quarantine

[dickhordishay]

Is it necessary to quarantine fish from Live Aquaria? Do they get quarantined and treated there?

[dfs/la2]

dickhordishay,

All of the staff here at Drs. Foster & Smith recognizes the need to properly quarantine aquaria so that we can offer the healthiest aquatic life available. It is important to point out with all of the protocols we have in place; we still feel strongly that any aquatic life you bring into your home should be quarantine in a separate aquarium before placing these animals in the display aquarium. By incorporated this protocol at home, you will greatly reduce the likelihood of having problems down the road.

You may wish to view previous post made by Ginger for our Live Aquaria acclimation procedures:

Quarentine Procedures... (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1263905)

“Marine fish and invertebrates are flown in direct from multiple locales around the world. The fish and invertebrates are acclimated in a temperature-controlled room illuminated under red lighting to not shock these animals when the boxes are opened. Fish are cut from their shipping bags and placed in polyethylene totes with shipping water. Brand new seawater of the same temperature is adjusted to a low pH to match the new shipment and this is then dripped into the totes. Water is exchanged with low pH water so that the fish will not be exposed to lethal ammonia levels that can burn their gills during acclimation. Once the inbound fish are in this low pH solution they are then acclimated to the main fish systems where they will reside after acclimation. Fish are then transferred to the holding system and covered with a tarp until they are breathing normally.

Fish are held at the aquatic center for an unspecified time, which will vary depending on the species, origin and transit time. Fish that show any sign of damage or disease are transferred off the floor into a dedicated treatment system so that antibiotics can be administered to combat their specific ailment. Once the fish are healed they are then transferred back onto the floor and are offered for sale when they are eating properly and exhibiting normal behavior. They then can be screened, and selected for shipment and pack out.

You may also wish to view our Up Close Interview, found on our web site with Dr. Race Foster, where he discusses the advantages of buying fish through LiveAquaria.com in the following link:

Up Close Interview (http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=91)

If you have further questions please contact us.


Tina C.
Live Aquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith