As we all know, quarantining new fish is the best way to keep your current tanks healthy.
It just seems like I see a lot more diseases in fish now (from hobbyists and pet stores) then back in the "good old days" lol
So this thread is to discuss the ultimate quarantine routine. Money is no object, although it would be nice to have useful ideas.
Here's what I do.
If I buy a fish when it's cold outside, I assume it will get ick. Thus the fish are placed in quarantine, the temp is raised to 85 for 10 days as a precautionary measure.
I have had a horrible time with parasitic worms being introduced to my tanks multiple times. Now all new fish get treated with prazi pro. Since I use a lot, I buy in the pond size, labeled "Pond Solutions PraziPro Praziquantel Treatment" It's about $70, but there's a lot of doses in there. I have found that I need to start with a triple dose, then every 3 days, do a water change, followed by a regular does. Takes about 4 treatments for me to feel safe. When my main tank was infected, I found the recommended dose did not kill the worms. After the triple dose, the worms will be pooped out. Keep in mind, if the fish is heavily infested, it may die. The worms can clog it's intestines, or leave wounds which are later infected. If you see the white stringy poop, you definitely need to do this treatment, IMO.
I used to also dose with Levamisole Hydrochloride as a preventative treatment for Calamus worms. However, it's an expensive medicine, has a short shelf life, and I am not 100% convinced it helps. It seems to only paralyze the worms, not kill them.. Thus you have to do a super good vaccuum about 24 hours after each treatment.. kind of hard to get them all out of the filter, etc, etc.. I don't know if after they are paralyzed if they die or not, but apparently the eggs live through the treatment. Anyhow, I am not an expert, but now I am only going to use it if I see Red worms coming out of the fishes anus. If money and time were no object, I might still do this treatment.
I leave my fish in quarantine for about a month now.
Anyone else have a contribution to "the ultimate quarantine".. I was trying to think of what else might be done. I prefer preventative methods that are gentle on the fish.. ie. I'm not going to clout them as a precaution lol.
It just seems like I see a lot more diseases in fish now (from hobbyists and pet stores) then back in the "good old days" lol
So this thread is to discuss the ultimate quarantine routine. Money is no object, although it would be nice to have useful ideas.
Here's what I do.
If I buy a fish when it's cold outside, I assume it will get ick. Thus the fish are placed in quarantine, the temp is raised to 85 for 10 days as a precautionary measure.
I have had a horrible time with parasitic worms being introduced to my tanks multiple times. Now all new fish get treated with prazi pro. Since I use a lot, I buy in the pond size, labeled "Pond Solutions PraziPro Praziquantel Treatment" It's about $70, but there's a lot of doses in there. I have found that I need to start with a triple dose, then every 3 days, do a water change, followed by a regular does. Takes about 4 treatments for me to feel safe. When my main tank was infected, I found the recommended dose did not kill the worms. After the triple dose, the worms will be pooped out. Keep in mind, if the fish is heavily infested, it may die. The worms can clog it's intestines, or leave wounds which are later infected. If you see the white stringy poop, you definitely need to do this treatment, IMO.
I used to also dose with Levamisole Hydrochloride as a preventative treatment for Calamus worms. However, it's an expensive medicine, has a short shelf life, and I am not 100% convinced it helps. It seems to only paralyze the worms, not kill them.. Thus you have to do a super good vaccuum about 24 hours after each treatment.. kind of hard to get them all out of the filter, etc, etc.. I don't know if after they are paralyzed if they die or not, but apparently the eggs live through the treatment. Anyhow, I am not an expert, but now I am only going to use it if I see Red worms coming out of the fishes anus. If money and time were no object, I might still do this treatment.
I leave my fish in quarantine for about a month now.
Anyone else have a contribution to "the ultimate quarantine".. I was trying to think of what else might be done. I prefer preventative methods that are gentle on the fish.. ie. I'm not going to clout them as a precaution lol.
