How to Quarantine a Fish

If you are into fish, at one time or another you need to quarantine a fish. Quarantining a fish is necessary when you purchase a new fish, or if one comes down with an illness and needs to separate from the others in the tank. Follow these steps to quarantine a fish and you'll be sure to have a fish that can live a long, healthy life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 10-gallon tank
• Sponge filter
• Heater and hood
• Fish net
• Antibacterial medicated food
• Antiprotozoal medicated food
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles or glasses

1. Set up a 10-gallon aquarium tank with an inexpensive sponge filter. Include a heater and hood for this tank.

2. Introduce a new fish or a sick fish from your main aquarium to the quarantine tank. Use a separate fish net to place the fish into the quarantine tank. Don't use the same net you use for the main aquarium.

3. Keep the fish in the quarantine tank for no less than three weeks. One month is ideal. For fish quarantined because of illness, quarantine for as long as it takes for the illness to clear up.

4. Feed the quarantined fish antibacterial medicated food twice daily for two weeks. This is a preventive measure as bacterial disorders are most common in fish. For fish caught in the wild, use antibacterial food for one serving and antiprotozoal medicated food for the other for that two-week period.

5. Empty the quarantine tank when finished. Wash down the tank thoroughly with a little bleach added to warm water. Rinse sponge filter with plain hot water. Allow everything to dry and store away until you need to use the tank again.

Tips & Warnings

• Observe the quarantined fish often. Keep a log recording behavior, feedings and appearance of the fish.
• Quarantine any plant life you are introducing to an aquarium as well. Plants can carry some diseases.
• Fill the quarantine tank with water from the main aquarium tank.
• Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles or glasses when cleaning quarantine tank with bleach and water.
• Don't add another fish to the quarantine tank while one fish is already under quarantine. Clean out the tank before starting the quarantine process with another fish.