Velvet confirmation

[1979fishgeek]

Posting on behalf of a friend.

I marine buddy of mine bought a Butterfly and noticed within a day or two it was smothered in spots. I advised removing fish and treating immediately with Cupermine (plus 6 week fallow period for reef tank) but in less than a week all but one fish is very badly infected and several are dead.

I told him I thought it was marine velvet rather than ick at the speed its progressing, number of spots, laboured breathing, hiding and heavy mucus etc. But I’m not a expert telling the difference. So attached some photos he sent me for confirmation.

He has a single clown showing no symptoms and asked if it survives what will happen?
I’m concerned it maybe a carrier indefinitely without treatment? But is there a point the velvet will disappear on its own with a single fish that’s immune. Ive read it’s rare for fish to have immunity to velvet but not unheard of in Clownfish.

So is this velvet?

 

[flfireman1]

Yes that certainly looks like velvet.

 

[blkhwkz]

Definitely looks like velvet. As you told him, he should pull and treat all remaining fish, any fish left in the tank allow the parasite life cycle to continue. After 6 weeks add them back. When my tank had velvet, the 2 clowns were the last to get visible signs and both died from it, along with every other fish.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Thank you

Yeah I suspected it was. When i unfortunately had velvet hit my system early in the year it was much slower to get going took 6 weeks and I tried hyposalinity thinking it was Ick and of course no effect so did cupermine too late. Lost everything and was still unsure not 100% what I had so played it super safe I’ve been fallow since March and have a full Quarantine system for everything now.

But his seems more text book, hit fast and hard, the mucus looks horrific almost hiding the billions of spots but can make them out. I feel so aweful for him he’s totally devastated and I understand how not everyone has the ability to set up a QT system unfortunately.

I’ve offered to take his inverts in one of my spare QT tanks, so he can sort his remaining fish. I’ll take most his live rock as well so it’s not contaminated. If it’s def velvet its only six weeks. Gotta try and help out a fellow reefer!

Thanks everyone,

 

[Big G]

Quite often clownfish are the "last man standing" during a velvet event. Because of their thick mucous coating it gives them a bit of protection and or allows them to become carriers of the parasites. Definitely want to treat the clown.
Good on you for being such a good friend to a "reefer" in need.

 

[1979fishgeek]

I’ve got his surviving fish in my QT was easier than him tearing his tank apart, plus I have everything set up for emergencies like this.

I’ve added UV steriliser and first dose of cupermine. 100% velvet and his Clownfish does have it although it’s swimming about and happier than the others, not sure his Yellow Tangs going to make it, it’s gasping really hard and not moving much, Cardinalfish as well look bad but they pretty hardy fish so have hope. I’ve added extra aeration with airstone. Fingers crossed I can save some of them. He’s got his reef tank and inverts but he’s so gutted.

When my tank cracked he and another reef friend helped me out with spare tanks, we swap frags and always picking each other’s brains or borrow equipment, great to have reefing buddies.

 

[HotRocks]

I'm late to this party.

Definitely velvet you are dealing with.

SHUT OFF UV during copper. It will make the copper toxic.

Also you will want to treat the clown as well or all fish will be infected again when introduced back to the system with velvet.

You have to go completely fallow to break the life cycle of the parasite leaving no fish for the parasites to host.

 

[1979fishgeek]

I'm late to this party.

Definitely velvet you are dealing with.

SHUT OFF UV during copper. It will make the copper toxic.

Also you will want to treat the clown as well or all fish will be infected again when introduced back to the system with velvet.

You have to go completely fallow to break the life cycle of the parasite leaving no fish for the parasites to host.

UV switched off within minutes when I was reading more on it last night....phew!

Yeah I have all his fish, but they are very bad. Very bad. I’ve just increased oxygen and hoping for the best, he’s just got his inverts.