Introduced new fish - hoping for the best

[aalbina]

Well after 4 weeks in quarantine, I introduced 12 Rummynose tetras and a bristlenose Pleco into the main discus tank. Hoping for the best! I treated the quarantine tank (10 gallon in a different room) with praziquantel powder for gill flukes and worms for about 14 of those 2 weeks. I didn't see any worms expelled nor any signs of gill flukes but I treated anyway - my choice - I know some of you don't do this unless you see a reason.

Hoping for the best!

Adam

[Eddie]

I think it was a good move Adam. Hope everything goes well.

All the best,

Eddie

[Jennie]

I want to know if he got those from Al??

[aalbina]

Al doesn't have any yet - he still trying to get them to breed for him. Got them at a mom and pop shop in town.

Adam

[Jennie]

Thanks Adam

[Second Hand Pat]

So question here, if you are introducing discus to an existing tank with no discus yet, would it be prudent to treat the main tank to ensure the existing fish are clean?

[aalbina]

So - after 8 hours of introduction of the rummies and BN - I have the runt of the three discus breathing a little faster and one gill slightly clamped. The other two seem fine. Not panicking yet and not treating yet.

Adam

[Jennie]

Pat his discus are clean, they're from Al. It's his rummies and BN he treated.

[aalbina]

So question here, if you are introducing discus to an existing tank with no discus yet, would it be prudent to treat the main tank to ensure the existing fish are clean?

You know - I'm no authority but I definitely would. Quarantine really goes both ways. As discus keepers we are generally more concerned with our 150 dollar fish and less concerned with 4.00 fish so we give the priority to the discus. We like to assume that our discus are clean and everything else is evil but the opposite could very well be true. If you have some strong healthy discus and put them in with other fish - the new critters they bring with them could attack the other fish and they may or may not be up to winning that battle.

For me - if I had a non discus tank into which I was going to add QT'd discus - I would treat tankmates before putting my discus in with them. I would basically treat the main tank like a quarantine tank. I want to make sure that there's nothing in the main tank that could compromise the discus. I can deal with replacing some rummies.

Just my opinion - I know others will not agree.

I quarantined these rummies and pleco for four weeks and treated for flukes and worms and I still think something came with them to the discus tank. I've already got one discus with a clamped gill and fast breathing.

Added some salt and I'm going to keep the water clean and watch like a hawk for 24 hours.

It almost doesn't seem worth the four week effort right now!

Adam

[Jennie]

you added those TM's today?? And already the discus are not right?

[aalbina]

you added those TM's today?? And already the discus are not right?

I added them last night at at 7:00pm. Had the day off - so I noticed the clamped gill at about 12:00 today. Could be just some other little bugs. Not getting any scratching or flashing so I'm not treating. This little one gets picked on a lot so one of the others could have hit her on a gill plate and she's just sore.

I added 1 tbl spoon per gallon of aquarium salt to the tank and her breathing is better - could just be some other aggravating parasite. I'm going to resist the urge to medicate at all until I see some more conclusive signs of something worth medicating for!

At this early stage - salt and clean water are my treatment.

Adam

[Jennie]

good plan

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat his discus are clean, they're from Al. It's his rummies and BN he treated.

DL, Me bad, I do not believe my post was well worded. I was asking about treating your main tank ( with rummy noses etc but no discus) with praziquantel powder before adding discus to ensure the existing tank population is clean as a preventative measure.

Thanks Adam for your opinion and sure does make sense to me. I really do hope that all is going to be well with your discus. I read one of your earlier threads and know there are lots of hard won lessons. Best of luck. Pat

[Jennie]

yes, you worded fine. His main tank has had discus in it, but, for many the general feeling is not to throw meds at fish that are healthy. He got the rummies from a mom/pop store and treated those in QT in an effort not to contaminate his main tank, which may have not worked. I think his one discus may be stressed from the intro of the rummies. Though Adam, I am not sure how well the BN pleco will do with salt.

[aalbina]

Yes - I'm a little worried about him as well. He seems to be ok for now. Only 1 tablespoon per gallon - I usually do 2 - I hope he's ok with this level. If he shows signs of stress - I'll move him back to quarantine. Eddie once told me that plecos are pretty notorious fluke carriers - I suspect if anything brought something to the tank it was him.

Keeping my fingers crossed, my patience in check and my eyes peeled!

Adam