Velvet????

[jjjones]

Is this velvet on my sailfin tang?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Velvet cannot easily be identified visually by looking at a still photo. The first, and sometimes only symptom is rapid breathing, loss of appeitite and hovering in water flow.

I can sort of see some congestion or cloudiness on the right pectoral fin. But, if the fish isn't breathing fast, it isn't velvet.

Can you post a video? YouTube works well. I can get a respiration count from that. Also, a history of the fish is needed; how long you've had it, anything you've treated it with so far, tankmates, etc.

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is this velvet on my sailfin tang?

The lighting is perfect but the angle is not. Some signs you should see if 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.

 

[jjjones]

Velvet cannot easily be identified visually by looking at a still photo. The first, and sometimes only symptom is rapid breathing, loss of appeitite and hovering in water flow.

I can sort of see some congestion or cloudiness on the right pectoral fin. But, if the fish isn't breathing fast, it isn't velvet.

Can you post a video? YouTube works well. I can get a respiration count from that. Also, a history of the fish is needed; how long you've had it, anything you've treated it with so far, tankmates, etc.

Jay

Here’s a video of it. Right now it’s in quarantine with a mandarin goby. I haven’t treated anything since I just found it. I’ve had them for about 1 week

 

[jjjones]

Velvet cannot easily be identified visually by looking at a still photo. The first, and sometimes only symptom is rapid breathing, loss of appeitite and hovering in water flow.

I can sort of see some congestion or cloudiness on the right pectoral fin. But, if the fish isn't breathing fast, it isn't velvet.

Can you post a video? YouTube works well. I can get a respiration count from that. Also, a history of the fish is needed; how long you've had it, anything you've treated it with so far, tankmates, etc.

Jay

Here’s a video of it. Right now it’s in quarantine with a mandarin goby. I haven’t treated anything since I just found it. I’ve had them for about 1 week

 

[jjjones]

The lighting is perfect but the angle is not. Some signs you should see if 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.

It kinda looks like how you described with the scratching, rapid breathing, and lethargic. He’s also mostly at the top of the tank

 

[MnFish1]

It kinda looks like how you described with the scratching, rapid breathing, and lethargic. He’s also mostly at the top of the tank

I can't see the video. Would suggest you follow the protocol for quarantine at the top of the page in the meantime? Whether it's velvet or something else - this will likely help? I know the mandarin is a bit difficult - you could also try to find Chloroquine.

 

[jjjones]

I can't see the video. Would suggest you follow the protocol for quarantine at the top of the page in the meantime? Whether it's velvet or something else - this will likely help? I know the mandarin is a bit difficult - you could also try to find Chloroquine.

Can I use polyplab reef safe medic to treat it? I’ll try to repost the vid so you can see it

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can I use polyplab reef safe medic to treat it? I’ll try to repost the vid so you can see it

This is one of controversy. It is reef safe due to it being Peroxide salts. I can however say as many know, about 3 years ago I had a velvet outbreak after intro of my Achilles Tang from a store I knew better than to buy from. I with a 660 gallon tank had to act fast as I had 16 tangs in there at the time. In a panic, I stopped at LFS 40 miles away which only Had MEDIC on hand at $40 !!
I grabbed it and began treatment. I had Ruby rally pro on hand which too treated Velvet so I used Both. LUCK OF THE DRAW- Day 4 , it was gone but I continued Ruby as the MEDIC which is a small amount was gone . for another 5 days and it never returned.
The question still remains. . . . Was it the Medic, the Ruby Rally or both ?

Realize this product is a gamble and may or may Not work

PLEASE STILL PROVIDE VIDEO IF AT ALL POSSIBLE

 

[jjjones]

This is one of controversy. It is reef safe due to it being Peroxide salts. I can however say as many know, about 3 years ago I had a velvet outbreak after intro of my Achilles Tang from a store I knew better than to buy from. I with a 660 gallon tank had to act fast as I had 16 tangs in there at the time. In a panic, I stopped at LFS 40 miles away which only Had MEDIC on hand at $40 !!
I grabbed it and began treatment. I had Ruby rally pro on hand which too treated Velvet so I used Both. LUCK OF THE DRAW- Day 4 , it was gone but I continued Ruby as the MEDIC which is a small amount was gone . for another 5 days and it never returned.
The question still remains. . . . Was it the Medic, the Ruby Rally or both ?

