pre-treating fish in quarantine?

I just set up a new ryukin goldfish tank and don't want to begin introducing disease. Perhaps my biggest concern is ich since treatments for it stain the silicone green. Would it be feasible to pre-treat the fish in a quarantine tank?

If so, what should I treat for and what medications can I combine without stressing the fish out completely? I've heard flukes are a big problem too. Any info is appreciated!

 

Well a quarantine tank is the way to go, but personally I don't like treating fish unless they need to be treated (its hard on them meds and all). I just make sure they are doing good and are healthy and in similar water as the tank they are going into and I transfer them in (in controlled amounts, I don't dump to many in or your bacteria may flip out) to the tank they are going into. I usually temp house them for 3 to 4 weeks to make sure they are healthy.

 

And yes ICH med can and does stain silicone, and its hard on fish as malachite green is a suspected carcinogen. I don't normal treat my quarantine tank with meds, I normally try it first, if I see sickness they go to a hospital tank. After they are done there treatment (usually a week, and depending on species I use meds or salt or half doses or both, I carbon the filter on the hospital tank, and then send them back to there quarantine tank, and keep the water in there a little on the warm side, for about a week. Then I slowly bring the temp back to norm, and watch them for about another week before housing them.

 

Thanks for the info, what you wrote makes sense. So you have a hospital and a quarantine tank?

 

the only med i'd use for ick would be ich-attack, but raised water temp. is usually all that's needed. ich-attack won't stain anything or kill good bacteria and is safe for any fish. it just smells herbal (since it is herbal).

 

where can I purchase that herbal ich cure? I see an herbalist myself and know firsthand the power of herbs for anti-viral, fungal and bacterial conditions.

Any information regarding where to buy and educate myself on them in terms of aquarium care would be great!!

 

Ich-Attack

I get it from www.drfostersandsmith.com but some stores have it now so it may be avail. locally.

 

thanks!! anyone else have any leads on more natural and likely less toxic medications for fish illness?

For that matter I wouldn't mind finding some good food for my goldfish. Some stuff on the market contains TBHQ which I believe is a form of BHT. A preservative used in our (human) food, but also used in cattle and chicken feed because it has a "side-effect" of numbing the stomach so that the livestock eats more and the hunger response stays on to get them fattened up quicker. Especially useful under stressful conditions where animals would ordinarily consume less.

I've noted similiar effects when eating processed foods containing it or meat that has been pumped full of it. I wouldn't want my poor always hungry goldies suffering more fits of unsatiated hunger!!

 

sounds like your on the right track by asking questions and your getting good answers.
One note though: If you raise your temps significantly be sure and do an extra water change since warmer water holds less oxygen.
goldies are large waste producers so hope their going into a large tank 20 gallon for the first and at least 10 gallon for each additional fish. Good Luck!
Carol

 

Herbal meds

- Kordon has at least one other organic herbal med for ick and related problems called ick-attack. I haven't seen organic herbal meds from anyone else, but I could have missed them.. we have both of the organic herbal meds from Kordon and hope to see more. I like not harming the good bacteria, meds that are safe for scaleless fish and fry and some antibiotic meds seem to be losing effectiveness as diseases adapt.

 

thanks for the site link! To answer a previous question...
I set up two tanks:
40h with 5 ryukins and a plecco
55 with 5 shubukin and a plecco

all are small right now and I went for filtration that was meant for about 30 more gallons on each tank. I'll monitor water quality... if it gets off or if they look stressed I'll reduce as they get bigger or try more frequent water changes.

 

do you have pics to post of those tanks?

 

Look them up under member: Doug

They aren't great pics and the decor is a little plain compared to some. But the minimalist slate look works well for the 55 shunbunkin tank which is in a zen like room...

the 40 gal ryukin tank I really want to get some more pink and green stone... but for now it is what it is!

 

cool