Current Quarantine Protocol

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you! I was wondering if I found a supplier who keeps them in fishless systems, if that would be an option. Do you mind if I ask where you get yours from? Also, would the same thing work for corals?

I use Reef Cleaners out of Florida. I don’t like to recommend commercial sources because their operations can change without notice…..

 

[KGscv]

i have a qt on therapeutic level with 5 fish on its 2nd week. I have a 2nd tank next to it cycled but without fish. Theres some great deals right now for wrasses. If i decided to qt it to the 2nd tank. Will my first tank reset since its close to it?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

i have a qt on therapeutic level with 5 fish on its 2nd week. I have a 2nd tank next to it cycled but without fish. Theres some great deals right now for wrasses. If i decided to qt it to the 2nd tank. Will my first tank reset since its close to it?

That's a good question. If the tanks are right next to each other and don't have lids, there is *some* chance for aerosol transfer of disease. A more common issue is transfer of disease by moving anything "wet" between tanks - your hands, tank tools, etc. However, with both tanks undergoing a similar quarantine timing (within two weeks) the risk is lessened. Here is a post I made about biosecurity:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/biosecurity.812/

 

[MnFish1]

My answer is - dont buy fish to put into a current quarantine - it makes more sense for you to perhaps pay for the fish in advance (if you can) and when you're done with the current QT - restart one. Thats just my opinion

 

[Eric Cohen Verified Sponsor]

That's a good question. If the tanks are right next to each other and don't have lids, there is *some* chance for aerosol transfer of disease. A more common issue is transfer of disease by moving anything "wet" between tanks - your hands, tank tools, etc. However, with both tanks undergoing a similar quarantine timing (within two weeks) the risk is lessened. Here is a post I made about biosecurity:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/biosecurity.812/

Aerosol is a real thing. Especially with Velvet!

 

[KGscv]

That's a good question. If the tanks are right next to each other and don't have lids, there is *some* chance for aerosol transfer of disease. A more common issue is transfer of disease by moving anything "wet" between tanks - your hands, tank tools, etc. However, with both tanks undergoing a similar quarantine timing (within two weeks) the risk is lessened. Here is a post I made about biosecurity:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/biosecurity.812/

It wont be within 2 weeks since its a wrasse i would slowly increase copper to therapeutic level. Oh bummer i really wanted to get the fish.

My answer is - dont buy fish to put into a current quarantine - it makes more sense for you to perhaps pay for the fish in advance (if you can) and when you're done with the current QT - restart one. Thats just my opinion

Its not the same qt tank but different tank just next to each other. I dont think the fish store would hold it for a month.

 

[KGscv]

@Jay Hemdal another question tho. I have a fish in another dt thats been in the tank for 4 months but it didnt go any qt. Would it be ok ti transfer it to the new tank? Last fish that went to that tank was 3 months ago and has been fine

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal another question tho. I have a fish in another dt thats been in the tank for 4 months but it didnt go any qt. Would it be ok ti transfer it to the new tank? Last fish that went to that tank was 3 months ago and has been fine

Sorry - I'm not sure what you're asking. If the fish has been in the DT for that long, anything it may have (usually flukes, given that time frame), moving it to a new tank has less risk other than that.

 

[MnFish1]

It wont be within 2 weeks since its a wrasse i would slowly increase copper to therapeutic level. Oh bummer i really wanted to get the fish.

Its not the same qt tank but different tank just next to each other. I dont think the fish store would hold it for a month.

I'm guessing if you paid for the fish - they would - offer to pay for the food as well. - This is never a problem in our area

 

[gbroadbridge]

Its not the same qt tank but different tank just next to each other. I dont think the fish store would hold it for a month.

I've never had a problem paying for a fish and asking the store to keep it until I'm ready. If anything happens to the fish it's my loss.

 

[KGscv]

Sorry - I'm not sure what you're asking. If the fish has been in the DT for that long, anything it may have (usually flukes, given that time frame), moving it to a new tank has less risk other than that.

I have a fish in my other dt that hasnt gone through any qt but i want it in my new tank. Been there for 4 months with no signs of any disease. Its ok to transfer to the new tank without doing copper or prazi? The new tank im building will have fish that went through proper qt.

 

[MnFish1]

I have a fish in my other dt that hasnt gone through any qt but i want it in my new tank. Been there for 4 months with no signs of any disease. Its ok to transfer to the new tank without doing copper or prazi? The new tank im building will have fish that went through proper qt.

I would treat it with the usual protocol. Its possible for fish to have some parasites that are not obvious because there is a low density of the in the tank (especially with only one fish) - but then when added to a display problems ensue.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have a fish in my other dt that hasnt gone through any qt but i want it in my new tank. Been there for 4 months with no signs of any disease. Its ok to transfer to the new tank without doing copper or prazi? The new tank im building will have fish that went through proper qt.