Realize this product is a gamble and may or may Not work

PLEASE STILL PROVIDE VIDEO IF AT ALL POSSIBLE

Alright I’ll have to figure out where I can get the ruby but for now I’ll give medic a try to see if it does anything

 

[vetteguy53081]

Alright I’ll have to figure out where I can get the ruby but for now I’ll give medic a try to see if it does anything

Lets just say. . . You have nothing to lose

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Can I use polyplab reef safe medic to treat it? I’ll try to repost the vid so you can see it

The video was pretty short, but the fish’s respiration is good, so this isn’t velvet. Could be small ich trophonts on the skin though.
Polyp Lab doesn’t work for everyone, but it would be better than nothing.
Coppersafe is more of a sure thing.
Jay

 

[MnFish1]

Lets just say. . . You have nothing to lose

Im surprised you didn't QT a fish going into your 660 gallon tank - that aside - I would not use that product as a treatment - unless - you have other information. I do not believe its endorsed here, IDK - Maybe someone would use it.

 

[MnFish1]

The video was pretty short, but the fish’s respiration is good, so this isn’t velvet. Could be small ich trophonts on the skin though.
Polyp Lab doesn’t work for everyone, but it would be better than nothing.
Coppersafe is more of a sure thing.
Jay

I'm curious - why better than nothing - what is the mechanism of action? PS - I suppose I could say prayer would be better than nothing - but - how much different is it? I am not sure how to answer other people who ask the same questions - can I use xxx - thats supposed to be reef safe - yet - somehow this product is? So perhaps the answer is to everyone - it's better than nothing? I mean IDK?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Im surprised you didn't QT a fish going into your 660 gallon tank - that aside - I would not use that product as a treatment - unless - you have other information. I do not believe its endorsed here, IDK - Maybe someone would use it.

Ive used it more than once and saved over $2000 of fish at the time. Experience is my information not to mention at least 8 people who took the gamble and it worked out. If you recall, I ALWAYS recommend coppersafe and never suggested medic but when a person has nothing else on hand- Yes nothing to lose with peroxide which will not be fatal and similar to peroxide treatment regimen which i do not favor Versus Hyposalinity and TTM
I did indicate- Its a gamble he will take

 

[MnFish1]

Ive used it more than once and saved over $2000 of fish at the time. Experience is my information not to mention at least 8 people who took the gamble and it worked out. If you recall, I ALWAYS recommend coppersafe and never suggested medic but when a person has nothing else on hand- Yes nothing to lose with peroxide which will not be fatal and similar to peroxide treatment regimen which i do not favor Versus Hyposalinity and TTM
I did indicate- Its a gamble he will take

I'll play devils advocate then - drop in tank with no Qt has also worked - though no one recommends it, IMHO - this is not an appropriate treatment. this is not a personal disagreement - after all 50% or so of people here do no QT - they do drop in tank - so we have no argument. I also asked the same question to @Jay Hemdal who also seemed to (maybe not endorse) - approve of it - it was for my education - thanks for providing your experience!!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I'm curious - why better than nothing - what is the mechanism of action? PS - I suppose I could say prayer would be better than nothing - but - how much different is it? I am not sure how to answer other people who ask the same questions - can I use xxx - thats supposed to be reef safe - yet - somehow this product is? So perhaps the answer is to everyone - it's better than nothing? I mean IDK?

Peroxides have some references to back up their use, so it isn't like this is the typical snake oil tonics that are sold as ich cures. However, the dose is lowered to make it "reef safe" so it also tends to make it "ich safe". There are a LOT of people right now experimenting with low dose peroxide against ich. We've seen a couple of cases here, those failed, but other people swear by it. The Europeans have their "oxydator".

While I don't have much positive experience controlling protozoans with low dose peroxides, it is better than nothing because of the reports of it working for some people.

Jay