Freswater Quarentine Period

[omojena]

I have always quarentined my rays for a minimum of 90 days before introducing them into the main system. i not only do this to make sure they are free of pathogens and parasites but also to make sure they are feeding well and have fully acclimated to live in captivity. by the end of the 90 days the rays are taking an array of prepared foods and are used to water changes and overall life in a glass box....

recently i acquired some new various Cichla sp. Needless to say they are in the quarantine tank. Unlike the rays, the Cichla are much more gregarious and adapt more readily to life in captivity than the rays do. i dont feel that i need to keep them in QT for 90 days because they are already eating prepared foods and i have not seen any signs of disease. this is where my question comes in...

Q: what the the minimum amount of time a FRESHWATER fish has to be kept in QT before i can be sure that it does not have any pathogens/parasites that it might introduce to my main system?

i know these fish were fed feeders/goldfish at some point in their lives so there is always the risk of disease from that. Also, is there a need for me to deworm/deparasitize them before introduction into the main system? if they are eating, gaining weight, growing, and not looking emaciated is that enough of a sign to be sure they are safe to move to main system?

any information based on personal experience or educated answers would be much appreciated.

thanks in advance!

 

[Lupin]

I don't keep cichlas nor stingrays at the moment however I do keep mostly expensive goldfish myself. Goldfish, regardless of what they are, DO carry a lot of parasites in them since the majority are raised in ponds where furunculosis, monogenean trematodes (flukes), cestodes (flatworms), erythrodermatitis, ich, fish lice and anchorworms are quite prevalent. For this reason, my quarantine period ranges from three to six weeks, not really more than two months.

During the quarantine period, they are treated with salt, prazi and trichlorfon as a means of eliminating a broad range of parasites that may be involved. You do need praziquantel to eliminate flukes and cestodes. Both are very common amongst some fish especially in temperate conditions. Prazi can be bought either as Prazipro or Droncit in online stores and petstores, and veterinary clinics respectively. Your other choice if prazi is unavailable, is fenbendazole. It should be available as Panacur. For the UK folks, they have to settle with Kusuri Fluke-M unless they can find any prazi-based product in their area as prazi is hard to get there.

You still have to treat the fish regardless of the circumstances when they are in the quarantine system. That's the whole point of having a quarantine system for them. They will most likely carry parasites that you cannot detect for long periods. Make sure you follow the recommended dosage and do not use it any lower than was recommended or you potentially could create resistant strains of parasites that will be more difficult to deal with.

 

[omojena]

I don't keep cichlas nor stingrays at the moment however I do keep mostly expensive goldfish myself. Goldfish, regardless of what they are, DO carry a lot of parasites in them since the majority are raised in ponds where furunculosis, monogenean trematodes (flukes), cestodes (flatworms), erythrodermatitis, ich, fish lice and anchorworms are quite prevalent. For this reason, my quarantine period ranges from three to six weeks, not really more than two months.

During the quarantine period, they are treated with salt, prazi and trichlorfon as a means of eliminating a broad range of parasites that may be involved. You do need praziquantel to eliminate flukes and cestodes. Both are very common amongst some fish especially in temperate conditions. Prazi can be bought either as Prazipro or Droncit in online stores and petstores, and veterinary clinics respectively. Your other choice if prazi is unavailable, is fenbendazole. It should be available as Panacur. For the UK folks, they have to settle with Kusuri Fluke-M unless they can find any prazi-based product in their area as prazi is hard to get there.

You still have to treat the fish regardless of the circumstances when they are in the quarantine system. That's the whole point of having a quarantine system for them. They will most likely carry parasites that you cannot detect for long periods. Make sure you follow the recommended dosage and do not use it any lower than was recommended or you potentially could create resistant strains of parasites that will be more difficult to deal with.

thanks for your quick response. do you think that a fish's own immune system can eradicate any internal parasites if the tank conditions are excellent and they are fed a nutritious diet? while in QT the 75 gallon tank gets a daily 60 gallon water change. the water is PRISTINE! fish actually grow faster in QT than they do in my 700 gallon because its nearly impossible to change that kind of water on the 700.

i always hit fish in QT with prazipro regardless of whether or not i suspect any praziquantel susceptible parasites. i am the Hikari Rep in the northeast and luckily have an endless supply of it! sometimes i run a course of metronidazole as well if i see supicious looking feces or if the fish are eating well but not gaining weight or size.

 

[Lupin]

I don't think so. The likes of nematodes should never be underestimated. They are the most dangerous internal parasites yet. It is true that a healthy fish will be able to fend them off but only temporarily as the threat will still linger so it is always important that the parasites be eliminated as much as possible.

Garlic has been recommended a few times for internal parasite problems but it still is limited in its capacity to help eliminate the parasites in question so anthelmintics are your last resort to obliterate the parasites as quickly as possible.

Monogenean trematodes (flukes)-praziquantel, fenbendazole
Cestodes (flatworms)-praziquantel, fenbendazole
Flagellates (hexamit)-metronidazole
Nematodes (camallanus and capillaria)-levamisole hydrochloride, fenbendazole, piperazine

It's nice to hear you have an endless supply of prazipro. Some people especially in the UK have difficulty obtaining this stuff when they most needed it. I know one person there who had to order some for her goldfish. She didn't have a choice refusing to try other options.

 

[ShadowStryder]

Wasn't sure what Trichlorfon is, and found this. Essentially not recommending it on chemically
sensitive fish which they included Rays. It also stated that Clout Contains it.

Scroll about halfway down.
http://aquarium-medictions.blogspot.com/

 

[omojena]

great info guys! thanks for the link to the meds too. that was great. can we come to a consensus on what a safe quarentine period would be??

 

[Lupin]

3-4 weeks is generally recommended. This is enough time for you to be able to watch out for problems that may arise especially if you consider the lifecycle rate of some parasitic infections. Extending the quarantine period is not a bad idea. 90 days is enough time in fact.