POLL why I don't quarantine

[grouper therapy]

rjrgroup;635239 wrote: Hey Dave, I'm about to finish my new 210 and plan on adding 6 tangs. What would be the best way to do this since I nor anyone else has a very large system or multiple QTs? I don't want to introduce them at different times other than a few days with leaving the lights off. I need a plan...
Fish list;
Purple
Orange Shoulder
Tennenti
Powder Blue
Clown
Thompson
What are your thoughts?
Thanks!

I wouldn't add 6 fish to my system at one time maybe chromis or the like,. I added all 10 of my tangs at different times over the course of 18 months or so. I take a lot of time preparing my fish for introduction. My quarantine is just not set up to observe or look for illness. I make sure that someone visits the tank on a daily basis so that the fish becomes accustomed to seeing something that it had not seen until it was netted and shipped several thousand miles. I try to even get most of them to interact in some way if nothing else come out of hiding to eat. Then I try to get them to what appears to be a healthy size so they can fend for themselves if the need be. Before someone blast me I know that this is not possible with all fish as some of their demeanor doesn't allow for it.

 

[ralph atl]

You Don't need to keep one set up...

 

[grouper therapy]

I can see where a poor designed QT setup could stress a fish more than directly placing them in a well designed display but does that offset the chance of infecting the rest of your fish? That is my main objective in quarantining the fish to isolate from the other fish hence the name. The ability to prepare for introduction or treat the fish is secondary in purpose to me.

 

[pamelahaley]

If I buy a fish, I watch it's behavior in the store and sometimes, if the store's business is slow, I'll check on the fish over a couple weeks before purchase.

 

[grouper therapy]

I wonder if the larger public aquariums quarantine ? If they do why do you think they do and if they don't why do think they don't?

 

[lilrobb]

grouper therapy;635279 wrote: I wonder if the larger public aquariums quarantine ? If they do why do you think they do and if they don't why do think they don't?

They do,
I have seen their QT setup...

 

[shrimpy brains]

To me, not QT'ing is like playing russian roullette with your tank.

I would love take you up on your QT if I had a larger fish to QT, but since you are quite the drive, I guess I will stick buying my fish small. I like to watch 'em grow anyway.

 

[gnashty]

I bought a QT some time ago (25 gal eclipse) and it is all set up but I seem to buy larger fish and dont feel comfortable with a 4-5" tang in a 25 tall for months at a time...maybe its time for a bigger QT.

but im also the guy that feels guilty for crating the dog at night but the gf insists...

I do run a larger than most UV (114w on 230 gal)

I like the idea of behavior and interactive excersises to get them acclimated to feeding and seeing people. My new Kole is shy about food but loves to pick on the rocks..but she darts away when I walk up to the tank.

Amici;635395 wrote: I've qted every fish. The key is to qt in what is essentially a fish only tank. Set it up with live rock and run all the params the same as your display.

This is how I have mine set up....I put my damsel in it to keep it going. only issue here is you likely have to tear all the rock out to get your fish out when they are ready for the DT.

 

[cr500_af]

mojo;635241 wrote: I tried to QT for about a year one time. I had a much higher mortality rate when I QT'd than when I didn't. I can't explain why - I wasn't trying to do a scientific experiment, but I can say that I lost far more fish during QT than when I just added it to my system.

It is also worth mentioning that some fish are more tolerant to quaranting, which may have been what you were experiencing.

For example, there is a looooong thread on RC where (seemingly)everybody who has owned an Achilles tang is sharing information about what they did and how the fish fared. The anecdotal evidence suggests that Achilles do better without quarantine (meaning they do poorly when they are quarantined). When I got mine, I chose a happy medium (short term quarantine to catch anything major, and then introduced to keep the stress to a minimum).

 

[cr500_af]

Hard to believe somebody actually voted for #4.

 

[grouper therapy]

I'm kinda surprised with 33% so far don't believe it is needed. Interesting.

 

[dawgface]

Results skewed, I hit the wrong option haha

On a serious note, any helpful hits on what to do for safeguards if you can't quarantine.

Edit:

cr500_af;635489 wrote: Hard to believe somebody actually voted for #4.

That was this dumb ***, I've been sick in bed all day. I was tired of laying around so I decided to hop on here. Still feeling the effects of Nyquil.

 

[grouper therapy]

cr500_af;635489 wrote: Hard to believe somebody actually voted for #4.

Not really they were probably just being honest.

 

[grouper therapy]

Safe gaurds from what? As in not spreading the problem to all the other fish? I can't think of one.

