With new goldfish, we recommend that you quarantine them for AT LEAST two weeks AFTER you are sure they are healthy. This is important because you don't want to bring something into an established tank that would make your goldfish sick. It is also important for the new goldfish, as you will be treating them for flukes and keeping a close eye on them while being prepared to treat them if they do get sick. Feel free to post in the GAB sick fish forum if you need assistance.

We recommend the following quarantine process for new goldfish:

• Quarantine new fish for four weeks in a cycled hospital tank while feeding them a nutritious diet and observing them closely. Home made gel food with acidophilus is a good option as is Mazuri gel food or fresh foods (see our Goldfish Nutrition articles and the GAB Goldfish Diner).
• Treat with Praziquantel to eliminate flukes and some intestinal worms. Our recommended praziquantel dosing schedule is:
  • Remove carbon.
  • Add 2.5 milligrams per liter of water.
  • If you are using the powdered version, it is difficult to dissolve. Predissolve in tank water by shaking it up in a small container.
  • Dosing
    Day 1 -- remove carbon, perform water change with vacuuming, and add Prazi to tank
    Day 2 -- add Prazi
    Day 3 -- do nothing
    Day 4 -- do nothing
    Day 5 -- do nothing
    Day 6 -- add Prazi
    Day 7 -- add Prazi
    Day 8 -- normal partial water change with vacuuming
    Day 14 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
    Day 21 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
    Day 28 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
    Day 35 - normal partial water change, add carbon, treatment is complete

Treating with Antibiotics for Bacterial Infections

Since, prophylactic use of antibiotics is controversial and many worry about bacterial resistance, we recommend that you have antibiotics on hand but not administer them unless the fish shows symptoms that would suggest a bacterial illness--just observe closely for symptoms of a bacterial infection. I prefer to keep Seachem Kanaplex (kanamycin) and Metronidazole on hand and make up a medicated gel food with added acidophilus (to help reestablish the normal flora of the intestional tract). Medigold, Metromeds (GFU Medi-food) and Romet medicated foods are also good to have on hand, but have less of a shelf life. We do not recomment Jungle Antibacterial food, unless that's absolutely the only medicated food you can find.

Treating for Other External Parasites

You should also have medications to treat common external parasites on hand. Salt is good for treating ich, however, some external parasites are salt resistant, so we recommend keeping Formalin (preferably) or a medication with both formalin and malachite green on hand (e.g. Quick Cure or Rid Ich). If your new goldfish does get sick from external parasites other than ich, Also be prepared to administer antibiotics as external parasites open up small wounds that can lead to bacterial infections.

See our article on Diagnosis by Symptoms for more information on diagnosing illnesses.

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