Does quarantine stress the fish more than it's worth?

[Cashlaw]

Hi all,

Question on my mind. When you get new fish, it's a good practice to quarantine them for several weeks, right?

Thinking it over, what's actually the best practice for quarantine?

Because I'm thinking, there could be a couple of options:

-- Into the 5 gallon bucket they go! Woo hoo! (With a sponge filter and a heater, water changes several times a week.)

I would guess that this is a really popular way to do it. And there's the question: if we're trying to stop Ich and other infections that come up when fish are stressed, isn't the smaller amount of water going to lead to a rapid toxin build up . . . which leads to stress . . . abated by a water change . . . then another rapid toxin build up . . . repeated until the fish go into the tank?

Wouldn't this make the new fish more likely to get sick, than just putting them in the main, big tank with already cycled water?

-- I guess the ideal would be to put them into a dedicated quarantine tank, 30+ gallons in size, with an established filter. But unless you're getting new fish pretty frequently, how practical would it be?

I guess I'd like to know some more informed and expert opinions on how to do quarantine the best way.

 

[chesterthehero]

dont quarantine for the sake of the new fish... quarantine for the sake of the fish you already have..

 

[David R]

-- I guess the ideal would be to put them into a dedicated quarantine tank, 30+ gallons in size, with an established filter. But unless you're getting new fish pretty frequently, how practical would it be?

You don't have to have it permanently set up, just run the filter on your main tank and when you buy a new fish fill it up with water from the main tank and transfer the filter onto the small tank.

TBH I've never really bothered with quarantining fish, until now when I have a group of 26 clown loaches in a 160g which I really don't want to have to treat for any diseases. All I do is put the new fish in a smaller tank that I have set up with some other hardier fish for a few weeks.

 

[dingoofus]

I don't quarantine my fish.

I would if they cost me like 100 bucks lol.

I go on this theory which I got from a study on humans or something lol. People discovered that humans who are clean freaks suffer more when they get sick compared to people who's lives are slightly more care free. The theory goes, that someone who walks around with a mask on to protect them from the cold virus, will suffer more if they get the virus to someone who didn't wear a mask and was therefore exposed to small amounts of the sickness. When the body gts sick and recovers after that sickness, the body usually builds up immunities and can handle the sickness better.

Anyways, my meanigless rambling aside, I don't quarentine because I think in the long run, being exposd to small amounts of bacteria and sickness makes for a tougher healthier fish.

 

[Lupin]

I don't quarantine my fish.

I would if they cost me like 100 bucks lol.

I go on this theory which I got from a study on humans or something lol. People discovered that humans who are clean freaks suffer more when they get sick compared to people who's lives are slightly more care free. The theory goes, that someone who walks around with a mask on to protect them from the cold virus, will suffer more if they get the virus to someone who didn't wear a mask and was therefore exposed to small amounts of the sickness. When the body gts sick and recovers after that sickness, the body usually builds up immunities and can handle the sickness better.

Anyways, my meanigless rambling aside, I don't quarentine because I think in the long run, being exposd to small amounts of bacteria and sickness makes for a tougher healthier fish.

Argument over comparing humans is moot. Our lifestyle should not be compared to animals especially fish.

As far as quarantine is concerned, all it takes is a sponge filter, heater, a 10g tank (possibly 30-40g for monster fish) and a few decorations for refuge. What is difficult about quarantining your new fish? Keep the tank barebottom to keep maintainance easier and simple. It is a temporary housing for the fish. Many people learn the hard way for not quarantining their new fish to protect the old stocks. Ever thought fish TB would one day happen? Cases like this are hard to live down once you lose dozens of fish.

 

[Freezekougra]

nvm o.o

 

[dingoofus]

Argument over comparing humans is moot. Our lifestyle should not be compared to animals especially fish.

As far as quarantine is concerned, all it takes is a sponge filter, heater, a 10g tank (possibly 30-40g for monster fish) and a few decorations for refuge. What is difficult about quarantining your new fish? Keep the tank barebottom to keep maintainance easier and simple. It is a temporary housing for the fish. Many people learn the hard way for not quarantining their new fish to protect the old stocks. Ever thought fish TB would one day happen? Cases like this are hard to live down once you lose dozens of fish.

I wasn't comparing, I was relating it to something.

All animals build up immunities, so exposing them to small doses is not bad for them, it gives them the edge over a sickness.

If a fish dies because of disease, it's natural. I'm a beiiever in survival of the fittest, if the weaker fish dies due to disease, then it illiminates their weaker genes from being bred into other fish, and over time you get a healthier fish stock.

I'm just the sort of person who isn't gonna wrap their fish up in cotton wool, so to speak.

I don't mind people quaranteening their fish, I'm not trying to argue agaisnt it, I'm just pointing out another way to raise fish.

Here's a little thing to think over, fish in the wild have not been sheltered by quaranteen, and they have lasted and got stronger for millions of years.

 

[Bderick67]

I wasn't comparing, I was relating it to something.

All animals build up immunities, so exposing them to small doses is not bad for them, it gives them the edge over a sickness.

If a fish dies because of disease, it's natural. I'm a beiiever in survival of the fittest, if the weaker fish dies due to disease, then it illiminates their weaker genes from being bred into other fish, and over time you get a healthier fish stock.

I'm just the sort of person who isn't gonna wrap their fish up in cotton wool, so to speak.

I don't mind people quaranteening their fish, I'm not trying to argue agaisnt it, I'm just pointing out another way to raise fish.

Here's a little thing to think over, fish in the wild have not been sheltered by quaranteen, and they have lasted and got stronger for millions of years.

By adding just one infected fish you could possibly wipe out almost the entire population of one particular habitat. Now eventually the few that were either immune or survived the infection may repopulate that habitat. The offspring of such would be immune to such infection. In the wild this could take many years. So how does this equate to a home aquarium?

Considering how hard it is to medicate large tanks with varied stock, quarantining is a must

 

[dingoofus]

By adding just one infected fish you could possibly wipe out almost the entire population of one particular habitat. Now eventually the few that were either immune or survived the infection may repopulate that habitat. The offspring of such would be immune to such infection. In the wild this could take many years. So how does this equate to a home aquarium?

Considering how hard it is to medicate large tanks with varied stock, quarantining is a must

Mate I'm not in this for a debate, I can see why some people quarantine, I was just stating my views and how I do things.

Quarantine isn't a must, it's a preference.

 

[Bderick67]

Mate I'm not in this for a debate, I can see why some people quarantine, I was just stating my views and how I do things.

Quarantine isn't a must, it's a preference.

Just replying to "a little thing to think over" that you presented.

Hopefully you'll never have a situation where you wish you had quarantined.