After my recent ick outbreak I've learned my lesson about the importance of quarantining fish. But what about other than fish? Snails, hermit crabs, shrimp, feather dusters, corals, etc. I'd assume everything needs quarantine. But what do you look for? I know inverts can carry the ick parasite but not show any signs.
Quarantining other than fish
- Thread starter Orcrone
- Start date
courterbobby
Member
Inverts do not "carry" ick, but rather the water they are shipped in can contain the parasite. So you should QT all inverts as well. All it takes is not washing your hands between two tanks and you can possibly transfer the parasite.
But what do I look for to make sure no ick is in the water with the invert?
courterbobby
Member
Well you cannot see ick with the naked eye, unless it is in the cyst stage on the fish.... ick cannot survive without a fish, not an invert, a fish... I suggest reading through these
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/
I appreciate your responses, but still confused. If I quarantine a fish and notice pop-eye I'll treat it with an antibiotic and verify it's cured before putting in the DT. If I quarantine a fish and notice white spots I'll treat it with copper and verify it's cured before putting in the DT.
What criteria do I use to verify a shrimp, feather duster or snail is safe to introduce to the DT?
What criteria do I use to verify a shrimp, feather duster or snail is safe to introduce to the DT?
courterbobby
Member
Time my friend... about 2 weeks minimum in QT for all inverts. You cannot expose shrimp, crabs, corals, nem, etc. to medication. Ick will die without its host
ick is a parasite that cannot live forever without a fish to attach to, in other words as courterbobby stated 2 weeks qt for anything other than ick should be fine, be warned that parasite can attach to anything rocks, sand, filter, another reason they say to never use the fish store water, i acclimate slowly and all fish store water goes down the drain