If you get your fish from a clean LFS do you need to quarantine them?

[56longroof]

I don't quarantine because i don't have the time or space. I also won't buy anything from a LFS unless it's been there for at least a month. If it's eating well and no signs of trauma or parasites then I'll consider buying it. I prefer to buy from online vendors that quarantine.

 

[slingfox]

Most people in the hobby don’t quarantine. I am in the minority that quarantines all incoming fish unless they come from a vendor that quarantines.

It may seem that putting fish through quarantine is challenging but once you get the hang of it it is super easy. My quarantine setup is a cheap 10 gallon tank from Petco with HOB filter from Amazon. Just dose copper and do a water change every few days or once a week. Put in an auto feeder and the tank essentially runs itself. This is best for the fish since they get a tank to themself and have a month to fatten up before they go into the main tank where they often have to face aggression from the existing inhabitants.

 

[Fish Fan]

Is quarantining required for all saltwater fish? Did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine their whale sharks in a separate tank before placing them in their 6 million gallon tank? Did the Monterey Bay Aquarium quarantine their first great white shark in a separate tank before adding it to their 1 million gallon tank? How come freshwater fish don't need to be quarantined? Sounds like a conspiracy to me...

Friend, did you not work in a public aquarium?

Do you have a 6 million gallon tank? Are you keeping whale sharks, which are a whole different kind of fish than what you're trying to keep?

There is a difference between what a public aquarium does and what a hobby aquarist would/could or arguably should do. Our tanks are by comparison tiny and easy overrun with parasites. This is not a conspiracy.

As much as I like to QT and QT hard, I think I'm much more strict than most, and admittedly many never have a problem.

There are many who believe in Ich management, they use advanced knowledge of live and natural diets and equipment like UV sanitizers to keep parasites at bay, but I would not suggest this if you're just getting going. Clearly, your milage may vary here.

 

[Fish Fan]

Most people in the hobby don’t quarantine. I am in the minority that quarantines all incoming fish unless they come from a vendor that quarantines.

It may seem that putting fish through quarantine is challenging but once you get the hang of it it is super easy. My quarantine setup is a cheap 10 gallon tank from Petco with HOB filter from Amazon. Just dose copper and do a water change every few days or once a week. Put in an auto feeder and the tank essentially runs itself. This is best for the fish since they get a tank to themself and have a month to fatten up before they go into the main tank where they often have to face aggression from the existing inhabitants.

^This is solid advice.

 

[slingfox]

Also, to answer your question: Public aquariums absolutely quarantine their fish, both freshwater and saltwater. They are at the forefront of quarantine science. Several fish medic folks in this board as well as HumbleFish worked in that capacity.

 

[sally666]

Most people in the hobby don’t quarantine. I am in the minority that quarantines all incoming fish unless they come from a vendor that quarantines.

It may seem that putting fish through quarantine is challenging but once you get the hang of it it is super easy. My quarantine setup is a cheap 10 gallon tank from Petco with HOB filter from Amazon. Just dose copper and do a water change every few days or once a week. Put in an auto feeder and the tank essentially runs itself. This is best for the fish since they get a tank to themself and have a month to fatten up before they go into the main tank where they often have to face aggression from the existing inhabitants.

Thanks! I will use a storage bin as a quarantine tank with a heater and filter. I'll use copper power but what is the dosage per gallon of it?

 

[Tamberav]

Is quarantining required for all saltwater fish? Did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine their whale sharks in a separate tank before placing them in their 6 million gallon tank? Did the Monterey Bay Aquarium quarantine their first great white shark in a separate tank before adding it to their 1 million gallon tank? How come freshwater fish don't need to be quarantined? Sounds like a conspiracy to me...

as the saying goes… **** around and find out!

 

[Tamberav]

Thanks! I will use a storage bin as a quarantine tank with a heater and filter. I'll use copper power but what is the dosage per gallon of it?

