Quaratine new fish (sanjay's hybrids)

[michaelp]

i won a pair of your clowns from the swap and have them in quarantine now. i had an outbreak of ich earlier that forced me to pull all of my fish out of the reef (not fun) so i'm qt'ing everything from now on.

is it best to just watch them for any signs of disease for a few weeks (how long is good enough?)

or should I dose with copper as well (note these fish are very young, so im worried about the medication) or just do a hypo treatment?

 

[Domboski]

I would use cupramine or copper power with clownfish. They are hardy fish so there is little risk assuming you have a separate tank you are using for QT. I QT'd 2 pairs of Sanjay's clownfish with copper power without an issue.

 

[KathyC]

The reasoning behind QT'ing a fish is to observe it for any illnesses and to ease it's transition (usually from the wild, but not in this case as Sanjay's fish are tank raised) into your system.

Medicating a fish that has no issues IMO is pointless and can lead to issues as copper is not something found in their natural environment and therefore may contribute to issues relating to stress.

I would suggest observing them for any issues and if none are noted during a 2 week period, put the clowns into your system then

 

[sanjay]

I agree with Kathy. There is no point in adding medication. These fish are tank raised and have had no disease breakout at all.

I would put them in a separate "QT" tank for observation, but refrain from adding any medication or special treatment unless you see specific signs.

sanjay.

 

[Domboski]

I guess it is a matter of preference. Personally from experience, I'd rather be safe than sorry. If you are going to hold hardy fish like clownfish in QT might as well treat IMO.

 

[michaelp]

They were housed in the tank at the swap with some unknowns though (that black tang for example). If they had come straight from your tank Sanjay, I'd agree 100%.

Either way, I'm going to just observe them this week with no medication regardless. They were doing fine yesterday (eating flakes) but seem kind of off this morning (not eating).

 

[Domboski]

The Tang was QT'd for internal and external parasites by me . It is more the exchange of water from donated corals that has me worried. You just need one person with free floating ich from their display tank dumped into the holding tank at the swap to have an issue seeded.

I understand the odds of this happening is minimal but being that you just treated for an issue I wouldn't risk it. You can't always see ich on a fish especially healthy fish who are not overrun with the parasite.

 

[michaelp]

Unfortunately it doesn't matter much anymore. One died this morning, so I just took the risk and put the other one in the main tank. He doesn't look too good though.

 

[sanjay]

Michael:

Sorry to hear that one died and other one is not looking good.

I'll replace them for you at no cost, you will have to cover the shipping from me to you.

sanjay.