Ick vs velvet cycle

[Dawson_hatton]

I’ve noticed there’s not very much clear info about ick’s lifecycle in comparison to velvet, so I was wondering what you guys think based off of this timeline. I got a newish clown and realized he was swimming on the surface of the tank, seemed kinda sluggish. the next day I noticed a few spots but the clown was still eating and wasn’t swimming at the surface towards the current and acting normal. the next day the spots got worse and worse, and then the next morning I thought the clown would die due to its behavior and the amount of spots. they seemed a bit bigger than velvet but I still wasn’t sure due to the number. they then fell off and the clown was acting normal again. about 2-3 days later they came back again, and then 2 days later they all fell off and the clown was fine. now it’s my 3rd day with no spots or symptoms. the only symptoms the clownfish showed were lack of appetite, sluggishness and swimming at the surface. but based on the timeline, what are your guys thoughts?

 

[Spare time]

Here is a paper on marine ich (crypto) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA16400.pdf

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I’ve noticed there’s not very much clear info about ick’s lifecycle in comparison to velvet, so I was wondering what you guys think based off of this timeline. I got a newish clown and realized he was swimming on the surface of the tank, seemed kinda sluggish. the next day I noticed a few spots but the clown was still eating and wasn’t swimming at the surface towards the current and acting normal. the next day the spots got worse and worse, and then the next morning I thought the clown would die due to its behavior and the amount of spots. they seemed a bit bigger than velvet but I still wasn’t sure due to the number. they then fell off and the clown was acting normal again. about 2-3 days later they came back again, and then 2 days later they all fell off and the clown was fine. now it’s my 3rd day with no spots or symptoms. the only symptoms the clownfish showed were lack of appetite, sluggishness and swimming at the surface. but based on the timeline, what are your guys thoughts?

I have got one or the other in my tank right now that I have been treating since June 1. Using Paraguard (no coral), Seachem recommends 14 to 21 days, I believe, ich is 28 days. I am going with 28 to 30 days to be safe.

 

[Dawson_hatton]

see i’m hearing tons of mixed opinions, and I still don’t even know if it’s ick or velvet. I mean I haven’t had a single loss, my clownfish was covered in dots but after I did a fw dip and moved him to the qt there’s been nothing. so it’s confusing. considering there’s like literally nothing happening I’d like to just move them back to the DT but I know that probably wouldn’t be smart. I ordered cupramine and will probably just end up treating them for a couple weeks minimum

 

[Sebastiancrab]

see i’m hearing tons of mixed opinions, and I still don’t even know if it’s ick or velvet. I mean I haven’t had a single loss, my clownfish was covered in dots but after I did a fw dip and moved him to the qt there’s been nothing. so it’s confusing. considering there’s like literally nothing happening I’d like to just move them back to the DT but I know that probably wouldn’t be smart. I ordered cupramine and will probably just end up treating them for a couple weeks minimum

I think treating them is the safe thing to do. The parasites are just different critters and they do drop off the fish in their cycle. If you have coral, everything I have read says to leave the tank fallow for 76 days, I believe. Luckily, I don't have any yet. There are articles here and online about each parasite. I never actually got a exact diagnosis on my fish. He got attacked and came down with it because of stress. That is how I found out I had the problem. My clowns have been fine all along.

 

[Dawson_hatton]

yeah it’s very interesting, I probably will end up treating to be safe. I might actually treat the DT with H2o2 since that’s generally reed safe just to speed up the process, however I know velvet is usually a very swift killer and I haven’t had any actual losses and this has been going on for weeks without treatment so i’m really not sure what it is. for all I know it could be some new strain of less harmful oodinium

 

[Dr Jimmy]

I did TTM with ick and it worked great. Zero meds, not *that* stressful on the fish. I was going to do that on an accelerated time table for velvet but didn't have time. My first fish died 12 hours after getting it from the store and the next one died the next morning. Copper is the only thing that saved the third. Let's me know one of the two is more immediately threatening.

 

[salty150]

If you can count the white spots - it's most likely Ich.

If it looks like the fish was rolled in salt/sugar - it's most likely Velvet.

I think the "consensus" is that ParaGuard really isn't that effective once it gets past a certain stage.

 

[Dawson_hatton]

yeah I agree. I’m thinking my fish could have possibly developed an immunity but i’m not sure. I know generally I don’t hear about fish making it with velvet past a few days max but mine have been fighting it off and on for weeks

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I did TTM with ick and it worked great. Zero meds, not *that* stressful on the fish. I was going to do that on an accelerated time table for velvet but didn't have time. My first fish died 12 hours after getting it from the store and the next one died the next morning. Copper is the only thing that saved the third. Let's me know one of the two is more immediately threatening.

Velvet is a quick killer.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

yeah I agree. I’m thinking my fish could have possibly developed an immunity but i’m not sure. I know generally I don’t hear about fish making it with velvet past a few days max but mine have been fighting it off and on for weeks

They don't so much develop an immunity as they are not as susceptible to getting it because they are more healthy. That's why my royal gramma came down sick. He was stressed out. You probably have ich and it is definitely still in your tank.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

If you can count the white spots - it's most likely Ich.

If it looks like the fish was rolled in salt/sugar - it's most likely Velvet.

I think the "consensus" is that ParaGuard really isn't that effective once it gets past a certain stage.

Like to know why you think Paraguard is not effective? It is a daily treatment that kills the parasite when it is active. That is why you have to apply it every day.

 

[Dawson_hatton]

I remembered I treated with peroxide early on which may be why it’s gone. I mean I’ve heard it works on ich and velvet and there was a few studies on it but it’s still a pretty new method.