What is this?

[Tom2257]

Whatever disease this is has wiped out my entire fish population with the exception of 2 blue damsels that seem to be fine. Is this Velvet? The purple Tang lived for 7 days with this and finally succumbed this morning.
Thanks in advance

 

[homer1475]

Looks to be an extreme case of ich. The small white bumps are indicative of ich.

 

[Tom2257]

Looks to be an extreme case of ich. The small white bumps are indicative of ich.

I was told by my LFS it was Velvet. All I know is it killed 7 fish fast. My decision now is to go fallow or do a complete restart. I am leaning toward a restart.

 

[homer1475]

It's my understanding that velvet kills much faster then 7 days, but it wouldn't be the first time I'm wrong.

@Jay Hemdal

 

[homer1475]

Jay is our resident "fish doctor" and usually up this early, or late(depending in where your located). So he would be able to tell for sure.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I was told by my LFS it was Velvet. All I know is it killed 7 fish fast. My decision now is to go fallow or do a complete restart. I am leaning toward a restart.

That appears to be end-stage Cryptocaryon, marine ich. Sorry to see you had this issue. With velvet, you would typically just see rapid breathing, not eating, swimming into water currents and then death after a few days. If you see any spots with velvet, they will be very small, not large like these are.

Jay Hemdal

 

[Tom2257]

Jay, From onset to death it took well over a week so you may be correct that it was Ich. The odd thing is some of the fish had no white spots at all and died.I had 2 clowns that died 8 days apart and had no spots at all. The only sign they were showing was erratic swimming and remaining at surface of top. My last 2 fish, Blue Devil Damsels have no signs at all, appear healthy. I have 2 banded shrimp that are doing good.

Tom Bradshaw
Bedford New York

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Jay, From onset to death it took well over a week so you may be correct that it was Ich. The odd thing is some of the fish had no white spots at all and died.I had 2 clowns that died 8 days apart and had no spots at all. The only sign they were showing was erratic swimming and remaining at surface of top. My last 2 fish, Blue Devil Damsels have no signs at all, appear healthy. I have 2 banded shrimp that are doing good.

Tom Bradshaw
Bedford New York

Yes - that mix of symptoms is quite odd. I would have expected the damsels to be affected at some point, and the clowns dying with no spots also doesn't match with ich. Still, the photo of the tang is pretty compelling.....

Jay