Quarantine questions

[Quandale applesauce]

I just bought my first fish, a royal gramma, a hector’s goby, and a citron clown goby. They are in a 10 gallon tank with a tray of sand, a sponge filter, and a heater. I am wondering if there are any concerns with using the copper and prazipro treatment. I plan to observe them for 5 days before starting the treatment.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just bought my first fish, a royal gramma, a hector’s goby, and a citron clown goby. They are in a 10 gallon tank with a tray of sand, a sponge filter, and a heater. I am wondering if there are any concerns with using the copper and prazipro treatment. I plan to observe them for 5 days before starting the treatment.

Citron goby is borderline with coppersafe but dose at 2.2ppm for 30 days and then prazipro for 5 days, change water and one more application lasting 5 days. Get right to treatment as observation wastes valuable time should there be a disease issue

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I just bought my first fish, a royal gramma, a hector’s goby, and a citron clown goby. They are in a 10 gallon tank with a tray of sand, a sponge filter, and a heater. I am wondering if there are any concerns with using the copper and prazipro treatment. I plan to observe them for 5 days before starting the treatment.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Those fish are fine with coppersafe. However, I'm concerned that your QT may not be well enough established to have an effective biofilter. The sponge filter would have had to have been seeded in an established tank for a few months before use. Have you added any "bacteria in a bottle" products? If no on both accounts, I think you'll run into ammonia issues.....

 

[Kooma]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Those fish are fine with coppersafe. However, I'm concerned that your QT may not be well enough established to have an effective biofilter. The sponge filter would have had to have been seeded in an established tank for a few months before use. Have you added any "bacteria in a bottle" products? If no on both accounts, I think you'll run into ammonia issues.....

Yep, be ready for water changes and have your water you are adding at the same copper level. Copper is best checked with a hanna checker, usually daily to start and then every 2nd day after a week and its stable at 2.2-2.3.

Grab an ammonia badge, they seem to work well even with chelated copper. Ive found the copper messes with seachem ammonia tests.

 

[Quandale applesauce]

I just bought my first fish, a royal gramma, a hector’s goby, and a citron clown goby. They are in a 10 gallon tank with a tray of sand, a sponge filter, and a heater. I am wondering if there are any concerns with using the copper and prazipro treatment. I plan to observe them for 5 days before starting the treatment.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Those fish are fine with coppersafe. However, I'm concerned that your QT may not be well enough established to have an effective biofilter. The sponge filter would have had to have been seeded in an established tank for a few months before use. Have you added any "bacteria in a bottle" products? If no on both accounts, I think you'll run into ammonia issues.....

I just added the smaller bottle
Of Fritz turbo start 900, says it’s good for up to 20 gallons. I’m gonna keep a close eye on ammonia in case I need to do a water change.

 

[LeftyReefer]

As others have said, I think you're really going to have to keep an eye on ammonia.
an uncycled 10g tank for 3 fish is going to be tough. At least you started with the good bottle bacteria, Turbo Start 900, but it will still take at least a week to get that biofilter going.

I'd add a seachem ammonia badge and keep a close eye on it.

If all the fish appear healthy and none are showing any issues or symptoms, then waiting 5 or so days before starting treatment might be a good idea. Allow the tank to quick cycle before starting meds... it will be a lot easier to maintain your copper levels if you aren't constantly making water changes due to elevated ammonia levels. QT'ing in a cycled tank is a lot easier than doing it in an uncycled one.

if any of the fish are showing symptoms though, then waiting is not an option and copper needs to be started ASAP.

if you are going to QT fish regularly, then picking up a hanna copper checker is worth it.

Next time, I would suggest you let the QT tank cycle before adding the fish.... makes the whole process a lot less stressful, on both you and the fish.

 

[Quandale applesauce]

Thanks for the recommendations. I am monitoring ammonia with a seachem indicator. In addition to the Fritz and the Sponge filter I have a dish of sand from my display tank. The fish have been at the store for a while and have been eating mysis shrimp. I don’t think they are eating for me. I’ve tried mysis shrimp, pellets they use at the store, and another frozen shrimp they use at the store. I am hesitant to start quarantine if they won’t eat without the medication. Side note, they also don’t seem to be breathing weirdly or anything, the royal gramma is very shy though. Any suggestions?

 

[LeftyReefer]

None of the 3 are eating??

If they arent showing any signs of illness, then i would try to get them eating if possible before starting treatment. As long as the water quality is good, they should settle in a day or two and hopefully start eating.

They have enoygh hiding places like pvc or something? As long as they are comfortable they should start eating soon. Id keep offering mysis or brine. Hopefully once one eats the others will soon follow.

