QT'ing by dealers.....

[aquitori]

Generally how long do dealers QT their fish? 3 weeks? or is 2 months too long?

[dinh]

Is there any QT standard process?

--Dinh

[kntry]

I think they are all different.

[aquitori]

But would you guys think 2 months is a long wait? I would think the standard would be around maybe 3 weeks at the most...

[KoiCCAPW]

Two months would be great and very safe, but I'm sure they have to balance safety and cost of holding a koi for that long. I would bet most experienced dealers could tell by three weeks if something is wrong.

[MCA]

No standards, and no way to know any standard would be followed. Don't go there because it would give false sense of security.

You take the koi home and QT in your facilities with your water, filters...etc. Then the last 2 weeks of QT introduce a "canary" from your pond into the QT to double check that neither fish has a problem. Dealer can't do that for you.

[moikoi]

Kevin said.....he QT for 3-4 weeks before he sells. i know there's at least one dealer in S.Jose that don't QT.

[Fishbreeder]

The standard is this game I call "Hot potato fish"

The fish is the hot potato. Breeder harvests and keeps the fish in holding, cleaning up parasites and such in the process. But, the fish can;t stay for long, couple of days to a week. So the hot tater moves up the line to the exporter, by now that tater is really cookin'.

Its so dang hot the exporter pitches it quick as possible to an overseas distributor. Idea being that if the tater is pitched quick before it can get sick, payment is made.

Remember the fish is moving one way the money is going the other way. Money changes hands each time the fish moves.

Now the hot potato is in the hands of the distributor/wholesaler. He knows this tater gotta move and quick, it still looks good, but a bit ragged around the fins. Fast toss off to the retailer.

The retailer has laid out a lot of cash to get this tater in his shop. That cash needs replaced, and quick. That pipin' hot tater needs moved, too, into the hands of the hobbiest. So the hot potato makes its last jump into the hands of the fishkeeper.

You can;t do justice to QT and play hot potato fish at the same time.

Also, at each step beyond the breeder's farm the potato gets exposed to a plethora of pathogens from other farms, distributorships and dealerships.

So the ultimate responsibility for QT does now and will always rest with the fishkeeper.

Brett

[mstrseed]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fishbreeder So the ultimate responsibility for QT does now and will always rest with the fishkeeper. Brett

BINGO!!!

and so eloquently put.............

[l113892]

I think the fish keeper should always be in a position to provide a better environment than the breeder or dealer, unless we are talking a mud pond. But I do think the fish dealer should provide a responsible service and make a valid attempt to verify no KHV and reduced levels of parasites. It's just a lot easier for the dealer to treat in mass for parasites. If the fish arrives at the koi keeper's with a low level of parasites, a good environment should allow the fish to do fine without intervention unless the fish arrives in a very weakened state.