Marine Depot Forums / TEAM Marine Depot / Disease, Health and Wellness - by Kelly Jedlicki / Can ogo contain parasites? / Latest Posts

RE: Can ogo contain parasites?

Puffer Queen — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 12:55:08 GMT

Jed,

I don't know about freezing - if that would kill parasites or not. I would be worried about the nutritional value after freezing ? Rinsing it with freshwater will not kill everything,

How about putting the "extra" ogo in a salt bucket, rubbermaid container, etc with an airstone & powerhead as temporary holding systems......just a thought.

RE: Can ogo contain parasites?

Jgriffen — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 12:13:06 GMT

Okay, one more question. It is not as if I can't wait to feed the fish the ogo, I just have way too much of the stuff and I don't want to throw some of it away. So can I freeze a few strands then rinse them in fresh water and call it safe? My ten gallon tank as I have it set up for this is way to small for the 1/2 pound of ogo I ordered(the minimum amount I could order). With less ogo I believe I would get better growth rates, and be able to keep it healthier. I have no problem quarantining it, as I do everything else I just would hate to waste it by throwing some of it away.

Thanks,

Jed

RE: Can ogo contain parasites?

Puffer Queen — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 12:28:47 GMT

Brian,

Thanks for sharing.

QT is the only way to go.

RE: Can ogo contain parasites?

BrianPlankis — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 12:13:28 GMT

Puffer Queen (3/1/2006)

Jed,

Thanks for the compliments.

I figured that you meant freshwater baths. The freshwater soak may remove some parasites but unfortunately many parasites have lasted through 15 minute freshwater baths. So I would be afraid of residual parasites.

Best of luck.

I rarely have hard data to answer questions, but in this case I do! I did not quarantine my LR and I ended up with a large number of parasites (Cirolanid Isopods to be specific). I had heard that freshwater soaks would kill them, so I tested that theory.

I put several Cirolanids in freshwater and then watched them closely till time of death. The larger Cirolanids took 95-100 minutes to die and the smaller ones 35 minutes. I had one Cirolanid that looked DEAD and did not react to a chopstick prodding it after 30 minutes. I then returned it to normal salinity saltwater and it was swimming around happily for 4 days until I smushed it. You can read the whole article if you want here:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/bp/index.php The freshwater tests are in Table 3.

I would say a ten minute freshwater dip would be inadequate in killing many parasites. QT is the way to go!

Brian

RE: Can ogo contain parasites?

Puffer Queen — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:44:39 GMT

RE: Can ogo contain parasites?

Jgriffen — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:39:49 GMT

Thanks Kelly

I respect and will obide by your recomendation. However, I am afraid I might not have made myself clear. When I said soak in fresh water I did not mean all of the ogo, just the very small amount which I would put in the tank for food for my tangs (2-3 strands). I realize that long term exposure to hyposalinity would cause damage, but a 10 minutes soak seems harmless to the nutitional value to me. I am not trying to argue, as I am in no position to argue with you just trying to make myself clear. As I said I will obide by your recomendations.

Thanks,

Jed

RE: Can ogo contain parasites?

Puffer Queen — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 12:22:05 GMT

Jgriffen,

Please quarantine for at least 4 weeks. You are correct in saying that anything wet can & will carry parasites. If you quarantine the ogo in a tank without fish, any parasites will die without a fish host.

I would not use freshwater dips or hyposalinity on the ogo as it will affect the ogo.

Resist the "temptation" and do what is safe.

Thanks for sharing.

Best of luck.

Can ogo contain parasites?

Jgriffen — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 12:00:25 GMT

I just received some ogo. I would like to put some in my tank, but I am worried of introducing parasites. I know the rule is to quarantine anything wet, but I really want to add some now. Quarantining is not an issue, for I have a tank set up for it to grow in. So my question is if I was to soak some in fresh water would this be sufficient to rid the ogo of any possible parasites? Or should I just resist the temptations and wait for two or three weeks, then add some?

Thanks,

Jed