 

[Quandale applesauce]

None of the 3 are eating??

If they arent showing any signs of illness, then i would try to get them eating if possible before starting treatment. As long as the water quality is good, they should settle in a day or two and hopefully start eating.

They have enoygh hiding places like pvc or something? As long as they are comfortable they should start eating soon. Id keep offering mysis or brine. Hopefully once one eats the others will soon follow.

Yes none of them are eating. They have about four pieces of PVC in there. They may be taking small nibbles here and there but not like really going for it. It has only been a day so I hopefully they get comfortable in the next day or two. I also blacked out the back panel and one of the sides.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes none of them are eating. They have about four pieces of PVC in there. They may be taking small nibbles here and there but not like really going for it. It has only been a day so I hopefully they get comfortable in the next day or two. I also blacked out the back panel and one of the sides.

How are they doing today?

The not eating is a bad sign. Blacking out the sides of the tank will help if they are just being shy. Try to avoid "observer bias" where you want to see them eat, so you get up close to the tank - frightening them more. Some people will set up a phone to video the tank, add some food, then leave the room. Also be sure to remove any uneaten food (but obviously, netting out the food is going to scare the fish even more).

I agree, in this case, don't start the medications until you know they are eating. In some cases, where the history of the fish isn't known, it is better to treat with coppersafe right away, (in case they have an active disease) but in this case, you know the dealer had them for awhile, and they were eating there.

 

[Quandale applesauce]

Yes none of them are eating. They have about four pieces of PVC in there. They may be taking small nibbles here and there but not like really going for it. It has only been a day so I hopefully they get comfortable in the next day or two. I also blacked out the back panel and one of the sides.

How are they doing today?

The not eating is a bad sign. Blacking out the sides of the tank will help if they are just being shy. Try to avoid "observer bias" where you want to see them eat, so you get up close to the tank - frightening them more. Some people will set up a phone to video the tank, add some food, then leave the room. Also be sure to remove any uneaten food (but obviously, netting out the food is going to scare the fish even more).

I agree, in this case, don't start the medications until you know they are eating. In some cases, where the history of the fish isn't known, it is better to treat with coppersafe right away, (in case they have an active disease) but in this case, you know the dealer had them for awhile, and they were eating there.

I just tried to feed them. Looks like the hectors goby may be eating but honestly I’m not sure. The citron clown goby is not eating even when I put the food close to him. He doesn’t seem stressed because he’s always swimming around or sitting on the glass. The royal gamma stays under the filter and almost never comes out. Could it be how I’m feeding them? I let the food defrost and then using a glass pipette I squirt the food in there.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I just tried to feed them. Looks like the hectors goby may be eating but honestly I’m not sure. The citron clown goby is not eating even when I put the food close to him. He doesn’t seem stressed because he’s always swimming around or sitting on the glass. The royal gamma stays under the filter and almost never comes out. Could it be how I’m feeding them? I let the food defrost and then using a glass pipette I squirt the food in there.

That is fine for feeding. What foods are you trying though? Could the food be too large for these small fish? Do you know what the dealer was feeding them, and can you duplicate that?

 

[Quandale applesauce]

I just tried to feed them. Looks like the hectors goby may be eating but honestly I’m not sure. The citron clown goby is not eating even when I put the food close to him. He doesn’t seem stressed because he’s always swimming around or sitting on the glass. The royal gamma stays under the filter and almost never comes out. Could it be how I’m feeding them? I let the food defrost and then using a glass pipette I squirt the food in there.

That is fine for feeding. What foods are you trying though? Could the food be too large for these small fish? Do you know what the dealer was feeding them, and can you duplicate that?

Dealer was feeding mysis shrimp, which is what I’m doing.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Dealer was feeding mysis shrimp, which is what I’m doing.

As long as the brand of mysid is the same/similar, (these come in different sizes) then, I'd say that it isn't the type of food being fed.

Long term, the fish will need different foods, as mysids alone are not a suitable diet (but again, the fish should be eating them for the short term!)

 

[KrisReef]

Mix up your next water change before you need it. GL!

 

[Quandale applesauce]

Dealer was feeding mysis shrimp, which is what I’m doing.

As long as the brand of mysid is the same/similar, (these come in different sizes) then, I'd say that it isn't the type of food being fed.

There’s a strong chance they just aren’t eating when I’m in the room. I’m gonna try and set up a camera tonight when I feed. I’ve noticed as soon as a walk in the room the hectors goby and the gamma go right to hiding. Citron goby does not care.