Do I really need to quarantine?

[Carissa]

Ok, I probably already know the answer to this question. But I only have one fish (a lawnmower blenny) in my display tank and I have either a watchman goby, a snapping shrimp, or both, on the way. With only one fish in the tank, is it really that important to quarantine these guys? Also, I don't freshwater dip the shrimp, right? And is the freshwater dip 100% fresh with just baking soda?

[DarthClownfish]

Someone will probably call me out on this, but I tend not to QT watchman. They are so shy that I have better luck with them getting them settled in to their home. They are also the first fish I add to a tank. I find that by adding them early, and getting comfortable before adding other fish, they come out more. My yellow watchman swims the whole tank in my community system, and he was the first guy in

[Carissa]

What I was thinking too is that I don't have any sand for my QT, so that could be stressful for them.

I'm hoping that my blenny won't hassle the goby, but I have actually never seen him on the sand bed, he's always up in the live rock, so I think they might be ok.

[leebca]

All wild caught (and even tank bred) marine fishes need to be quarantined for all the reasons given at the beginning of this post: A Fish Quarantine Process

Accommodating a fish that requires a certain environment, such as a sand sifter, or a fish that buries itself, is each to do in quarantine. A dish of silica based sand without carbonates is all it takes -- and a little extra effort.

Of the 80% who don't quarantine such fish, they use lame excuses of 'stress' and 'poor fish' when they really haven't done it or tried it the right way, nor do they understand how much wild caught fishes benefit from the quarantine process.

[Carissa]

I figured that. I have a problem though, I can't get sand around here. I have no idea where to go to get it. The lfs only has "turtle" sand which is extremely fine and I can imagine would generate a lot of dust if it were to be put into water. It's between salt and powdered sugar in consistency.

[cdearing]

I bought a couple of fish from Petco in my early stage of reefkeeping. I put them both in QT (lucky for my only other tank inhabitant a clown) and they both had ich. I treated them but they did not survive. Later, I got a pygmy angel from a friend who was moving and had a very healthy, mature tank. I brought that fish home and put it directly in my tank. I think if you know where you are getting your fish and you know they are not infected, there is less of a chance of bringing disease into your display. This is just from my experience so take from it what you will.
Cyn

[sober_pollock]

Someone will probably call me out on this, but I tend not to QT watchman. They are so shy that I have better luck with them getting them settled in to their home. They are also the first fish I add to a tank. I find that by adding them early, and getting comfortable before adding other fish, they come out more. My yellow watchman swims the whole tank in my community system, and he was the first guy in

You know, it seems to me like there might be a "reason" why someone would have a lot of experience adding a particular fish to their tank.....

[DarthClownfish]

You know, it seems to me like there might be a "reason" why someone would have a lot of experience adding a particular fish to their tank.....

The reason is I have had a lot of tanks over the years. I rarely lose a specimen if that is what you are insinuating.

[leebca]

I understand your frustration in obtaining things. But I think somewhere in Canada is the place you can buy the things you need. Try the Internet. You only need a gallon of pure silica sand. Shipped ground freight it won't cost too much.

Just keep in mind that if you live in an area where these kinds of things aren't available to you, you may find the hobby too difficult. Here in the USA people in very remote areas can still be in the hobby, but they have to pay for shipping -- it's a cost of the hobby.

Also consider that if what you need for a particular fish isn't available, then choose fish you can provide for.

[Carissa]

It's more the timing than not being able to get it...the fish are in today. It takes a week to get anything shipped.

[Carissa]

Well I forgot I had some coarse sand left over from my fw tank! Problem solved. Tank is up and running. I'll wait until sometime next week to pick up the fish to give my tank a chance to mix and settle down.

[Carissa]

Looks like it won't matter anyway, the shrimp was doa and the goby has obvious fin rot and possibly ich. So I won't be buying either one right now.