Here is QT protocol

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Spare time]

Is quarantining required for all saltwater fish? Did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine their whale sharks in a separate tank before placing them in their 6 million gallon tank? Did the Monterey Bay Aquarium quarantine their first great white shark in a separate tank before adding it to their 1 million gallon tank? How come freshwater fish don't need to be quarantined? Sounds like a conspiracy to me...

Are we keeping whale shakes and great whites?

 

[sally666]

Are we keeping whale shakes and great whites?

Once I save enough money I will construct a 10 million gallon tank. Thanks for the humor.

 

[Spare time]

Once I save enough money I will construct a 10 million gallon tank. Thanks for the humor.

My point was your comparisons are not helpful for the argument at hand. And yes, public aquariums QT their animals in general.

 

[sally666]

My point was your comparisons are not helpful for the argument at hand. And yes, public aquariums QT their animals in general.

But seriously, how did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine a whale shark for Ich or other diseases?

 

[slingfox]

Thanks! I will use a storage bin as a quarantine tank with a heater and filter. I'll use copper power but what is the dosage per gallon of it?

The bottle of copper power has dosage instructions on the back. The dosage for 2.5ppm is listed as 1 fl oz per 20 gallons. I find this ends up being 2.2ppm (which is still considered therapeutic dose) so I dose 10% more to get to the 2.5ppm.

Definitely recommend the Hanna copper checker to check on copper levels. I have found that the copper level in my quarantine tank is very stable so I only check the copper level in the water I use for water changes.

If you are looking for a HOB, I highly recommend the Seachem Tidal. I use the one rated for 55 gallon on my 10 gallon quarantine tank. That unit has space to hold a lot of filter media which means more space for filter sponge which is where the denytrifying bacteria live. When I am not running the quarantine tank I put the sponge media in a small 1 gallon bucket, with salt water, and covered with Seran wrap in the garage. That way I have cycled filter sponge ready to use anytime I want to startup the quarantine tank.

 

[GSPClown94]

But seriously, how did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine a whale shark for Ich or other diseases?

Ask them? https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/contact-us/

 

[Tamberav]

But seriously, how did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine a whale shark for Ich or other diseases?

They have biologists/vets and can take clippings and skin scrapes to see if disease is present but with millions of gallons the parasites will be diluted.

I have no idea but it nothing like our tanks.

 

[slingfox]

But seriously, how did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine a whale shark for Ich or other diseases?

If you land this internship, you will find out the answer!

Zoological Operations: Quarantine Internship - Georgia Aquarium

This program offers Interns hands-on experience in one of Georgia Aquarium’s most diverse areas – Quarantine. Our Quarantine Department receives and works...

www.georgiaaquarium.org

 

[Fish Fan]

But seriously, how did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine a whale shark for Ich or other diseases?

A whale shark is not the same group of fish that you're trying to keep. All large public aquaria QT fish and take other extreme measures that we can't do at home.

I've responded to many of your posts on R2R, and I certainly don't claim to be an expert with fish disease or prevention. I would encourage you to leave the public aquarium mindset behind and try for what works best for many who keep small, private aquaria

 

[Obriy]

Is quarantining required for all saltwater fish? Did the Georgia Aquarium quarantine their whale sharks in a separate tank before placing them in their 6 million gallon tank? Did the Monterey Bay Aquarium quarantine their first great white shark in a separate tank before adding it to their 1 million gallon tank? How come freshwater fish don't need to be quarantined? Sounds like a conspiracy to me...

You asked for advice, you receive advice and don't like it. Why ask at the first place...

 

[Reefer Matt]

I had a yellow tang that was fully qt’d and treated by a lfs break out into stress ich from another fish bullying it. It later died. There are no guarantees either way. I think tank raised fish like ORA and Biota are the way to go if you don’t want to qt.

 

[exnisstech]

I called them and they said they don't quarantine their fish, but they make sure their fish are kept on a low dose of copper. Will this work?

Which means there are no coral in the fish tanks so salinity may be low also as it way for them to suppress disease.