Q&A for How to Quarantine Freshwater Fish

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

Do I need a quarantine tank if I'm mixing two fish from the same pet store that were originally in different tanks?

Terry Shelton

Community Answer

If they are the only fish you have, then no. If not, quarantine both in the same tank before introducing them to your other fish.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6
Question

Can I use a quarantine tank without a filter?

Llp33

Community Answer

For a short period, yes, but make sure that you do regular water changes. If a fish is sick, it might stress it out to have a strong filter current.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6
Question

I did everything right starting up my new tank, but lost 5 out of 7 fish to ich. I've been treating them. When can I get new fish, and what do I have to do to my tank? I have now started a quarantine tank.

LeahlovesGod

Top Answerer

Place your remaining 2 fish in the quarantine tank. Clean out your original aquarium and have it cycle (with the pumps and/or bubblers running) for a week afterwards. Make sure that after you clean the tank you add special freshwater salt. This helps to prevent fish from getting ich. Acclimate your remaining 2 fish back into the aquarium once they seem better. The freshwater salt is good for the quarantine tank as well. Once the tank is cleaned, you may add new fish.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question

What should be placed in a fish tank?

Community Answer

If anything, it should be empty, besides pebbles at the bottom. Maybe a big rock or a plant or something for them to hide behind, but if the fish is really sick you don't want them getting stuck anywhere.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 9
Question

Why does the skin of guppies go pale?

Community Answer

They could possibly be sleeping if they are pale & not moving much. If that is not the case, they could be very stressed in their environment, which causes loss of color & possible parasites like ICH.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 6
Question

If my black widow tetras and albino shark have been in a quarantine tank for a week and look healthy with no sign of illness, can I move them to the main tank or do I need to wait for another week?

Community Answer

Just see if the widow tetras and albino shark are active and swimming all around and eating and doing everything that a healthy fish would do then yes. Put them back in the main tank.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 7
Question

Should I put fish that are leaving the tank into a quarantine tank?

Community Answer

Yes, I think this would be a good idea.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 3
Question

How do I know if my quarantine tank is ready, so I can add the ill fish?

Community Answer

If the tank is cycled then it will have been a week or so. Once a week has passed, test the water. If all is good, then add your fish.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 3
Question

I have some fish that look ill in my outdoor pond, can the water in my pond transfer any diseases in to my quarantine tank?

Community Answer

To be sure, it would be best to put them in all new water, but to acclimate them for 20 minutes before putting them in the quarantine tank to make sure they're not bringing any of the water from the pond in with them.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question

I have a few zebra fish and female guppies in my 20 gallon tank but I would love to add a sorority of female bettas. Do I really need to quarantine every betta beforehand?

Mel K

Top Answerer

Yes, it is really important. One betta could be sick and you didn’t know, you put them all together and out of nowhere, all of the fish are dead.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

If I have a regular tank and want to add to the community, is it necessary to quarantine my new fish before adding him/her to the new tank?

Community Answer

Not necessary, but a good idea. If you trust your source and are comfortable with not putting them in quarantine, then go for it.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Question

Can I quarantine my sick 1" black molly that possibly has columnaris in a 1-1.5 gallons tank? And should the thank be cycled and how long?

Community Answer

Yes, if you want to save him, try quarantining. General cure will help with this. And before putting him you need to cycle the qt tank. However, if the molly is a bad condition and you can’t wait so long for it to cycle, try getting a sponge filter, running it in a mature tank for about a week, then put it in your new quarantine tank and it will be an instant cycle.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How long should be the medication fluid stay in the tank?

Community Answer

It can't exactly be removed, except over time with water changes. Leaving it in there can do nothing but help, so it isn't a bad thing unless you plan to add more fish. Leave it in at least 2 weeks or until your fish starts to heal, then remove through water changes every few days.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

I have 8 fully grown zebra danois and 4 golden minnows. Ever since I got the golden minnows, I have been putting in more food but the gold minnows don't eat it. Why is this?

Community Answer

He could be sick. Test water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. Did you cycle? Otherwise, some fish are picky and you need to feed them differently. Almost all fish go for live food like brine shrimp so if you're worried try that.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

I have a few zebra fish and female guppies in my 20-gallon tank but I would love to add a sorority of female bettas. Do I really need to quarantine every betta beforehand?

Community Answer

Quarantine is never really mandatory, however it is always a good idea. If you have a strong-looking fish from a good source then it is fine. I don't quarantine my fish and have only a few times had problems with disease. You can quarantine, however. If you have extra 10 gallon lying around fill with treated tap water and you can instant cycle by leaving sponge filter running in mature tank for a week then leaving in QT tank for a week. I recommend Aquarium Co-Ops 3 meds for quarantining new fish. However, it is not needed.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

I have one fish in a 50 gallon tank and he seems sick. Ph is off and tank needs to be cleaned so should I move my fish out to a hospital tank and treat it there or leave it in the tank while I fix it?

Community Answer

Transfer to quarantine. Try to diagnose and get medicine for your fish. Meanwhile fix pH in display tank with Acid Buffer, purified water or driftwood/almond leaves to help soften.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

I recently lost a whole tank except my pleco (now in hospital) to columnaris. I've since sterilized and started over in the main tank. I'm treating my pleco, but am worried about returning her to the tank.

Community Answer

Monitor your pleco closely for a long period of time in a separate tank from your main one. Keeping in mind the severity of columnaris, I would wait for at least two months of good health before reintroducing your pleco into the community tank.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

Is it good to add snails in the aquarium?

Community Answer

Not when quarantined, as when you put that snail in the tank, all the other fish can get sick.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

What medicine should I give to kill the parasites in my aquarium?

Community Answer

Depends what type of parasites you have. For white spot disease, for example, I would use Malachite Green.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0