Is this velvet? Should I QT?

[Martiantomars]

 

[vetteguy53081]

It has the appearance of such Some signs are velvet spots on the fish are much finer than the spots seen with Ich making it harder to catch until in cases too late to treat.
Some behaviors associated with a fish with velvet are :
- Scratching body against hard objects
- Fish is lethargic
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Rapid, labored breathing
- Fins clamped against the body
- rapid breathing and mucus around the gills

Fish with velvet will typically stay at the surface of the water, or remain in a position where a steady flow of water is present in the aquarium. As the disease progresses outwards from the gills, the cysts then become visible on the fins and body. Although these cysts may appear as tiny white dots the size of a grain of salt, like the first sign of Saltwater Ich or White Spot Disease, what sets Oodinium apart from other types of ich is that at this point the fish have the appearance of being coated with what looks like a whitish or tan to golden colored, velvet-like film, thus the name Velvet Disease.
Remove fish from main tank and give them a FW dip or bath and then place them into a QT with vigorous aeration provided. Treat the fish in the QT with a copper-based medication. Although many over-the-counter remedies contain the general name as ich or ick treatments, carefully read the box to be sure it is specifically designed to target Oodinium. My choice is coppersafe at 2.25-2.5 therapuetic level at 80 degrees for a FULL 30 days monitored by a reliable copper test kit (no api brand either). Assure the medication you use states treats Oodinum

 

[Bucs20fan]

Good news is, this looks like a chunky tang, it should respond to meds well. Looks like velvet to me, just got done treating a tusk with velvet, looked exactly like that. Just remember, velvet moves fast, so you have to move faster.

 

[Bucs20fan]

Case in point, typically once you can visibly see signs of velvet, you have +/- 5 days to get into theraputic level copper. This does vary depending on the immune system and general health of the fish.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Could you post a video of the fish’s breathing rate. It looks like velvet but behavioral symptoms can confirm.
Copper treatment and fallow is going to be the best bet, as was already suggested.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

+1 on posting a video - velvet ALWAYS has rapid breathing as the primary (and sometimes only) symptom. Respiration rates are relative to fish size, water temperature, etc. but for this fish, should be less than 110 BPM. Anything over 150 is a sign of gill disease.

Jay

 

[Martiantomars]

Thanks everyone, just got the hospital tank set up today and moving him in the morning, I'll try and get a video before I catch em

 

[Martiantomars]

 

[Martiantomars]

Hopefully this uploads

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hopefully this uploads

I couldn't get an actual respiration count from the video, but it is breathing a bit fast, The fish is acting normal in other respects, doesn't look like velvet to me. Velvet would also go through your entire fish collection. I wonder if this is more of a chronic issue, or one confined to just some species? Gill flukes would be an example of that.

Jay

 

[Martiantomars]

I’ll get a longer video but I think I’m gonna run medicated metroplex in the food for 3 weeks just on the precaution and keep an eye on it, feed em real well and have the hospital tank ready, all the other fish are perfectly fine and this tang seems to be acting fine too besides these two little off blemishes looking weird on him, thank you for this response

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ll get a longer video but I think I’m gonna run medicated metroplex in the food for 3 weeks just on the precaution and keep an eye on it, feed em real well and have the hospital tank ready, all the other fish are perfectly fine and this tang seems to be acting fine too besides these two little off blemishes looking weird on him, thank you for this response

Metro won’t help with flukes, and isn’t very effective for external infections when fed orally.
Don’t just mix metronidazole in good, you need a correct dose - 1% by weight bound up into food is the target. Otherwise, if you under dose it won’t help and if you overdose it can harm the fish (although they may just refuse to eat it since it is so bitter).
Jay