We have a panda oranda that we have been keeping in quarantine for a little over 2 weeks. We bought a tiny tank (5 gal tops) for this purpose, as we really do not have space for a larger one. We put filter media in it from our cycled tank, as well as some rocks. However, it is clear that this tank isn't properly cycled, as ammonia and nitrite levels are non-zero, and we have to make 40-50% water changes every day.

The panda has been behaving normally but we are really worried that this QT tank is going to stress her out. We haven't seen her poop so far, as the filter is so efficient it keeps sucking up her poop shortly after it appears.... but once or twice, I've seen white strings hanging from the plant which might well be the fish's poop. She still eats normally though, and is active.

Yesterday when we were feeding her, she was chewing on two pellets and suddenly started shuddering! It was a disconcerting sight and went on for maybe 30 secs until she'd swallowed the pellets. We'd never observed this behaviour before, and haven't seen her do it since. She is not flashing either, nor is she rubbing herself against the plant or rocks, so I am not sure if its parasites. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with her (apart from a few missing scales but she was like that when we bought her).

Because of the ammonia/nitrites in the QT tank, we are tempted to move her into the big tank (33 gal) to join our red cap oranda... but we're just a little concerned that we may be transferring a fish that is incubating some bacterial or parastic infection. I guess this is just paranoia, but we lost our first 3 fish this way, so it doesn't hurt to be paranoid??? How long can a fish incubate a disease before it starts showing symptoms?

Should we keep her in the less-than-ideal QT tank for 2 more weeks, or transfer her and then watch her like a hawk??

fw

And oh yeah, we've been watching it carefully for poop, and while some of its poop is normal-looking, it sometimes produces white stringy poop as well.

Not sure what to do??

fw

fw, are you soaking the food?

And can you post the levels for us? Thanks.

Depending on how big she is the 5 gal may be ok for the next 2 weeks. ARe you treating her with anything? Salt, med food, anything?

If she is a smaller fish and the pellets are hard (not soaked) they can "chatter" a bit when trying to chew it. Don't know if this is what is going on that is why I asked the questions above.

The fish is not small, but not very big either - about 3 inches from head to tail.

The ammonia levels have been from 0.6 - 1.2 just before we do a water change (once a day max).

The nitrite levels have varied between 0.5 -1, it is never 0, unless we do a 75% water change and because of time constraints, we just can't do this every day.

We didn't soak the pellets (Pro Gold), you're right, it might be down to her chewing. We haven't seen her do it again.

But we have been changing at least 40% of the water every day to try and keep the levels as low as possible, although the ammonia/nitrites are almost never negligible. I am afraid that the 2.5 weeks in this QT tank would've made her sick. She's still very active and swimming around though, but the very FEW times we've seen her poop, its not looked good. (we've not fed her that much either, could this be it?)

fw

Ok with soaking the food this may help. Watch for any more "chattering".
Now as for the water and the qt tank, as small as this tank is I would recommend changing 100% of the water once daily, maybe twice to keep the conditions at a "livable" level.
You can't cycle that tank with a 3 inch fish in it, without doing some real damage to the fish or even killing it.

So if 1-2 times a day 100% water changes can't be done I would recommend to transfer her to the main tank and take your chances on everything being ok. It isn't ideal, but she is going to have ill effects soon with that water like it is.

Let me know what you decide and I can help you futher if need be.