Q tank temps for KHV quarentine

[koised]

Hello

I am considering buying several small koi from various places and have a Q tank set up with a couple of goldfish in it now. I have the capability (at least till the end of March or so) of lowering and then raising the temperature in this small system. It is currently at 64F, but could be lowered to the high forties or raised as high as needed. The fish in it will be isolated till at least May. How long at what temperatures and how many times should I cycle it up and down to be reasonably sure they are not infected with KHV?

Mikel

[RayJordan]

To detect KHV hold koi at 72-76 degrees in Q tank for six-eight weeks. You also need to put a koi into Q-tank from your current collection after three weeks to try and determine that the new koi are not carriers of KHV. KHV carriers show no illness themselves but would pass along KHV which would kill other koi. NO CYCLING. Cycling can cause a KHV infected koi to survive become a carrier and then kill other koi when exposed to it.

[koised]

Have heard of some people raising and lowering the temp to get the virus to show itself, but your way sounds much safer for my collection. I even have a test fish in mind. Scince I do not care if I lose that fish, would putting it in earlier than 3 weeks be as good? I will still be leaving all in there for a few months.

Mikel

[RayJordan]

If you don't care about the "canary" koi it can be in quarantine the entire time.

[koised]

Thanks again Ray

I will just take the goldfish out and replace them with the "canary" koi then. It is a little heavier than the goldfish and is probably better suited to keep the filter active with.

Mikel

[jnorth]

Quote: Originally Posted by koised Thanks again Ray I will just take the goldfish out and replace them with the "canary" koi then. It is a little heavier than the goldfish and is probably better suited to keep the filter active with. Mikel

Sounds like you are planning on just putting one koi in the tank for awhile and taking the gf out. I'd go with two koi as they don't like to be alone. Or leave the gf in until you buy some new koi and just take the gf out then and put your "canary" and the new koi in at the same time. Keep in mind that if the new koi comes in with say flukes that you need to treat that and then if you buy more koi after you have treated for flukes that you have to start the whole qt process over again and may end up treating for the same bug over again.

Another thing to consider along the KHV lines is that if you buy say 10 koi from 10 different sources and ONE of them has khv then ALL 10 plus the canary are dead and you won't know where the khv koi came from.

[koised]

Good point about the multiple sources. I am planning on only using two and have purchased fish from them in years past with good luck. I am mostly concerned with the health of my current collection and usually remove the goldies after I cycle a tank and am ready to use it. One of the sad parts of this hobby I have found is-what do you do with culls? Using one for a canary is better for me than tossing it to the raccoons or in the trash. If it survives the time it is used it will most likely go to someone elses pond that does not care about its pattern that is starting to look poor as it will then be much warmer by then and the ice will be off the ponds around here. Another sad thing about raising koi is I that since I only have limited recources I have to make some hard choices. Guess I am saying that I do not care if it is lonesome. It is lucky to be getting the break of having the chance to survive till spring.