What are the symptoms of Velvet in fish?

Symptoms

• Scratching against hard objects.
• Lethargy.
• Loss of appetite and weight.
• Loss of color.
• Rapid, labored breathing.
• Fins clamped against the body.
• Fine yellow or rusty colored film on the skin.
• In advanced stages, skin peels off.

Can Marine Velvet survive without treatment?

For fish that reach this end stage of the disease, it’s typically too late. They usually do not respond to treatment, and most often will die.

What causes marine Velvet?

Velvet disease (also called gold-dust, rust and coral disease) is a fish disease caused by dinoflagellate parasites of the genus Piscinoodinium, specifically Amyloodinium in marine fish, and Oodinium in freshwater fish. The disease gives infected organisms a dusty, brownish-gold color.

How do you cure saltwater Velvet?

Treatment with copper sulfate (i.e. Cupramine) for 21-30 days. Chloroquine phosphate treatment could be used. Reef safe medications, though much weaker include Rally or Hypercure. Antiparasitic foods and garlic additives may also help if the fish is eating.

How do you test for Marine Velvet?

Diagnosis is usually made based upon history and symptoms, but scrapings of the skin can be performed and the trophonts identified. Another technique is to place the infected fish in fresh water for several minutes and the organisms will drop off and float to the bottom.

How do you treat velvet disease?

Currently, treatments for velvet disease and other parasitic infections contain copper, malachite green or methylene blue – all of which can be toxic to other organisms in the surrounding environment. These treatments also leave residues in the water after they are used.

What kills marine velvet?

Treatment for this disease is almost exclusively with copper. There has been some success reported with the use of the antimalarial drug, chloroquine diphosphate, but the drug is expensive, difficult to obtain and, therefore, not a common treatment option.

How long does marine velvet live?

It attaches to the skin of fish (then loses the flagella) in order to feed. Initially it appears as small white dots (similar to ich) but is much finer giving it a “velvet” appearance. They can live without a fish host for up to 24 hours in the water.

What temp kills velvet?

Temperature increases help speed up the life cycle of velvet so you can kill them faster. The max, if you can, would be 89F (31C), but if you can get your temp up to at least 86F (30C), that should be high enough.

What do I do if my fish has velvet?

The best treatment for velvet in marine fish is copper. There are commercial fish medications available that contain copper formulations. Follow the label directions carefully.

Will UV help with marine Velvet?

Any disease vector with a free swimming stage, both of which velvet and ich have, are susceptible to a properly sized and setup UV. It’s unlikely to eradicate the organism from a system, but should slow down the progression of the disease.

How do you treat velvet in a tank?

Treatment

1. Raise water temperature.
2. Dim lights for several days.
3. Add aquarium salt.
4. Treat with copper sulfate for ten days.
5. Discontinue carbon filtration during treatment.

Can fish survive Marine velvet?

By the time the gold-colored velvet appears, however, the gills may be so infected that treatment is usually too late. Many fish die from this disease without ever showing any visible skin changes.

Can velvet disease be cured?

The safest and most effective method is a salt-immersion treatment (salt water dip). Commercial copper medications can also be used, but beware of their effects on alkalinity and pH.

How can you tell the difference between velvet and marine ich?

Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) – Oval shaped white dots, can usually be counted. These remain on the fish for 3-7 days before dropping off to continue their lifecycle. Velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum) – Smaller round white dots. Oftentimes completely covering the fish & too numerous to be counted.

Does Marine velvet affect corals?

No velvet doesn’t kill coral. You’ll want to do a 75 day period where you add nothing to the tank.

How do you test for Marine velvet?

What do I do if my fish has Velvet?

Can fish survive Marine Velvet?

What are the symptoms of marine velvet?

Other symptoms of marine velvet are fish scratching themselves against the aquarium decoration and loss of apatite. The disease usually kills fish by damaging their respiratory system. Marine velvet is very contagious and is fatal unless treated. There are several methods to threat this marine velvet.

Where can I find more information about marine velvet disease?

If you have questions or need more information on diagnosing or treating Marine Velvet or other saltwater fish disease, check out the Fish Disease Treatment & Diagnosis forum on REEF2REEF.

What is marine velvet?

Marine velvet is as the name suggests a disease that is found in saltwater aquariums and it is one of the most common illnesses in saltwater aquariums. It can infect fish in all different types of saltwater aquariums from species tanks to reef tanks, from coldwater tanks to tropical tanks.

What does Velvet dust look like on fish?

This dust may look grey-gold colored if viewed at the right angle and under the right spectrum of light. For this reason, it may be difficult to see velvet on a yellow or light colored fish (look from an angle, not directly from the side). However, sometimes a fish’s body will look “dirty” or show “dark areas” just before velvet appears.