Quarantine

[5ivedrops]

Hi fancie fanciers,
I pulled this Ranchu out of a giant assorted store tank of about 300+ goldies a couple weeks ago. Seriously, he was the only one that didn't look sick, beat-up or dead. So, I figure I'm taking a chance with bringing him home but I thought he was a great looking Ranchu for $10.

I have had him in quarantine with .3% salt for two weeks. There doesn't seem to be any signs of Ich or lice or any visible parasite. What else am I looking for before I can safely add him to my collection? I planned on keeping him in QT for another 2 weeks anyway but honestly, I wouldn't know what to look for if he did have some nasties.

Can anyone recommend any other QT regimen?

Also, my other fish are a similarly sized fantail, a pearscale, black moor and a Ryukin. I'm thinking that I might keep the Ranchu in a 30 gallon instead of adding him to my 55. That way, I can feed him differently and maybe add another Ranchu.

Any advice?

Thanks
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http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr160/5ivedrops/DSCN0818.jpg

[Fishdork]

If he was the only one not beat up or dead, maybe he's the bully! Just kidding. I have real trouble waiting long enough to mix new fish into the group. A couple years ago I quarantined fish for a week, then put them into my 2,500 gallon outdoor pond. The next day one had an anchor worm. I moved them back and didn't need to treat the whole pond. To answer your question, when it's time to mix, put one of your least valuable fish in with the new fish. Sometimes fish are carriers of diseases (esp parasites) that they are accustomed to but other fish don't have defenses built up against. Watch both fish to see if they catch something new.
Norm (the fluke king)

[bekko]

It's weird how new fish can make your old fish sick, but at other times your old fish can make you new fish sick. They all have different strains of cooties which they have become immune to.

-steve

[Jed]

I would treat for flukes as well, and keep in QT a while longer.

[5ivedrops]

I waited over a month keeping the salt concentration up and finally added this Ranchu to my stock. No problems as of yet and it's been another month. I was going to pick up a small bottle of prazi but when I went to order it, they only had a large bottle in stock. At this point, is it possible my fish have an immunity to flukes?

[Fishdork]

If they've been mixed together for a month and look healthy, I would think they are accustomed to any possible resident pathogens and should remain healthy until stress or weakness gives resident bugs an opportunity to win the battle.

If they're not broke, don't fix them. Don't treat healthy fish for something that 'might' be there. Exception for quarantine fish from dirty source. My second exception- I should treat spawners for flukes before they lay eggs to avoid large fry die off at 2 weeks.

Norm