[Highlanerbs]

Can crabs (blue leg) or snails carry Ick from one tank to another?
Please let me know.

Thanks
Highlanderbs

[leebca]

Invertebrates, including crabs and snails, cannot be infected by Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) parasites.

However, there are stages of the Marine Ich parasite that are off the fish and in the aquarium water. Crabs and other invertebrates that are bagged with water with these parasites can bring them into a display tank. Parasite infected water can be trapped in the crab's shell and the snail's shell. So rinsing them off won't work, either. The water being infected/contaminated is one reason why invertebrates should also go through a quarantine process.

Snails and crabs are very easy to quarantine.

But on another subject, don't put hermit crabs in with snails. There will likely come a day when the crabs will kill the snails. It's best to stick with snails in the clean up crew.

[Highlanerbs]

I wish I could have just wasted the $10 but I did it anyway. I took the snails and the crabs out of the bags of water from the LFS and placed them all on a paper towel and dried them off for about a full 5 min. This was before your reply Lee. I know that it probably did not take care of the Ick but the good news is I have no fish in my tank as of right now. I have not gone through the complete cycle yet and I can't find the right fish that I want. I can just hope that everything will be OK.
Thanks for the info and This has to be the best marine forum on the internet.

Highlanderbs

[leebca]

If there is no fish in the marine system then all you need to do is wait about 4 weeks. Let the system go fishless for four weeks and you should be in the clear.

I never quarantine snails when I'm starting up a new aquarium. Since the new aquarium doesn't have fish in it, I go ahead and put snails directly into the aquarium. There is a chance they could carry snail diseases, or bringing with them some parasites, but that's a risk I'm willing to take. After all the clean up crew is in the aquarium, I still don't add fish for many weeks, which takes care of the concern should any of the snail water be carrying over fish diseases.

[Highlanerbs]

The LFS had some very nice looking clams also that were alot cheeper then everyone else in the area, can they be infected with ick?
Also if I had a hospital tank set up could I buy fish from this LFS and just treat them in there for about the 4 weeks and then place them into my tank. This LFS has very good prices alot less then everyone else. I just want to know if it would be worth it, or should I just pay the larger price at the better LFS.??

Thanks again for all the help.
Highlanderbs

[leebca]

Clams (their water) can come with Marine Ich. This is the time to put any invertebrate you want to keep into the aquarium PROVIDED the aquarium is matured and suitable for that invert. Since there are no fishes involved, you are in a good position to use the marine system you have to perform the quarantine of the invertebrates. Just don't bring any fish into the system for at least 4 weeks after the last addition of any invert.

Regarding the fish. Be patient. I don't want you to spend extra money, but that LFS will have more fish later on and at probably about the same prices. Don't do anything rash. Even if you have a QT ready, remember, you should only be putting one fish through the QT at a time -- so at most you'd only be saving money on one single fish.

Speak up to the LFS and ask if any fish can be put on hold until your tank is ready. But I would not recommend doing this until you are within a couple of weeks of having your QT ready for the fish. And when and if you do do it, only one fish at a time.

Do you have a QT all setup, with an active biological filter, ready to go? Are you ready to do your freshwater dip? Do you have medications on hand? If not then you'll need to take the time to set this up and get it together. When all is ready and you are ready, take your time and shop around for the first fish you want to put through the QT.

The proper quarantine of fish should follow my recommendations given here: A Fish Quarantine Process

This is a good article on the importance of using a quarantine process: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: A Quarantine Tank for Everything by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com

You'll see that I recommend at least 6 weeks for a proper quarantine. If the fish gets sick in the QT or show signs of sickness, affliction or condition, then you will be holding them for no less than 4 weeks AFTER they are cured. So, the fish can be in the QT for quite some time. For this reason, you want the QT setup and running and totally settled in for your first (and it should be one of the hardy) fish.

To answer your question. . .While you are leaving the display system going fishless for the 4 weeks AFTER the LAST addition of an invert, you can begin to quarantine the first fish you want to put in. Dovetailing the two is fine, but I encourage not rushing either phase.

Have you been doing a lot of reading? Take time and read up on what lies before you: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium

A list of things you should be interested in reading:
Table/Contents - Link List

Some LFSs are better than others. You may not be a position to decide which ones are which. Before jumping at any advice, take some time and run it by experienced people in this forum for their perspective.

Patience will be your best friend!