarb location best, but if you can, visit during off-peak hours, when you can get better customer service. With a cooler in the car, a 1-2 hr trip home should be fine for any fish you find/like/buy.
Final note: you mentioned that you're medicating, what are you using? Parasites are only one potential cause of symptom-less mortality, it could also be bacterial.

I may have to consider one of the other locations. I thought that they were all franchise locations with the same source for their stock. good to know. I am using Paraguard for anything bacterial and metroplex for anything internal. Focus is mainly a food binder but also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and the metroplex treats protozoan parasites and anaerobic bacterial diseases

 

Could you ask the better LFS to order fish for you? I know my local independent will make special orders for customers if it's not something they normally stock.