Freshwater

Purpose and advantages of quarantining
All tropical fish go through a tremendous amount of stress being transported
to your home aquarium. Think about it — if someone snagged you with a
giant pair of panty hose and then stuck you in a large plastic bag, wouldn’t
you have a little bit of a problem with that?
Fish are really not that much different from us when it comes to mental
stress. A quarantine tank can be the perfect way to provide your new tropical
fish with a suitable recovery area — it gives them time to regain their
strength before moving into their brand-new home. This recovery period also
gives you time to see whether any latent diseases or physical problems manifest
themselves.
Quarantine time
The very first thing that you need to do when you bring your new acquisitions
home (unless they are starter fish, the very first fish in a new aquarium)
is to place them in a quarantine tank for one week. You don’t quarantine
starter fish because you need them to begin the nitrogen cycle. While your
fish are in quarantine, check them daily for signs of disease and make sure
they are eating normally.
Writing it all down
A journal can help you keep track of your fish’s quarantine and health record.
You can check these records for information on previous treatments. Keep a
separate page for each fish and include the fish’s name, date of purchase,
size, health record, length of quarantine, and any other information you feel
may be important in future medical treatments. To look like a real pro, write
something important looking like “Scientific Information” on the journal’s
cover. Your friends will be impressed.
The tank
Chapter 11: Diseases and Treatments
We think a 10- or 20-gallon tank is good for quarantining unless you plan on
buying some very large fish. All the equipment you need to get your quarantine
tank going is a good-quality power filter and a submersible heater. Make
your new fish feel secure by adding some gravel and a few artificial plants.
The last thing you need is for your new pets to go into a bare tank where they
can easily be frightened.
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