Yoyo quarantine

[Bill Stock]

I purchased a couple of new Loaches the other day and I have a few questions
about their quarantine. Should I be running the temp on the high side (84F)
to speed up the Ich cycle? Should I add any salt? Is two weeks long enough
or do I have to suffer through three? :)

[NetMax]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
>I purchased a couple of new Loaches the other day and I have a few
>questions about their quarantine. Should I be running the temp on the
>high side (84F) to speed up the Ich cycle?

Theoretically yes, and metabolically, it won't hurt either, if the fish
is healthy and eating well (it should acclimate faster), however there
will be less O2 (ie: so use airstones with elevated temperatures) and if
the fish is not 100%, then the heat can be more of a stressor than
benefit. In the final analysis, it might be best to leave it at the same
temperature as its destination tank.

> Should I add any salt?

Nebulous - opinions will vary. I like to acclimate the fish to the same
hardness, buffer, pH and salinity as what the destination tank is at.

Is two weeks long enough
> or do I have to suffer through three? :)

The length of the quarantine is a function of your confidence in their
health, knowledge of their origin, your risk tolerance and the financial
& emotional value of fish in your destination tank. This defines the
quarantine period, ie:

zero (no quarantine, they all sink or swim together *sorry for the pun*
;~)
2 days (rules out transport shock and the destination tank is essentially
the quarantine)
behavioural period (fish is eating, pooping, colored up and behaving
normally for several days)
3 weeks (rules out many parasites and external bacteria)
6 weeks (rules out slower acting contagions)
3 months (for a significant degree of confidence for inclusion with
expensive live stock)

Other factors are things like species are less likely to be disease
carriers to similar species (Yoyo into a tank of botias), and are more
likely to spread diseases to different species (Yoyo carrying something
which they are not very susceptible to, can quickly inflict a tank of
fish who are susceptible to it), so cross-species introductions suggests
adding to the quarantine period, rather than shortening it.

There is also the quality of the quarantine tank to consider. I keep my
Q tanks away from areas where there is movement, bright lights, shadows
etc. A dimly lit tank in a corner of a basement with lots of shelter
(ie: silk plants etc) seems to work well for me. There is also less
temptation to move them if I don't have to constantly watch them ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

Bill Stock wrote:
> I purchased a couple of new Loaches the other day and I have a few questions
> about their quarantine. Should I be running the temp on the high side (84F)
> to speed up the Ich cycle? Should I add any salt? Is two weeks long enough
> or do I have to suffer through three? :)
>
Of all the things that could be wrong with a newly purchased fish, why
have you chosen ich? Are there visible spots?

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
.. .
> Bill Stock wrote:
>> I purchased a couple of new Loaches the other day and I have a few
>> questions about their quarantine. Should I be running the temp on the
>> high side (84F) to speed up the Ich cycle? Should I add any salt? Is
>> two weeks long enough or do I have to suffer through three? :)
>>
> Of all the things that could be wrong with a newly purchased fish, why
> have you chosen ich? Are there visible spots?
>
> --
> Elaine T

My guess is not and it's just for preventative measures as Ich is so
common in pet shop water and scaleless botia are so much more susceptible
to it, especially when stressed (ie: during acclimation). fwiw, I've
always found Clown loaches Ich-susceptible but not other botia like
Yoyos.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Bill Stock]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> Bill Stock wrote:
>>> I purchased a couple of new Loaches the other day and I have a few
>>> questions about their quarantine. Should I be running the temp on the
>>> high side (84F) to speed up the Ich cycle? Should I add any salt? Is two
>>> weeks long enough or do I have to suffer through three? :)
>>>
>> Of all the things that could be wrong with a newly purchased fish, why
>> have you chosen ich? Are there visible spots?
>>
>> --
>> Elaine T
>
> My guess is not and it's just for preventative measures as Ich is so
> common in pet shop water and scaleless botia are so much more susceptible
> to it, especially when stressed (ie: during acclimation). fwiw, I've
> always found Clown loaches Ich-susceptible but not other botia like Yoyos.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
Yes, I was reading about Loach ich and I came across the Clown issue. The
two Loaches in question seem are eating very well and seem OK. The only
other concern was that the LFS had many varieties of Loaches in the same
tank.