Edit:

DawgFace;635491 wrote: Results skewed, I hit the wrong option haha

On a serious note, any helpful hits on what to do for safeguards if you can't quarantine.

Edit:


That was this dumb ***, I've been sick in bed all day. I was tired of laying around so I decided to hop on here. Still feeling the effects of Nyquil.

Sorry your feeling bad but that nyquil is some goood stuff.

Edit:

cr500_af;635475 wrote: It is also worth mentioning that some fish are more tolerant to quaranting, which may have been what you were experiencing.

For example, there is a looooong thread on RC where (seemingly)everybody who has owned an Achilles tang is sharing information about what they did and how the fish fared. The anecdotal evidence suggests that Achilles do better without quarantine (meaning they do poorly when they are quarantined). When I got mine, I chose a happy medium (short term quarantine to catch anything major, and then introduced to keep the stress to a minimum).

I wonder how they know that they are in quarantine?

 

[cr500_af]

grouper therapy;635494 wrote: I wonder how they know that they are in quarantine?

I'm sure they don't.

I would guess that it is a combination of QT tanks tending to be smaller (as mine was at the time; since then I've taken a lesson from you), along with less grazing on algae, etc since not all QT systems have lighting at all (plus the fact that many take them down when not in use, hence nothing to forage on).

Just my interpretation.

 

[dawgface]

grouper therapy;635494 wrote: Safe gaurds from what? As in not spreading the problem to all the other fish? I can't think of one.

Edit:

Sorry your feeling bad but that nyquil is some goood stuff.

Aye, it sure is!

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I was referring to more of what to look for in the fish before purchasing. I understand QT is important but let's face it, based on this poll there are allot of people skipping this process. Myself being one due to a problematic fiancé. I've heard some recommendations like observing the fish in the LFS for a few weeks, buying from reputable sources... Also, can you give me an idea of what you&#8217;re looking for in the QT that would be worrisome? How long you keep the fish in quarantine. This all may help in visual identifying and avoiding certain buying habits and practices before purchase.</span></span>

 

[cr500_af]

I try to QT for 4 weeks. You're looking for anything abnormal... listless fish, won't eat, external parasites etc.

If you observe it in QT you can treat it. That isn't always possible in the display tank. For example, ich is very responsive to treatment with copper-based medications. Their use in a reef tank will nuke invertebrates. Just one example.

Keep in mind that if a disease/parasite is found and treated, then at the end of that treatment, the QT "clock" starts over!

Sorry if I insulted your intelligence by telling you what you already know.

 

[mvm]

What about the thought that fish feel more comfortable feeding around other fish? Don't you see a "feeding frenzy" in your tank when you feed? I think this makes newly wild caught fish feel more comfortable so they are more inclined to eat. I know public aquariums QT, but their ability to treat any major outbreak in thousands of gallons is impossible; nor can they remove all fish and start over. The risk for public aquariums is much greater IMO. I tried to QT, but lost more fish in QT in a short period of time, than I have lost the entire time I've been in the hobby. Now I add fish to my system and watch for issues. I treat the entire tank with Prazi to eliminate any internal parasites, mainly in wrasse. All corals are dipped and inspected very closely. I had monti eating nudis and will never go down that road again!

 

[cr500_af]

Matt, I think that may be a factor in the Achilles "tendency" I mentioned earlier also.
Disclaimer: Again, anecdotal evidence.

 

[grouper therapy]

MvM;635516 wrote: What about the thought that fish feel more comfortable feeding around other fish? Don't you see a "feeding frenzy" in your tank when you feed? I think this makes newly wild caught fish feel more comfortable so they are more inclined to eat. I know public aquariums QT, but their ability to treat any major outbreak in thousands of gallons is impossible; nor can they remove all fish and start over. The risk for public aquariums is much greater IMO. I tried to QT, but lost more fish in QT in a short period of time, than I have lost the entire time I've been in the hobby. Now I add fish to my system and watch for issues. I treat the entire tank with Prazi to eliminate any internal parasites, mainly in wrasse. All corals are dipped and inspected very closely. I had monti eating nudis and will never go down that road again!

I do see a frenzy but I also see a single fish at the top of a quarantine tank in an excited stated waiting on food as well and not having to compete with already established fish. In my opinion in most case an inadequate qt was setup when failure with them is experienced. I don't mean to offend anyone but a well established qt tank with the proper environment should be not far removed from a display tank. That said I ask everyone what size tank do you witness at most of the LFS. Do you think they experience the loss of fish that some of you claim that your hopefully superior qt system experienced?