QT Medication Yay or Nay?

[Sandra the fish rookie]

From other posts I have asked this similar question however, this is a tad bit different. I recently received new fish from Flip Aquatics (6 panda cory and 3 otto's). They are happily hanging out in the QT tank. I have not seen any signs of disease (yet).

When I received my guppies, I did the QT trio and a full round of Parcleanse and have continued to do this EXCEPT this time. I have been observing them first and plan to keep them in there 2 weeks at the VERY least. BUT.. 

Should I medicate them????? I am so afraid for it all to go well add them to my 40G display tank and all heck break loose. My current stocking in the 40G is 2 BN Plecos and 2 Otto's. 

[Guppysnail]

If it were me I would at least do ParaCleanse and Maracyn if for nothing but peace of mind. They may be carriers but unaffected by something visibly that could transfer. I had HORRIBLE luck with every guppy until I found the ACO qtrio.  It brought the joy back to guppies. I am a worrier ever since. And the constant looking and questioning in my mind is not worth the few dollars for meds. 

[Sandra the fish rookie]

@Guppysnail I totally feel you! I would buy guppies and all but 1 would die.. over and over again. I took a break from guppies for a while. Then I decided to take a chance on Michael's fish room mutt guppies. LIFE CHANGING. I QTrio each batch (including my super red long fin pleco I got from Mike too) and they are doing GREAT! Even had babies in the QT tank. 

Your right.. I guess I was thinking.. well Flip does quarantine his fish.. but even still.. better to be safe than sorry. I might just do all 3 meds "just in case". 

[HH Morant]

The effects of internal parasites are rarely obvious, so ParaCleanse is a good precaution to take. All 3 of the the trio of quarantine medications are precautions - something you should do whether you see signs of disease or not.

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

I find if I only use 2 the stress can bring out Ich many times 25-30% in my fish room.

[Sandra the fish rookie]

Usually when I first receive fish, I put them in the QT tank to let them chill out a bit. I feed them watch them for the first week. Then I do a nice water change and start the med trio. Let them sit in it for 7 days and do another water change (per Cory's YT video). Then I observe them 2 more weeks. Letting them recover, feeding high quality foods. If all goes well they are released into the display tank. 

But I use ALL 3 meds at once. when it was my guppies, I did a full course of paracleanse (because of my LONG history of guppies and worms). 

I am hoping these guys will only need the trio. BUT.. if someone feels they need something additional (because of their experience) PLEASE let me know 🙂  

[HH Morant]

I share your experience with internal parasites, which have taken a toll on my fish. I think it is a good idea to do a second round of ParaCleanse two weeks after the first. I seem to remember a Cory video in which he recommends this if you are worried about worms/internal parasites because the medication only kills worms/parasites, not eggs. The second round is necessary to get the newly hatched parasites that were eggs during the first round. 

[ARMYVET]

 I have read up on the proper use of the trio that @Corydoes.  I was wondering ...is this used only for fish? What if I am ordering in some shrimp or snails...do they get the meds too or just quarantine for observation for a few days? I know it says it is safe for all shrimp and inverts but Im asking is it necessary for them to be medicated in QT.

And while I think they would not ... Ill ask anyway...does the meds hurt live plants?

Thank you all!

Edited June 7, 2021 by ARMYVET