What to do?

[kimkissyfish]

Hi,
I read your Q&A.. very good job.
I am going to start a QT tonight. I want to keep it set up in my kitchen for newcomers. My question is.....
If a fish has been QT from the LFS and is fine and it goes into the display tank, you dont have to change the water in the QT again, in between each new fish do you? Then you wouldhave to keep recycling.
Also, If a fish is being TREATED in the QT for disease and then its treatment is all set and the fish goes back into the display tank, Do you change the water then? I ask because I think if you HAD a sick fish in that tank then it probably isnt a good idea to acclimate another new fish to THAT water..
Last question, If a fish gets a disease, what are the chances of it surviving with treatment? I always heard that once a fish "shows" signs of sickness, Its usually too late..
Thoughts please!
Thanking you kindly, Kim

 

[beth]

Originally posted by KimKissyFish
If a fish gets a disease, what are the chances of it surviving with treatment? I always heard that once a fish "shows" signs of sickness, Its usually too late..

Definately not! Otherwise most of us would have given up with this hobby a long time ago! If you QT, and treat diseases early on, there is no reason at all not to expect good results most of the time---there are exceptions, as is the case in treating human diseases. Nothing is %100, but with good QT practices, you can get pretty darn close to it!
If you have treated sick fish in QT it would be a good idea to leave your QT fishless for a month, even if the sick fish and tank has been medicated/treated. This is precautionary, but also good tank husbandry. Why add fish after fish to a display, anyway? Display stocking should be gradual.
Yes, do a water change, but there is no need to break down the tank every time you've had a fish in it. The only exception would be if you have serious illness in the QT where you couldn't ID the disease and the fish died. In that case, it would be a good idea to break down the system and give it a good cleaning.