Quarantine

[Guest webshout]

Ok, I know enough to use a QT on new fish and corals (when I'm ready for that step). But, do the more experienced folks use a QT for hermits, snails, or shrimp? I had an ebay seller tell me a QT was not necessary for hermits. I ended up passing on the purchase b/c of timing, but I was wondering about that thought.

 

Any advice?

 

Thanks.

 

William

[dhoch]

I don't actually quarantine any of the following:

Crabs including hermits.

Snails

Shrimp

Mandarins

 

Corals and fish on the other hand I would definitely quarantine.

 

Dave

[Guest webshout]

Why not Mandarins? Ick resistant?

 

Thanks.

 

William

Edited December 27, 2007 by webshout

[Brian Ward]

Mandarins are considered Ich resistant.

[Guest webshout]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

William

Edited December 27, 2007 by webshout

[dhoch]

Mandarins are not ick-proof, but they are highly resistant to the disease.

 

That being said I know of at least one that got it... they are also finicky eaters and stand a much beter chance of survival with live food (i.e. in the reef tank).

 

Dave

[Guest webshout]

I heard Mandarins were finicky. It looks like a neat fish to have. I'll wait to get a more established set up, before venturing down that road.

 

Thanks for the feed back.

 

William

Edited December 27, 2007 by webshout

[traveller7]

But, do the more experienced folks use a QT for hermits, snails, or shrimp?

I do since an ich like parasite was introduced from a group buy last year with snails and hermits.

[treesprite]

I do since an ich like parasite was introduced from a group buy last year with snails and hermits.

 

how exactly do you make sure they no longer have it?

[traveller7]

how exactly do you make sure they no longer have it?

Put the critters in a well established tank, no fish for 6-8 weeks, then move them to the main display.

[Brian Ward]

Put the critters in a well established tank, no fish for 6-8 weeks, then move them to the main display.

 

 

 

The water they are shipped in could contain some Ich (in the free-floating stage) or it could be attached to the shells (different life stage where it's attached to rocks in the tank, etc, cannot remember exactly what it's called). Without a fish host the parasite cannot survive, hence the 6-8 wks wait time to wait for all the Ich to die off (babies through adult).

 

In case you didn't know, you never want to add the water the animal was shipped in to your tank - you don't know where it came from. Invert water could contain parasites, bacteria, etc. Fish water could contain copper, impurities, etc.