Hi all, I finally just got my dream betta fish from Tropic Flow and I’m very excited! He should arrive within the next few days. I have truly learned so much from this sub and feel so grateful for all the advice that I have received. I finally have a perfect setup with thriving plants for my perfect fish and have been testing the water every day with my API liquid test kit (I am paranoid, even though it all looks good!).
Here is where I need some advice:
I have received some very conflicting advice on how to best start out with my new betta fish. This is the different advice I have received:
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Put him in my main tank with the shrimp: temperature acclimate and drip acclimate and put him in.
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Quarantine for 2-4 weeks, but only treat if signs of infection pop up. No substrate, no established filter (water testing and changes every day, heater, sponge filter, with Prime.
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Quarantine for 2-4 weeks, immediately treat with med trio (Ich-x, Fritz ParaCleanse, Fritz Maracyn). Start by treating Ich-x and ParaCleanse Day 1, then Maracyn on Day 5. Watch for 7-14 days and move to main tank or treat again if anything pops up.
I am stressed about this because I have learned so much, but I see sick fish on here every day. I feel like I typically see people doing option 1 and only treating them or moving them to a quarantine tank if they show signs of illness. I just really want to do everything right and am open to suggestions!
https://i.redd.it/x0gg0ill2xig1.jpeg
Posted by Potential_Explorer32
2 Comments
Frankly I wouldn’t introduce medications unless you see a reason to. That can often do more harm than good, or at the very least be a waste of medication. But I would definitely quarantine, because if something does end up appearing, then you can treat in isolation without having to remove it from the shrimp tank. Also less stress means lower chance of developing/worsening an infection. Keeping it in isolation keeps you from needing to transport it into a hospital tank (which is stressful) when the immune system is already vulnerable.
I wouldn’t drip acclimate, the water he comes with is gonna be loaded with ammonia but as he respires and releases co2 the lower ph keeps it from being toxic. Once you open that bag co2 degasses and ph rises turning that ammonia toxic and can burn his fins. Float the bag and acclimate temp then dump bag water and place him in tank. My order from tropic flow gets here tomorrow, so excited for ya!