Odds of ich coming in on clams from different vendors

[JoJosReef]

Hi all!

Heading to Coral Farmers Market tomorrow, where Clammania should have a booth. Makes me wonder, what is the probability of ich coming in on clam shells? Here's my thoughts, tell me yours.

Direct source clam aquaculturers: Nearly nil, as I understand they don't have fish in their systems--although I could be wrong, so might want to check with the source

ORA/Biota clams: Nearly nil if ordering direct; I don't know if they have any wild caught or non-QT'd fish in their systems, but I imagine not

ORA/Biota clams from coral vendors: > nil, but probably still low; many vendors keep workhorse fish in their systems, but I would imagine most have QT'd fish. Ich outbreaks that could be traced back to their coral would be bad for business.

LFS/Petco: > nil, > coral vendors, but how great? A lot of these systems mix fish in the displays; even though they are meant to be moved out quickly, that's still a risk. Back to the big question: how great are the odds?

Anyone have thoughts? Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all!

Heading to Coral Farmers Market tomorrow, where Clammania should have a booth. Makes me wonder, what is the probability of ich coming in on clam shells? Here's my thoughts, tell me yours.

Direct source clam aquaculturers: Nearly nil, as I understand they don't have fish in their systems--although I could be wrong, so might want to check with the source

ORA/Biota clams: Nearly nil if ordering direct; I don't know if they have any wild caught or non-QT'd fish in their systems, but I imagine not

ORA/Biota clams from coral vendors: > nil, but probably still low; many vendors keep workhorse fish in their systems, but I would imagine most have QT'd fish. Ich outbreaks that could be traced back to their coral would be bad for business.

LFS/Petco: > nil, > coral vendors, but how great? A lot of these systems mix fish in the displays; even though they are meant to be moved out quickly, that's still a risk. Back to the big question: how great are the odds?

Anyone have thoughts? Thanks!

While they can be low, it is always possible and a low risk we take. Wild caught always offers the higher risk but often associated with fish opposed to inverts

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi all!

Heading to Coral Farmers Market tomorrow, where Clammania should have a booth. Makes me wonder, what is the probability of ich coming in on clam shells? Here's my thoughts, tell me yours.

Direct source clam aquaculturers: Nearly nil, as I understand they don't have fish in their systems--although I could be wrong, so might want to check with the source

ORA/Biota clams: Nearly nil if ordering direct; I don't know if they have any wild caught or non-QT'd fish in their systems, but I imagine not

ORA/Biota clams from coral vendors: > nil, but probably still low; many vendors keep workhorse fish in their systems, but I would imagine most have QT'd fish. Ich outbreaks that could be traced back to their coral would be bad for business.

LFS/Petco: > nil, > coral vendors, but how great? A lot of these systems mix fish in the displays; even though they are meant to be moved out quickly, that's still a risk. Back to the big question: how great are the odds?

Anyone have thoughts? Thanks!

First, ich is not the only issue. Neobenedenia flukes produce eggs with sticky tendrils. These stick to everything in a tank and are easily moved along with a clam. It has been demonstrated that one viable egg can start up an infection.

Your first two scenarios are virtually risk-free. Third scenario, in a temporary set up at a coral show, is relatively low for ich, a bit higher for Neobenedenia.

The fourth scenario is where the problems lay: all bets are off there. There is one infamous store in my area that uses it coral sump to house sick fish in order to "treat them" with good water quality! Anything invertebrate coming from a mixed fish/invert systems should be held in isolation from fish for 30 to 45 days.

Jay

 

[fishguy242]

caught wind of a clam disease running through Indo ? undetectable ,uncureable ,true I cannot say ?

 

[JoJosReef]

First, ich is not the only issue. Neobenedenia flukes produce eggs with sticky tendrils. These stick to everything in a tank and are easily moved along with a clam. It has been demonstrated that one viable egg can start up an infection.

Your first two scenarios are virtually risk-free. Third scenario, in a temporary set up at a coral show, is relatively low for ich, a bit higher for Neobenedenia.

The fourth scenario is where the problems lay: all bets are off there. There is one infamous store in my area that uses it coral sump to house sick fish in order to "treat them" with good water quality! Anything invertebrate coming from a mixed fish/invert systems should be held in isolation from fish for 30 to 45 days.

Jay

Thanks Jay. Dumb question, but would taking a toothbrush to the clam shell before introducing to a tank do anything?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks Jay. Dumb question, but would taking a toothbrush to the clam shell before introducing to a tank do anything?

Yes - in theory, that should help. However, I don't know of any actual studies that demonstrate that. "Depuration" is a term that applies here: holding the animals in disease free systems, like I mentioned, even for a couple of days, can help.