How long should I quarantine new fish?

The standard quarantine period is 30 days. This allows time for most common diseases to manifest. Some protocols extend to 45–60 days for high-value broodstock or shipments from regions with known disease risks.

What should I do during quarantine?

Monitor fish daily for signs of disease (lethargy, fin damage, spots, abnormal swimming). Maintain optimal water quality. Some protocols include prophylactic salt baths or anti-parasitic treatments during quarantine.

Can I add fish from different shipments together?

Never mix quarantine batches. Each new shipment starts its own quarantine clock. Mixing resets the clock for all fish and risks cross-contamination.

What happens if a fish gets sick during quarantine?

If disease is detected, treat the entire quarantine tank and restart the quarantine clock from the last day of treatment. Do not release fish until the full quarantine period passes with no signs of disease.

ToolsConductScience tool

AquacultureFree in-browser calculator

Quarantine Countdown.

Track quarantine timelines for new fish arrivals. Visual progress bar shows days elapsed and remaining until safe release.

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Validated2026-04-08

CitableMethods and citation included

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Load example quarantine countdown data to see the full workflow

Quarantine Parameters

Arrival Date

Duration (days)

Results

20 days leftIn quarantine

Day 010 / 30 daysDay 30

Days Elapsed

since arrival

Days Remaining

until release

Release Date

6/29/2026

projected

Status

In Progress

hold in quarantine

When to use

Tracking quarantine timelines for new fish arrivals
Managing multiple quarantine batches simultaneously
Documenting biosecurity compliance for audits
Planning introduction of new stock into existing systems

Do not use for

As a substitute for daily health observations — the countdown is a minimum, not a guarantee
For quarantine of diseased fish — treatment protocols have different timelines

Separate equipment is essential

Quarantine tanks must have dedicated nets, siphons, and other equipment. Shared equipment defeats the purpose.

Quarantine water goes to drain

Never return quarantine water to the main system. Treat and discard it separately.

30 days is a minimum

Some slow-developing diseases (e.g., mycobacteriosis) may not manifest in 30 days. Extend quarantine for high-value or high-risk shipments.

Method

Days elapsed calculated from arrival date to current date. Release date = Arrival Date + Required Days. Progress bar shows percent completion. Default 30-day period per OIE recommendations.

Validated

Last validated 2026-04-08. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.

How to cite

How to Cite

ConductScience Quarantine Countdown (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/quarantine-countdown

OIE. Aquatic Animal Health Code. World Organisation for Animal Health. 2021.

USDA APHIS. Aquaculture Biosecurity Guide. USDA. 2018.

Quarantine in Aquaculture

Quarantine is the single most important biosecurity measure in aquaculture. New fish can carry pathogens that devastate existing stock. A proper quarantine period — typically 30 days in an isolated system with separate equipment — allows latent infections to become apparent before introduction to the main population. This tool tracks the quarantine timeline and shows when fish are safe to release.

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