Oh, I understand. It is pretty common for flukes to be at a chronic level of infections for months to even years, and then some stress (like a fish move!) causes the flukes become an active fluke infection. Even ich can do this. I would avoid mixing quarantined and non-quarantined fish.

 

[VoodooReefer350]

Hoping someone can please help. I have this hippo on day 24 of Copper Power, maintained at 2.3-2.5ppm. It was doing great and 100% clean from suspected ich and velvet but then today is covered with what look like weird skin irritations. Potentially flukes or some reaction to copper? Look sort of clear and all over the place. Also started flashing a lot all of a sudden.

I’m also on day 4 of treating the tank with metro. All fish are in a dedicated QT and no issues with the rest.

@Jay Hemdal any idea?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Metronidazole and copper are mostly redundant in their coverage, and can increase stress. In hepatus tangs, that stress can cause mucus plugs. Sometimes, copper alone can cause these.

Are any of the other fish scratching?

You can transition to praziquantel now if they are….

Hoping someone can please help. I have this hippo on day 24 of Copper Power, maintained at 2.3-2.5ppm. It was doing great and 100% clean from suspected ich and velvet but then today is covered with what look like weird skin irritations. Potentially flukes or some reaction to copper? Look sort of clear and all over the place. Also started flashing a lot all of a sudden.

I’m also on day 4 of treating the tank with metro. All fish are in a dedicated QT and no issues with the rest.

@Jay Hemdal any idea?

 

[VoodooReefer350]

Metronidazole and copper are mostly redundant in their coverage, and can increase stress. In hepatus tangs, that stress can cause mucus plugs. Sometimes, copper alone can cause these.

Are any of the other fish scratching?

You can transition to praziquantel now if they are….

Thank you so much for the quick reply! No fish are scratching at all except the hippo, which went from not scratching at all to now scratching constantly today. The marks on the hippo look almost like air bubbles are stuck to it all over. Not the appearance of ich or velvet spots but more clear, but there any many. I’m thinking flukes or a weird reaction to the copper/metro.

Should I do a 50% water change, keep copper at therapeutic and dose prazi? My plan was to do 30 days of copper but should I transfer to another sterilized QT now and stop copper?

 

[VoodooReefer350]

Metronidazole and copper are mostly redundant in their coverage, and can increase stress. In hepatus tangs, that stress can cause mucus plugs. Sometimes, copper alone can cause these.

Are any of the other fish scratching?

You can transition to praziquantel now if they are….

My goal with the metro was to knock out potential brook. When I started this process I suspected ich, velvet, and potential brook. My DT is fallow and all fish are in this QT now.

 

[MnFish1]

My goal with the metro was to knock out potential brook. When I started this process I suspected ich, velvet, and potential brook. My DT is fallow and all fish are in this QT now.

I would consider completing 30 days of copper - however, you could add the first dose of prazipro now - since it's a short period - and the diagnosis is unclear this should not be a problem. To me - one of the pictures looks like mucus plugs (meaning continue copper) - the other a bit like flukes. I will say - I'm not seeing typical spots on my computer

 

[VoodooReefer350]

I would consider completing 30 days of copper - however, you could add the first dose of prazipro now - since it's a short period - and the diagnosis is unclear this should not be a problem. To me - one of the pictures looks like mucus plugs (meaning continue copper) - the other a bit like flukes. I will say - I'm not seeing typical spots on my computer

There are definitely a couple mucus plugs, I know what those look like. Do they scratch from those?

Also, is it safe to bring down copper after 30 days or do they need to be transferred into a sterile QT at 30 days? Or safest to keep in copper for 45 days then bring it down without transferring?

All my fish are in this QT and DT is fallow. Both tanks are 120’s. I have a 60 I can use for a sterile transfer while I sterilize the 120QT for a few days but would prefer not to due to stress on the fish and potentially messing up the sterilization.

 

[MnFish1]

There are definitely a couple mucus plugs, I know what those look like. Do they scratch from those?

Also, is it safe to bring down copper after 30 days or do they need to be transferred into a sterile QT at 30 days? Or safest to keep in copper for 45 days then bring it down without transferring?

All my fish are in this QT and DT is fallow. Both tanks are 120’s. I have a 60 I can use for a sterile transfer while I sterilize the 120QT for a few days but would prefer not to due to stress on the fish and potentially messing up the sterilization.

Usually after copper 2 doses of prazipro are done 8 days between them. Then some like to watch the fish for any symptoms for 2 weeks - since some fish need 3 doses of prazipro.