Question about QT for inverts

HWDylan · 02/07/2013, 01:28 PM

So I have a QT set up so that I can properly quarantine my fish that are coming in.

My question is about Inverts like shrimp. As far as I understand you QT basically everything coming into the tank. With something like a fire shrimp or a peppermint shrimp what exactly am I looking for while quarantining, and if they are so sensitive to medications like Copper how do I go about treating an issue they may have?

wooden_reefer · 02/07/2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HWDylan

So I have a QT set up so that I can properly quarantine my fish that are coming in.

My question is about Inverts like shrimp. As far as I understand you QT basically everything coming into the tank. With something like a fire shrimp or a peppermint shrimp what exactly am I looking for while quarantining, and if they are so sensitive to medications like Copper how do I go about treating an issue they may have?

You put the inverts without any fish (not a single one) separately for 10-12 weeks. Ich will die off without fish, without active treatment.

bnumair · 02/07/2013, 03:02 PM

shrimps or inverts in general do not carry ich. they usually done have much disease either.
sometimes they do have a parasite on then which u will have to cut it out.
i helped someone recently that had to perform surgery on his shrimp but its once in a blue moon thing.
i personally dont qt any inverts.

sleepydoc · 02/07/2013, 10:11 PM

There are only 2 ways that I know of for your tank to get ich with an invertebrate:
1 - If there happen to be theronts present in the water that came with your critter
2 - If an ich tomont has actually encysted on the invertebrate.

The first route can effectively be eliminated by avoiding the transfer of any outside water to your tank.

The second route is a theoretical possibility but is unlikely. Ich tomonts usually encyst in the sand bed as the protomonts fall off the fish when the bed down at night. For an invertebrate to become a carrier, it would have to be in the immediate vicinity of the fish when the protomonts fall off and actually have a protomont encyst on its shell.

Even if you accept that this does happen, the vast majority of the cysts will hatch within 4-6 weeks. A 10 week quarantine period for all inverts seems more than a bit extreme. If they are coming from a place you know or suspect to be infected with ich the equation may change somewhat. Then again, if I know a store has problems with ich, I would never buy a fish there.

Snorvich gives his recommendations on QT here

Palting · 02/08/2013, 08:54 AM

Although it seems to be the flavor of the month for forum discussions, Ich is not the only reason for QT. Having said that, inverts do not carry Ich, nor do they usually carry disease that can be harmful to the reef nor fish. I don't QT inverts.

chirojosh · 02/08/2013, 09:32 AM

I treat any and everything coming into my tank as if it has unseen ich. All inverts are QT's for 10-12 wks, I know its rare but I have $hit luck and one shrimp would destroy my tank!

wooden_reefer · 02/08/2013, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

Even if you accept that this does happen, the vast majority of the cysts will hatch within 4-6 weeks. A 10 week quarantine period for all inverts seems more than a bit extreme. If they are coming from a place you know or suspect to be infected with ich the equation may change somewhat. Then again, if I know a store has problems with ich, I would never buy a fish there.

Snorvich gives his recommendations on QT here

What is vast majority? 99.9% or 99.99%?

An ich infestation in a reef tank as small as 65 gals with a few fish is basically a calamity, especially if one is not prepared.

Only the inexperienced will risk ich and is usually not prepared.

A fallow period of at least 10 weeks, better 12 or more weeks is safer.

If you have a 200 plus reef tank with many fish, you absolutely will not want to chance even 0.1% risk.

sleepydoc · 02/08/2013, 07:06 PM

Whether you know it or not, you are playing the odds with every fish you buy.

If you want to read about the statistical specifics, check out Snorvich's sticky on the Fallow period.

02/07/2013, 01:28 PM	#1
HWDylan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: St. Louis Posts: 64	Question about QT for inverts So I have a QT set up so that I can properly quarantine my fish that are coming in. My question is about Inverts like shrimp. As far as I understand you QT basically everything coming into the tank. With something like a fire shrimp or a peppermint shrimp what exactly am I looking for while quarantining, and if they are so sensitive to medications like Copper how do I go about treating an issue they may have?

02/07/2013, 03:02 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	shrimps or inverts in general do not carry ich. they usually done have much disease either. sometimes they do have a parasite on then which u will have to cut it out. i helped someone recently that had to perform surgery on his shrimp but its once in a blue moon thing. i personally dont qt any inverts. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

02/07/2013, 10:11 PM	#4
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	There are only 2 ways that I know of for your tank to get ich with an invertebrate: 1 - If there happen to be theronts present in the water that came with your critter 2 - If an ich tomont has actually encysted on the invertebrate. The first route can effectively be eliminated by avoiding the transfer of any outside water to your tank. The second route is a theoretical possibility but is unlikely. Ich tomonts usually encyst in the sand bed as the protomonts fall off the fish when the bed down at night. For an invertebrate to become a carrier, it would have to be in the immediate vicinity of the fish when the protomonts fall off and actually have a protomont encyst on its shell. Even if you accept that this does happen, the vast majority of the cysts will hatch within 4-6 weeks. A 10 week quarantine period for all inverts seems more than a bit extreme. If they are coming from a place you know or suspect to be infected with ich the equation may change somewhat. Then again, if I know a store has problems with ich, I would never buy a fish there. Snorvich gives his recommendations on QT here __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

02/08/2013, 08:54 AM	#5
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Although it seems to be the flavor of the month for forum discussions, Ich is not the only reason for QT. Having said that, inverts do not carry Ich, nor do they usually carry disease that can be harmful to the reef nor fish. I don't QT inverts. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

02/08/2013, 07:06 PM	#8
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Whether you know it or not, you are playing the odds with every fish you buy. If you want to read about the statistical specifics, check out Snorvich's sticky on the Fallow period. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

02/08/2013, 09:32 AM	#6
chirojosh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 229	I treat any and everything coming into my tank as if it has unseen ich. All inverts are QT's for 10-12 wks, I know its rare but I have $hit luck and one shrimp would destroy my tank!