How do you add new fish?

[rcombs]

I have never had an issue adding new fish. BUT..... I see all the time that 1 new fish can be detrimental to an entire system. What is the best method of adding new fish. Do you use a QT tank and some kind of all in one treatment ect? For saltwater, I dip the corals in a dip that kill off all bad contaminates. Is this similar for FWF? Investing in this hobby is to get something that leaves you just staring at it constant. Last thing we all want is to lose it all.

After reading Steve's post, I feel for the guy and had an epiphany that I have not been cautious enough about adding new fish.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Cat(fish)lady]

Personally. I don't QT any new fish. Then again, I'm pretty selective about the fish I chose to bring home too.

I do a 20-25% WC then I 3 day Mela/Pima-fix my tanks when adding new fish.

[atmagoulick]

Personally, I am picky with where I buy from.  I first look for a breeder on this site.  I have always had good luck at the Motor City Aquarium Society auctions and the people on this site, the Michigan Cichlid Association.  Also, the owner of Pet Connection told me about a product.  Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R5M5CC/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That product cured ich and "hole in the head".  One packet works for 5 gallons.  It does not help the plants though.  It did not kill the plants, it just does not encourage plant growth.

Pet Connection has good stock.  I would recommend them. 

I bought six angelfish fry at Fantastic Fins and they died of fin disease.  My percentage with Fantastic Fins is under 50%.  I found more unusual plants at Meyer's than with Fantastic Fins. 

Meyer's also sells inexpensive African cichlids, electric yellows and electric blues.  The fish and plants are there for so long, they grow.  Their seems to be a low turn over rate with aquarium fish and plants at Meyers.  This is good in preventing diseases, less interactions.  Meyer has a bad reputation of having ich, but the same fish are there every time I go there.  They seem healthy.  I'd trust them.

[four_by_ken]

I bought six angelfish fry at Fantastic Fins and they died of fin disease.  My percentage with Fantastic Fins is under 50%.  I found more unusual plants at Meyer's than with Fantastic Fins. 

Meyer's also sells inexpensive African cichlids, electric yellows and electric blues.  The fish and plants are there for so long, they grow.  Their seems to be a low turn over rate with aquarium fish and plants at Meyers.  This is good in preventing diseases, less interactions.  Meyer has a bad reputation of having ich, but the same fish are there every time I go there.  They seem healthy.  I'd trust them.

Meyer?  You are knocking Fantastic Fins... but promoting Meyer?  Wow.

Also, Fantastic Fins isnt really known for have spectacular plants... its the rare fish, especially plecos where they get their name.

[Ogre44]

I QT all my fish and feed them food laced with Metronidazole for the first few weeks to head off internal stuff getting into my tanks.

[Ron]

Personally. I don't QT any new fish. Then again, I'm pretty selective about the fish I chose to bring home too.

x2, with the exception of times when I do have a free tank, I'll sometimes quarantined just because it's easy enough to do.

When adding new fish, I'll float the bags long enough for the temperatures to almost equalize, but then I empty the bags into a net over a bucket and add fish to the tank without letting the net get in the water. I'll never add someone elses tank water to my tank.

I also never acclimate by mixing tank water into bag water. In a bag, the pH tends to drop and ammonia (from waste) builds up over time. Ammonia toxicity increases with pH, so to mix tank water into the bag, will presumably increase the pH and ammonia toxicity of whatever actual ammonia amount is in the bag. It's not worth the risk of burning gills for me to ever mix tank water.

[linuxrulesusa]

Agreed to all the above. 

With one caveat - keep in mind that fish that appear healthy at the store may turn out to  be sick later.  So, the extent to which I QT depends on the value ($ or personal attachment) I place on the tank where I'm adding the fish.  I have a tank with a puffer my kids love, so I would definitely QT before adding fish there.  Some of my other tanks - I QT if I'm suspicious of a fish but often just pop them in the tank following the method Ron outlined.

As far as disease, more often I've gotten fish that spread disease when I buy fish from Meijer/Pet Supplies Plus/Petco/Petsmart, but occasionally from the more reputable stores as well. 

It varies greatly as to health of the fish at the chain stores because it depends on who is working which can change pretty often.  Some months Petsmart has beautiful fish and tanks, and other months they look horrible with tons of sick fish.  And when they're on a central drip system, one sick tank = every fish exposed.  The quality is consistently higher at the better stores like Fins etc.