Help! Velvet outbreak!

[Bearpaw]

My tank suffered from a velvet outbreak. Most of my fish (about 10) died within a few days… my clowns lasted for weeks than finally died. I still currently have:
2x Firefish
1x Staghorn Damsel
1x Flamehawk

All of these fish have survived since the outbreak which started in mid to late January.

My question for you experienced reefers.. do I have to pull all the fish out and treat or if I leave those fish in the tank and do not add any others will the velvet eventually die off?

I unfortunately do not have a QT tank and I’m looking for options or suggestions on what to do.
Thanks!

 

[fishguy242]

Hi, sorry to hear,unfortunately think only way to be sure is to remove remaining fish ,
go fallow for 60 days, although i am no expert,lets call some expert help.
@Tamberav @threebuoys @vetteguy53081 @Jay Hemdal @nereefpat

 

[damsels are not mean]

According to this, 6 week fallow. The fish might carry it asymptomatically, too, so I think they need treatment. Not 100% on that though.

Fallow periods: Going Fishless

Going Fallow The reason to go fallow (fishless) is to eliminate a fish disease from your DT (display tank). Going fallow works because you are denying the disease a fish host to feed upon, essentially starving it to death. In order to go fallow you must remove ALL fish from your DT. If just...

humble.fish

 

[Hugh Mann]

Unfortunately you absolutely have to treat your fish. Velvet is nasty business.

You don’t have a QT, but do you have room for one? In a pinch, a sturdy rubbermaid container sized sufficiently for your livestock will work. If you have have room for this you have a couple options to chose from. Tank transfer method (requires an accelerated transfer time for velvet), or copper products. Be sure to monitor ammonia levels and run a sponge filter.

To my knowledge, it’s only species with super thick slime coats like eels can resist velvet. From previous experience, mine shrugged it off like nothing when I separated it from my infected fish. The others I successfully treated with coppersafe in an improvised QT.

 

[vetteguy53081]

As I’ve told others ‘regarding quarantine…. You can buy a 10 gallon starter kit at Walmart for under $50 requiring 22” of space and copper and good copper tea kit versus buying $55 in CA medication
The tank will last you forever
I can give you remedy for velvet but not sure how anyone is assessing velvet without identification
Please post some pics under white lights to confirm
With velvet, they will be swimming into the current, rapid breathing, and lethargic behavior
There will enough dots that it looks like the fish is carrying the solar system

coppersafe will treat both but whatever treatment it is, it should say treats Oodinum

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

As I’ve told others ‘regarding quarantine…. You can buy a 10 gallon starter kit at Walmart for under $50 requiring 22” of space and copper and good copper tea kit versus buying $55 in CA medication
The tank will last you forever
I can give you remedy for velvet but not sure how anyone is assessing velvet without identification
Please post some pics under white lights to confirm
With velvet, they will be swimming into the current, rapid breathing, and lethargic behavior
There will enough dots that it looks like the fish is carrying the solar system

coppersafe will treat both but whatever treatment it is, it should say treats Oodinum

Exactly, I see so many say they can’t do a QT tank. I ran a 10g with just a heater and air stone as one for years, not even cycled. Just doing 50% water changes every 2-3 days to keep ammonia down. Pretty sure everybody can find some space for that.

Now I run a 40b with hang on Seachem Tidal and a large sponge filter.

 

[Unitylover]

You can treat with ruby rally, you can do in DT since its reef safe.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

My tank suffered from a velvet outbreak. Most of my fish (about 10) died within a few days… my clowns lasted for weeks than finally died. I still currently have:
2x Firefish
1x Staghorn Damsel
1x Flamehawk

All of these fish have survived since the outbreak which started in mid to late January.

My question for you experienced reefers.. do I have to pull all the fish out and treat or if I leave those fish in the tank and do not add any others will the velvet eventually die off?

I unfortunately do not have a QT tank and I’m looking for options or suggestions on what to do.
Thanks!

One thing - you diagnosed this as a velvet outbreak, but the symptoms don't match up to that disease. Clownfish don't live for weeks with velvet, and the flame hawk and damsel wouldn't have survived (possibly the firefish could have?).

With velvet, you typically see the fish breathing fast, sometimes hovering in water outflows of pumps, and then death in around 72 hours from first symptoms. Sometimes, towards the end, the fish will have some tiny spots on their body, almost like dust.

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

You can treat with ruby rally, you can do in DT since its reef safe.

Yes and no
The dead ones will have to be vacuumed up in which you can’t see them
Best done in a treatment tank
Although reef safe you have to bear in mind safe for most inverts- not safe to resolve parasite issues inzz a a display tank, at least in C many cases

 

[Unitylover]

Yes and no
The BBC dead ones will have to be vacuumed up in which you can’t see them
Best done in a treatment tank
Although reef safe you have to bear in mind safe for most inverts- not safe to resolve parasite issues inzz a a display tank, at least in C many cases

oh