How does QT prevent diseases ?

beth

Administrator
Staff member
It prevents disease from spreading to other fish in your tank. If you buy a new fish, and it ends up having ich, if you have limited that fish's contact to just your QT, then it won't spread to your display, or to your other fish.
In a QT, you can also treat whatever problem comes up with a new fish before it goes into your display. Display tanks should remain medication free.
 

chilwil84

Active Member
yup it prevents it from spreading to the rest of your fish and allows you an easier way to fix it without giving your display tank a blancket dose of medicine or salinity drop
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2481251
how does qt a tang for 2-3 weeks prevent ick or ich etc.. ?
it is an easier transition to the Display reducing stress in the fish making him less suseptable to disease. It also allows you to closely observe the fish in a controlled environment so you can identify potential disease. Doing this prevents parasites and disease from entering your main display reducing the likelyhood of disease.
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Most if not all fish are wild caught, and unless treated will most likely have some sort of parasite already on the fish.
 

groupergenius

Active Member
This might sound really corny but, I think it also gives the QT fish a sense of confidence.
Think about it, all the other fish in the DT have been there a while and have worked out the dominance thing. If you throw a fish in that mix that may have been a less dominant fish in the LFS or in the wild, it's gonna get it's booty whooped. Alone in a QT, he's the king of the world and develops just enough attitude to not run from the other tankmates once introduced. Showing fear as he runs will just entice the older fish into harrasing him more leading to stress and disease.
Signed, Mr. Limpet
 

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
http:///forum/post/2481331
This might sound really corny but, I think it also gives the QT fish a sense of confidence. ...
Absolutely. This is one of the most overlooked benefits of a QT tank. A fish can literally go from living on the reef in Fiji to your aquairum in a few days. Now, I at least partailly suspect fish undergo "jet lag" as well as we do

A QT tank gives them time to get adjusted to captivity before being thrown into the competitive world of our aquariums.
To answer the OP: A QT tank seperates a potential "Typhoid Mary" from your display tank. It allows you to carefully observe the new addition to make sure it is healthy, and to treat as neccessary.
 

stdreb27

Active Member
At that size he will be fine in the ten gallon tank for a full qt period. you know the 4 weeks or whathave you.
 

sh2000

Member
so I acclimate him to the qt then after 3 weeks I acclimate him to my DT ? even though the params are extremely simillar still acclimate again ?
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2481930
so I acclimate him to the qt then after 3 weeks I acclimate him to my DT ? even though the params are extremely simillar still acclimate again ?
Check the disease section for more detailed instructions on a QT but yeah, pretty much, it doesn't hurt anything.
 

perfectdark

Active Member
I wouldnt think so most of the display tanks at my LFS are 20's and they QT their live stock including tangs for a week before selling them. Most cases these fish live in these tanks with other inhabitants for 3 to 6 weeks before getting sold. I frequent that place often and I dont see them looking stressed or sick. JMO.
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2482109
Wouldn't putting a blue tang 3 inches in a qt 10 gal. for more than 4 days stress the fish out ?
For the benifits incured in the QT and considering the size of the fish. It far outweighs him being cramped for a month. And it makes you feel better go pick up a cheap 20 gallon tank from walmart.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
SH2000, why don't you have your lfs hold the fish for you until the fish that are being treated for ich in your 55 are done with hypo. Then you will not have to worry about the new tang getting stressed. He will have plenty of room until he goes into your larger tank.
 

m0nk

Active Member
Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2482109
Wouldn't putting a blue tang 3 inches in a qt 10 gal. for more than 4 days stress the fish out ?
Nope. And you really shouldn't QT for only 3 weeks, that's not a long enough time, imo. The fish I get always seem to end breaking out with ich in the second or third week of QT. 6 weeks is a good time.
And I definitely wouldn't suggest dealing with a new fish in QT while you're dealing with other fish in hypo, patience is key in this hobby. When you start rushing things is when it all falls apart.
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by m0nk
http:///forum/post/2482765
Nope. And you really shouldn't QT for only 3 weeks, that's not a long enough time, imo. The fish I get always seem to end breaking out with ich in the second or third week of QT. 6 weeks is a good time.
And I definitely wouldn't suggest dealing with a new fish in QT while you're dealing with other fish in hypo, patience is key in this hobby. When you start rushing things is when it all falls apart.

If thats the case I'd just start hypo once I put him in QT
 
Top