Velvet - fish in observation qt

[Lovemycj7]

So ttm doesn't address velvet but is there a timeframe where I can keep a fish in qt observation to make sure it doesn't have velvet?

I don't want to treat new fish with copper. I'd rather keep them isolated from the display if possible to avoid bringing velvet into the display tank.

@Humblefish any input? Thanks!

 

[ruth howard]

I have been wondering the same thing.

 

[Antics]

I believe the general advice for TTM is to follow the complete protocol and then move the fish into an observation tank for the remaining 2-4 weeks to make sure:

• you were successful in out cycling "ich"
• can observe for velvet or its symptoms
• can observe for bacterial infections
• can observe for other parasites both internal and external (worms etc)
  
• and maybe most importantly, re-condition a fish to a stable environment and encourage eating etc.

 

[jenreefer]

The current Velvet "outbreak" in the fish industry seems to be pretty pervasive. I quarantined for 5 weeks with TTM and still ended up with it in my DT. I am not sure if you can ever be sure, but I would go no less than 8 weeks in the future. For me personally, I will treat every new fish with CP. I will not ever take chance of this getting into DT again.

 

[ebushrow]

#melypr1985

 

[melypr1985]

You can observe for 4 weeks if you have the time to sit in front of the QT for 15-20 minutes a day and study the fish. You'll need to watch very carefully for behavioral symptoms like: Heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead or return, scratching, flashing, twitching, lack of appetite, hiding from the light... all this can be in addition to spots or a dirty/dusty appearance but not always. More often now a days, we are seeing velvet show up without showing any physical symptoms.

 

[Lovemycj7]

So fish can carry velvet and not die?

Can you explain why one would need to check every 15 minutes? Wouldn't a fish showing symptoms continue to show symptoms? I'm reading from this requirement that symptoms can quickly go away

 

[melypr1985]

So fish can carry velvet and not die?

Can you explain why one would need to check every 15 minutes? Wouldn't a fish showing symptoms continue to show symptoms? I'm reading from this requirement that symptoms can quickly go away

Yes a fish can carry it and not die... though not all fish can do this.. in fact, most fish cannot

No, there's no need to check them every 15 minutes. I meant that you should spend 13-20 every day checking them closely and watching their behavior for the symptoms I listed.

 

[cpschult]

So fish can carry velvet and not die?

Can you explain why one would need to check every 15 minutes? Wouldn't a fish showing symptoms continue to show symptoms? I'm reading from this requirement that symptoms can quickly go away

I've got three fish in my dt that have velvet that haven't died yet (fingers crossed). Flashing is only symptoms but it took out 6 other fish in a day or two. Missed in quarantine because I didn't watch long enough. 15-20 minutes is minimum you should watch for any of those behaviors mentioned above. The one I saw was flashing.

 

[4FordFamily]

You can observe for 4 weeks if you have the time to sit in front of the QT for 15-20 minutes a day and study the fish. You'll need to watch very carefully for behavioral symptoms like: Heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead or return, scratching, flashing, twitching, lack of appetite, hiding from the light... all this can be in addition to spots or a dirty/dusty appearance but not always. More often now a days, we are seeing velvet show up without showing any physical symptoms.

I agree with this 100% velvet and new, harder to detect but every bit as deadly strains are emerging and prolific.

Why not just pre-treat all incoming fish in copper or CP to be sure?

 

[Humblefish]

You can observe for 4 weeks if you have the time to sit in front of the QT for 15-20 minutes a day and study the fish. You'll need to watch very carefully for behavioral symptoms like: Heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead or return, scratching, flashing, twitching, lack of appetite, hiding from the light... all this can be in addition to spots or a dirty/dusty appearance but not always. More often now a days, we are seeing velvet show up without showing any physical symptoms.

+1 4 weeks seems to be the max before most fish will display physical symptoms of velvet and/or die. A few fish may be capable of developing immunity during this time, but they will still display behavioral symptoms as outlined by @melypr1985.

Moral of the story: Watch your fish closely in QT, or pre-treat all incoming fish in copper or CP as @4FordFamily suggested.

 

[Lovemycj7]

I agree with this 100% velvet and new, harder to detect but every bit as deadly strains are emerging and prolific.

Why not just pre-treat all incoming fish in copper or CP to be sure?

I read that copper can be tough for some fish like wrasses so I was thinking if I treat with copper and puts them at risk for dieing would observation for an extended time period be an alternative that doesn't put a fish at risk for death while still doing what's right for the inhabitants of the display.

 

[Reefahholic]

I agree. 4 weeks and if velvet hasn't popped up...you will be OK.

It likes to pop up around the 3 week mark for me. Especially when a fish has been sitting in low level copper which will mask the symptoms.

I usually notice one large dark spot, moderate to severe agitation, scraping, discoloration, swimming into flow of powerhead, twitching, etc.

If the fish have all looked fine till the 3-3.5 week mark... you can almost bank on it...it's Velvet.

 

[Humblefish]

I read that copper can be tough for some fish like wrasses so I was thinking if I treat with copper and puts them at risk for dieing would observation for an extended time period be an alternative that doesn't put a fish at risk for death while still doing what's right for the inhabitants of the display.

That risk can be alleviated if you slowly ramp the copper level up over a 4-5 day period. Some people take an entire week (or longer) and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Like everything else in this hobby, it's best to go slow & be patient.

 

[jp_75]

What level would you start with?

 

[Humblefish]

What level would you start with?

0.5 ppm for chelated copper ex. Coppersafe

0.10 ppm for ionic copper ex. Cupramine

 

[4FordFamily]

That risk can be alleviated if you slowly ramp the copper level up over a 4-5 day period. Some people take an entire week (or longer) and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Like everything else in this hobby, it's best to go slow & be patient.

I agree. I would take a week to ramp it up personally.

Wrasse hide parasites well they can often live without noticeable symptoms with ich and I've seen them personally do so with velvet for months at a time. Too risky not to treat them. Other fish will not be able to do the same.