wrote in message news:41741efc@padme....
Continuing the topic of the likelihood of newly introduced GF or Koi dying
within the first year. Whilst I understand the desirability of having a
100
gallon QT tanks, heaters keeping them for a year in these tanks and
virtually turning your small garden into a fish importers quarantine
industrial estate (I exaggerate for effect - but you know what I mean).
Its
all very well to buy, sterilise, fill, heat, keep a watch on, maintain,
fence have the fish die anyway, etc etc, but I have got a proper job and
house to rebuild to keep me busy, and I don't have any room for tanks.
The cost and effort put into running the QT tanks needs to be assessed
against the likely hood of the newly introduced fish dying, or more
worrying, existing stocks dying.
The POLL:-
Just how many fish have people in this newsgroup bought, and have died in
the first, say, year? Both with and without using quarentee procedures.
And how many times have existing stocks been killed of by diseases carried
by the newcomer?
I'll start it off. I have added 10 Koi, in 5 batches over 5 years, 8 GF
in
4 batches over 5 years, 2 grass carp, 2 golden tench. All added as
tiddlers.
The grass carp are 12 inches long, and the Koi range from 12 to 16 inches
long.
Deaths: first occurrence this year, 1 out of 1 3 inch tiddler Koi
added.
seemed very happy for the first 3 weeks then poof! without any warning.
Purchased in the autumn.
1 off 16 inch Koi died out of the blue, over a year after the addition of
any newcomer.
I suspect that this is very typical of pond life and death, whether
quarantining or not - but lets find out. Over to you.
I also lost 2 starlets (dwarf stergeon) but a fish importer told me that
they are not suitable for ponds, they like rivers.
I purchased 3 goldfish this summer. They came from the feeder tanks at
Petsmart. No room to quarantine, so they went straight into the pond. They
& all the other goldfish (about 7 or 8) are all fine. I've done this on
several occasions with no ill effect. Yes, I realize I'm probably playing
Russian roulette, but that's the way it has to be right now.
Jacqui
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