Loaches Online Forum

And what is YOUR quarantine procedure?

I'm afraid to say it but I haven't had ich well over 10 years. This is not to say I haven't had disease outbreaks, just not ich. I quarantine new fish for 4-8 weeks usually using levamisole for loaches. but not other fish.

how long do you treat?

I have not had Ich in the main tanks for many years. Some fish in quarantine have shown a few spots, and I instantly jump on it with a UV sterilizer. Rid Ich is ready, and I have used it once, too. (Before I bought the UV)

Quarantine ALL new fish.

If they came from a store that I am suspicious of, add the UV right away, for 1 week. Then turn it off and see what develops.

Treat bottom fish (Loaches, Cats) for internal parasites.
If the Loaches fatten up fast, then I assume they are fine, and do not also treat with antibiotics. If there is any hint of Skinny (Hollow behind the head, concave belly) I also treat with antibiotics.

Once the quarantined fish have been clear of all medicines, treatments and no signs of disease or parasites for a month, then move them to the new tank.

Also: Acclimate new fish:
1) Set up the Q-tank with water that matches the store water for TDS, GH and KH.
2) Gradually change this water over to match the main tank. Take a month or longer if needed. Slow is the key, especially if any test shows the fish are in much harder water than the main tank I will be putting them in.

So the UV is enough even if there is visible ich?

(see my LFS thread if you want to know why I am sooooo paranoid!. Have also been reading too many threads on here of Ich-from-hell, so am scared!)

Well, I saw the Ich in the bag when I got the fish. So the Ich never had a chance to build up in the tank. Fish into tank (without the bag water), Rid Ich into tank, UV on tank within 24 hours. Only the one dose of Rid Ich, and I would not be surprised if it broke down from the UV. So, while I will agree that the Rid Ich probably provided some protection for the first day, I will question protection from what? There were no theronts in the tank that first day, just the trophonts on the fish. Even if a trophont fell off right away the tomonts do not breed that fast.

I guess I worry that it only takes one tomont to find a fish before going through the filter for the whole cycle to start over again....

I (think) the last time was 1971....honestly.

Martin.

"I (think) the last time was 1971....honestly. "

Then definitely tell me your quarantine procedures!!!!

Having brought home B. Kubotai from a very sketchy source (and one was so small and thin you could see through him like a glass-fish!!! -- he's fattened up a LOT) with ich in all the tanks, and having read too many ich horror stories on here, I want to make absolutely positively sure our babies are healthy before they go in the new tank

And Diana -- the fishless cycling is going really well! Thanks for hte detailed info!!!

I have never had an issue with ich since I started keeping clown loaches 5 years ago.

I keep the temps through the roof and never use any chemicals...even when doing water changes. Also, I have never worried about quarantining any fish. Everything goes straight into the tank from the store.

I may have just been very lucky up to this point, but it has worked so far, so I am afraid to change the way I do things.

Haven't had itch for about 10 years either, only disease I have had is some fungus on the tail of my goldfish. I always buy my fish from the same store, I observe them in the tank and then go back about a week or so later to see them again, if they look good I will buy them but keep them in a separate tank at home for about 3 weeks to be sure they are healthy. If my usual store hasn't got what I want I wait until they have or buy something else.
I am VERY lucky to have such a store quite near to where I live.

Val

In 5 years of fish keeping, I've never had Ich.

My quarentine procedure is 1 week in a 5 or 10 gallon. If all is well I introduce into one of my larger tanks.

I have had other diseases, popeye, dropsy, tail rot. but never Ich.

In the past, I've lost about 50 clown loaches due to ich. Most new fish that I've ever purchased has either come down with ich or it spurred an ich outbreak in my main tanks (due to cross contamination). I haven't purchased any new fish in about 4 years though. My fish tanks have been ich free since. These days, I wouldn't trust any quarantine procedure that doesn't include a prophylactic treatment for ich.

The last time I did purchase fish, which was when I bought about 50 clown loaches of various sizes from 2 sellers at Aquabid.com, I did a 2 to 3 week ich prophylactic treatment after I received them. I never saw an ich spot either. I only wish that I treated them for internal parasites also because I lost a few due to emaciation a few months later.

Yeah, I don't think we want to risk it. Will go ahead and treat all new fish (including the 6 new striata today (who are in their own private QT right now) ) will get treated presumptively for Ich and parasites.

Will let the striata get settled for a few days before any meds, Kubs had their first dose of Levimasole yesterday and are done with the Ich treatment.

ChefKieth -- what is your new webpage? Or do you no longer have one. So many references to all the info you had on there. ....

My website is gone due to Geocities getting shut down. I'll be starting a new website over holidays.