Introducing fish

[MeCasa]

I really really don't want to get involved in a second tank. I haven't had a tank up for twenty years but when I shut them down I had display tanks, feeder tanks AND breeding tanks and this all creeped up incrementally

This time I wanted ONE tank and ONLY ONE tank!!!

That said, do I need an introduction tank? What do ya'll do to introduce new stock?

Thanks

 

[cmw9787]

a quarantine tank is a necessity. just had a friend lose some really cool fish because he bought diseased ones from petsmart and put them directly in his main tank.

 

[MonkeyMonk86]

The decision is really yours. To QT or not to QT and how to QT is as varied as there are AA members.

This article is slightly long, but it might be of assistance when making your decision. http://mikesfishes.blogspot.com/2020/09/quarantine-tankhospital-tank.html?m=1

 

[MeCasa]

The decision is really yours.

As is everything but death

To QT or not to QT and how to QT is as varied as there are AA members.

That means I came the right place to ask opinions although cmw verified what I already knew in my heart and that's that you probably can't afford not to have an intro tank.

This article is slightly long, but it might be of assistance when making your decision. Mike's Guide to Beginner Freshwater Aquariums: Quarantine Tank/Hospital Tank

Good link. A couple of weeks ago I was in Petsmart and they had that $1 per gallon sale and it's probably a good thing I wasn't thinking about an introduction tank because I would have bought a 20 or 55 due to the price.

A ten ought to be big enough, I guess I'll start looking for a cheap ten with hood and filter since the filters that I kept are all too big. I'll siphon the water from my main tank so that I can test the water at the same time.

Is this the beginning of that "incremental creep" that I said I wasn't going to do?

 

[cmw9787]

As is everything but death




That means I came the right place to ask opinions although cmw verified what I already knew in my heart and that's that you probably can't afford not to have an intro tank.



Good link. A couple of weeks ago I was in Petsmart and they had that $1 per gallon sale and it's probably a good thing I wasn't thinking about an introduction tank because I would have bought a 20 or 55 because of the price.

A ten ought to be big enough, I guess I'll start looking for a cheap ten with hood and filter since the filters that I kept are all too big. I'll siphon the water from my main tank so that I can test the water at the same time.

Is this the beginning of that "incremental creep" that I said I wasn't going to do?

It doesn't have to be! I have 3 tanks and I'm happy. One is up only because my angelfish decided to breed. Otherwise I'd have my main (75 gallon African Cichlid tank), and a 20L QT tank

 

[MeCasa]

The article says "clean the tank after every use"

Are we expected to cycle the tank every time we buy a fish?

I have a 150, by the time I add the 10th fish the first one will be big enough to eat him.

 

[jahonnimyfav101]

@cmw9787 you don't need a quarantine tank for freshwater fish only salt. Also for a new tank if you are experienced I would get a elongatus yellow tail, a blue hap, butterfly peacock, chailosi cichlid

 

[Tank Girl]

^^^This is incorrect^^^
ALWAYS quarantine. Always. Makes NO difference if it's fresh or saltwater.

 

[squirrilah fish]

I have been going through hell the last 2 weeks because I didn't quarantine properly. My QT tank was occupied with a fish I've been trying to sell.
I figured "hey it'll be fine, I haven't had problems for years. I'll just put new fish in a bucket and net them out.

I got Ich, malawi bloat, pretty sure flukes too. Even if it's just a 10g with a sponge filter, (would cost $20) DO IT! Because you'll probably end up spending more money on meds. And fish might die. Luckily I haven't lost anyone, but it still sucks.

 

[Rivers2k]

I have been running tanks for nearly 30 years. I have never used a QT tank and I have done just fine. At one point I was running 7 display tanks with no QT. I just pick specimens carefully I spend a good 20 -30 min watching a fish before I buy. The last fish I bought I went back everyday for 2 weeks to watch the fish because the belly was sunk in. And I don't by from large chains like petsmart, petco. The only time I have lost fish upon introduction it has been fish bought form large chains. I never get diseased fish form the LFS. But again watch each specimin carefully before buying.

PS I am currently running 1 main tank and 1 in my kids room. My wife said she didn't like feeling like she was living in a fish store so the others came down. I dont feel the need to use the empty one as a QT.

 

[squirrilah fish]

I have been running tanks for nearly 30 years. I have never used a QT tank and I have done just fine. At one point I was running 7 display tanks with no QT. I just pick specimens carefully I spend a good 20 -30 min watching a fish before I buy. The last fish I bought I went back everyday for 2 weeks to watch the fish because the belly was sunk in. And I don't by from large chains like petsmart, petco. The only time I have lost fish upon introduction it has been fish bought form large chains. I never get diseased fish form the LFS. But again watch each specimin carefully before buying.

I got these fish from a speciality breeder, and hand picked them myself. I don't think there is really a way to prevent disease fully other than a QT tank.

Believe me I know what I'm doing, I know what to look for, I've been doing this a long time, and seriously if I could start all over again I would quarantine every single fish.
I added plenty of fish directly with absolutely no problems at all. But all it takes is one.
Totally up to you. You absolutely could directly add fish and be totally fine, or you could not. It's a gamble.

