Thanks for the articles, RD.
It confirms my fears and that Portland location reference makes me wary.
What do you think one should take away from this info?
I suppose a local club breeder might be a good way to source as in theory, those fish aren't being exposed to fish and water from various farms mixed together in one or several wholesale locations.
Im guessing my theory on trying to get the fish as directly as possible has merit as you skip more chances for additional exposure.
Divers den, again has me sold because of their quarantine procedure. The only other place I know of that does a quarantine is Cory's Aquarium Coop and he uses the med trio which these articles argue is bad bc of the prophylactic use of antibiotics as part of the trio.
This part of DDs procedure is one thing I like bc I read someone similar is done with as part of the public Aquarium procedure:
Disease Prevention
During the quarantine period, all new fish are treated with copper sulfate and a 37% formaldehyde solution to combat Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, ichthyobodosis, chilodonellosis and trichodinosis. Upon introduction to the quarantine system, we take an additional preventive approach to reduce stress by also using aquarium salt. Maintaining the salt level in our systems at 1.6ppt helps reduce stress by aiding fish gill function and ensures new arrivals do not experience "osmotic shock," a phenomenon where important electrolytes are lost through the gills and the fish's ability to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide is impaired.
Of course, a long quarantine at home (at least a month, but I've heard of people do as long as 6 months). I've come to believe in prophylactic deworming with general cure and two rounds of levamisole (2-3 weeks apart). I figure those often don't show symptoms, though maybe you'd see symptoms in a 6 months quarantine, and I'd expect wild fish especially would have ample opportunity to be exposed to such parasites.
It confirms my fears and that Portland location reference makes me wary.
What do you think one should take away from this info?
I suppose a local club breeder might be a good way to source as in theory, those fish aren't being exposed to fish and water from various farms mixed together in one or several wholesale locations.
Im guessing my theory on trying to get the fish as directly as possible has merit as you skip more chances for additional exposure.
Divers den, again has me sold because of their quarantine procedure. The only other place I know of that does a quarantine is Cory's Aquarium Coop and he uses the med trio which these articles argue is bad bc of the prophylactic use of antibiotics as part of the trio.
This part of DDs procedure is one thing I like bc I read someone similar is done with as part of the public Aquarium procedure:
LiveAquaria® Diver's Den® WYSIWYG Store Quarantine Procedure for Freshwater Fish
LiveAquaria® Diver's Den® WYSIWYG Store Quarantine Procedure for Freshwater Fish
m.liveaquaria.com
Disease Prevention
During the quarantine period, all new fish are treated with copper sulfate and a 37% formaldehyde solution to combat Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, ichthyobodosis, chilodonellosis and trichodinosis. Upon introduction to the quarantine system, we take an additional preventive approach to reduce stress by also using aquarium salt. Maintaining the salt level in our systems at 1.6ppt helps reduce stress by aiding fish gill function and ensures new arrivals do not experience "osmotic shock," a phenomenon where important electrolytes are lost through the gills and the fish's ability to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide is impaired.
Of course, a long quarantine at home (at least a month, but I've heard of people do as long as 6 months). I've come to believe in prophylactic deworming with general cure and two rounds of levamisole (2-3 weeks apart). I figure those often don't show symptoms, though maybe you'd see symptoms in a 6 months quarantine, and I'd expect wild fish especially would have ample opportunity to be exposed to such parasites.
He's not the first fish I've been drooling over so I hope it will pass...But if I setup another large tank or pond, Geophagus will be first on my list for sure. I really like these fish.
