Mmathis
TurtleMommy
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 14,296
- Reaction score
- 8,342
- Location
- NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
- Hardiness Zone
- 8b
- Country
Thank you for the specifics. They are most helpful.I seem to add a fish or two every year and usually about that size. I use a 35 Gallon preformed above ground "pond". I picked a few of them up at a big box store for under $20 each. (Also great for cleaning filter material and repotting plants).
Here's what I do:
- Fill container with pond water
- Install a small pump with fountain attachment. Embed that in a plant container filled with lava rock
- Rinse filter brush or something like that in the new "pond" to seed the filter with bacteria
- Run until clear
- Add fish
- Add melafix which is a tea-tree thing supposedly good for general fungus, scrapes, whatever. No other drugs
- Cover
- Wait 2-3 weeks feeding new fish lightly.
Love the perspective!OK, I'm gonna be the 'outlier' here. I've added new fish twice in the past two years/Springs. My experience are as follows (keep in mind, both times I've ordered from the same, reputable source)
First time (two years ago) I set up a 'quarantine tank' (100 gal stock tank, filled with pond water) 7 new fish. So stressed they NEVER ate, one squashed himself into the area that a UV filter light was supposed to be in & never came out. I waited 5 days, couldn't stand seeing the stressed behavior of the new fish any longer & ... released them into the pond.
A couple weeks later we had an outbreak of some sort of parasite & by generalized treatment of the pond, managed to save all but three fish. Losses were in 'OLD' fish - none of the 'newbies' showed any symptoms of illness.
Next time (one year later) we added fish from the same vendor, NO quarantine period. Just acclimate & into the pond they went. This time, no loss of ANY fish, either new or original (other than one new little one that got stuck in a skimmer basket & two that were taken by predators over the past year)
So, I'm going with --- depending on the reputation of the company you're dealing with & the source of your fish --- quarantining doesn't guarantee "success". Not quarantining doesn't guarantee "failure". (Shrug)
Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?
You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.