Would "rapid QT" work?

[Alfredo De La Fe]

I don't have space to keep a quarantine tank... So I was thinking, would it work if I set-up a small 2.5 gallon tank and used water with a high level of copper, add a small pump and "treat" all new fish with copper AND some kind of powerful antibiotic like chloramphenicol for a few hours?

 

[mbg75]

Copper needs a min of 2 weeks to kill off ich and velvet.

As far as antibiotics are concerned. I'm not sure if a couple hours would work.

They do sell foods with antibiotics in it.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Copper in low dosages takes up to two weeks to kill ich. In a higher concentration it will kill any invertebrate. The real question is can a dose high enough to kill ich and other parasites in/on fish within a few hours be toxic to the fish?

The idea behind the antibiotics is that they would be absorbed by the tissue of the fish. In the case of chloramphenicol, it is a very powerful antibiotic (and VERY dangerous to humans- in some people it can cause aplastic anemia. It is used in the third world for humans and the the US it is only approved for certain uses in pets) I am thinking about it as when the vet gives an injection of antibiotic. My cat got an injection that lasted a week... It was VERY expensive, but did the trick. I don't know and I don't have the expertise or the money to run the tests to see how long it stays in the tissue and at what concentration... But it sure would make for an interesting study!

Alfred

 

[mbg75]

Copper cannot kill ich in the trophont stage when it is embedded in the fish and protected by the mucus layer. This can last for days before they release.

 

[piranhapat]

High levels of copper in short period will not kill ich but will burn they gills causing them to die. They is no way you can treat ick in short period. Best bet is if you don't have room. Buy your fish from your LFS and ask them to keep them all in one tank for three weeks. Most LFS are running copper in their system. You can tell him truth or explain your setting up your tank and you need time to cycle. Most LFS will want your business.

 

[ducati335i]

If its a fish prazipro always.... ESP angel fish and wrasses.. A tang must always b hypo'd IMO.. I've had tangs for years.. Abd in the last 7 never seen ich once in dt... Not worth the risk