 

[squirrilah fish]

To be fair the fish I got are notoriously sensitive. But keep in mind many diseases don't show any symptoms until the late stages.

 

[Autumnsky]

QT

I never had problems until last year when i dropped in 3 cute, healthy looking little fish and had a 72G tank outbreak of Columnaris.

You can even use a 5G bucket, if you don't have giant fish, or a rubbermaid tote.

You can keep an extra filter pad in your main tank for when you buy something and need to QT. You can store away the filter, heater and air bubbler until needed. No MTS needed.

 

[Tank Girl]

I am SO in agreement with you on this! The appearance of health is not a guarantee of health.

Right now I have a new fish in quarantine. It looks and behaves like a very healthy fish and so far I have no reason to believe that it isn't. But I have nothing to lose by quarantining it.

For what it's worth, three of my nicest fish are from PetSmart. Very lucky finds, indeed. Each one stayed healthy while they were quarantined. My most beautiful (and expensive) fish from an outstanding source died. Sick and healthy fish can come from anywhere, and I've experienced the joy and heartbreak of both. But when I lost one, it was only one. Basically, you have to ask yourself "am I willing to sacrifice all my other fish because I'm so sure this brand new one is fine"? For me, the answer is a resounding "No!"

 

[squirrilah fish]

I'm lucky I haven't lost anyone with my recent screw up. But I also know it's not over, and it causes me a ton of stress. Seeing my favorite fish I have had the longest bloated is completely heart breaking. I drove 30 miles yesterday to get them live probiotic worms so they would eat.

The benefits far outway the costs. And it's so simple to set up.
A container, a heater, an air pump with a sponge filter, that's it. You can use other filters, but if you wind up needing meds, you usually have to remove carbon, which is in most cartridges, so a sponge filter is just easier.

 

[squirrilah fish]

Illness isn't the only reason to have an extra tank too. As your stocking you may find one fish to be too dominate, too aggressive for it's tank mates. Having another tank on hand gives you a place to put it before he trashes everyone else.

I should have 2 empty tanks. The reason I didn't quarantine these new fish is precisely because I had an aggressive fish in my QT already.

 

[squirrilah fish]

I am SO in agreement with you on this! The appearance of health is not a guarantee of health.

Right now I have a new fish in quarantine. It looks and behaves like a very healthy fish and so far I have no reason to believe that it isn't. But I have nothing to lose by quarantining it.

For what it's worth, three of my nicest fish are from PetSmart. Very lucky finds, indeed. Each one stayed healthy while they were quarantined. My most beautiful (and expensive) fish from an outstanding source died. Sick and healthy fish can come from anywhere, and I've experienced the joy and heartbreak of both. But when I lost one, it was only one. Basically, you have to ask yourself "am I willing to sacrifice all my other fish because I'm so sure this brand new one is fine"? For me, the answer is a resounding "No!"

I'm in the same boat. The new fish that got everyone sick is the most expensive fish I've ever bought. Not even counting the medications.

 

[Rivers2k]

Guess I have just been lucky all these years. But I have never needed one. True appearance of a healthy fish does not guarantee a healthy fish but if you watch closely enough and look at the tank its self and other inhabitants then you can catch it 90% of the time.

I would not keep a new fish long in a 5 gallon bucket that is sure to stress a fish out that has already be captured boxed shipped who know how many times before it got your LFS then cought again, bagged, transported to your home. I say watch the specimen bringing to your home and if necessary treat it. We are in the cichlid forum so we are talking hearty fish that stand up well to meds if needed. (which I must say I rarely need). Also QT a fish and you will need the meds anyways if he is sick.

A display tank is a less stressful place to introduce a fish than a qt tank that is slapped together and usually to small and has no decorations. we are also talking about cichlids here so if a fish does get sick they are very hardy fish and you can wipe out a disease rather quickly. A place where the fish is comfortable like the display tank it will heal much quicker.

 

[MeCasa]

River,

Most people (myself included) can't look at a fish for weeks before purchase because a good looking fish will be gone before the two weeks is out. It is also difficult to avoid box stores in many states especially Texas where the roads are straight and the box stores rule supreme because they already put the little guys out of business which means you will eventually buy from a box store.

When the time comes to stock my tank I will make the 100 mile ride to Houston where there are some very large pet stores, many specializing in fish. But once again, 100 miles one way is a serious drive, and when I see a specimen I like there will not be time for procrastination, once again, big city, good stock moves fast.

My point is that the options you mention are not feasible for everybody. I just picked up a 10 with hood at WallyWorld for $30 and I've started to look for a decent little filter (already have extra heater)

Don't want to quarantine but................

However, I will not empty it and re-cycle it after every use, perhaps there are some additives which are good for a quarantine tank that will help with this issue

 

[Tank Girl]

You can indeed catch it 90% of the time and when you see it, you don't buy the fish. It's that other 10% that is too high a risk in my opinion. And treating 10 gallons of water is far less expensive than treating 120. There's simply no point in risking the health of every other fish for the sake of one that you're "sure" is healthy.