Is this velvet?

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

Hello all,

Pretty self explanatory title unfortunately. I noticed some spots on my fish this evening and just want to ensure I’m not creating panic when there’s no need. Does this picture look like velvet?

HotRocks · Nov 25, 2018

Does not look like velvet to me no.

Hippo tangs commonly get small marks or spots on them since they love to wedge themselves in between rocks and things.

I would just keep an eye on it. If it were parasitic I would guess ich not velvet but I don't think either are the case here. As long as the rest of your fish look good.

Big G · Nov 25, 2018

Can we get a picture without the "blue" lights on? It's a bit hard to see.

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

Yes I will get a picture in just a minute. I’m glad you think it’s not at first glance. I was in the process of setting up a QT

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

Is this any better? One tough fish to photograph

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

This picture shows the other tang with what concerns me more.

Big G · Nov 25, 2018

Fewer and larger usually denotes Ich; where as uncountable, small usually denote velvet. So we look for other symptoms for velvet: rapid breathing, swimming into a powerhead, avoiding light, loss of apatite, and then the trick is to look at the fish in the long direction from tail to head and look for the telltale velvety sheen on the skin which is often hard to initially see without careful observation/examination.
The treatment for both is the same, just quicker ramping up for velvet.
Freshwater dip to rid the fish's gills of some of the parasites to help it breathe and fight secondary infection.
Followed by an acriflavine bath for 60-90 minutes. Ruby Reef Rally is suggested as it has both antibiotic and antiseptic qualties, again to help with secondary infections.
Copper. Suggest Copper Power. It's dosing it pretty accurate. Therapeutic level is 1.5 - 2.0 ppm. 1.75 is right in the middle and gets the job done and is easier on the fish. A Hanna HL Copper Checker is great to monitor the copper level.
A wide spectrum antibiotic is good to have on hand for those secondary bacterial infections: Kanaplex, Furan2, NFG are good choices.

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

@Big G what do you think of the last picture? That's a better image of what worries me. They're all still eating well and nobody is avoiding light.

dwest · Nov 25, 2018

Does this help?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-disease-index-pictorial-guide.285708/

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

@dwest Yes, I've looked at that tonight since I noticed the spots, and that's what made me start setting up a quarantine. That's what worried me and made me just want a second opinion before I pull and treat with copper

dwest · Nov 25, 2018

KMench said:
@dwest Yes, I've looked at that tonight since I noticed the spots, and that's what made me start setting up a quarantine. That's what worried me and made me just want a second opinion before I pull and treat with copper

You have right people looking. I’m interested in what they say. I think velvet.

HotRocks · Nov 25, 2018

You definitely will want to pull and treat with copper. After seeing the PT I think you may indeed be dealing with velvet.

Either way whether it be ich or velvet the treatment is the same. Velvet just requires getting the copper therapeutic within 48 hours for best chance of survival.

Big G · Nov 25, 2018

KMench said:
@Big G what do you think of the last picture? That's a better image of what worries me. They're all still eating well and nobody is avoiding light.

How long have you had the two tangs? When was the last "wet" (fish, corals, inverts) thing added to the tank?

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

I got the PT about a week ago from a LFS who claimed he ran therapeutic copper and prazi and did a full QT. I was stupid for believing him.

My problem now is to pull all my fish and treat them. Of course nobody is compatible with a single form of treatment. Have the two tangs, two wrasses, a mandarin, blenny, goby, anthias, and a longnose butterfly.

HotRocks · Nov 25, 2018

KMench said:
I got the PT about a week ago from a LFS who claimed he ran therapeutic copper and prazi and did a full QT. I was stupid for believing him.

That timeline lines up with velvet unfortunately. It would be unlikely to get that kind of ich coverage in a week's time.

Never trust anyone's QT but your own.

dwest · Nov 25, 2018

KMench said:
I got the PT about a week ago from a LFS who claimed he ran therapeutic copper and prazi and did a full QT. I was stupid for believing him.

My problem now is to pull all my fish and treat them. Of course nobody is compatible with a single form of treatment. Have the two tangs, two wrasses, a mandarin, blenny, goby, anthias, and a longnose butterfly.

Good luck! You can do this.

HotRocks · Nov 25, 2018

KMench said:
I got the PT about a week ago from a LFS who claimed he ran therapeutic copper and prazi and did a full QT. I was stupid for believing him.

My problem now is to pull all my fish and treat them. Of course nobody is compatible with a single form of treatment. Have the two tangs, two wrasses, a mandarin, blenny, goby, anthias, and a longnose butterfly.

Do you have CP and copper on hand?

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

I have Ebay CP or Cupramine

HotRocks · Nov 25, 2018

KMench said:
I have Ebay CP or Cupramine

I prefer chleated copper. Copper power.

You can treat all of your fish minus the Mandy with copper. The Mandy will need CP.

KMench · Nov 25, 2018

Considering we believe it's velvet, would I be better to wait until the morning and find some copper power, start cupramine now and do some water changes with copper power to get rid of it, or wait until the morning and start with copper power?