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Velvet
Common Name: Velvet, Rust, Gold Dust Disease
Scientific Name: Piscinoödinium,
Oödinium pilularis (or other species of Piscinoödinium)
Description: Parasite
Symptoms: gold, rust or yellow
dust-like sprinkling on body, fins or gills, darting, rubbing body
against tank decor, lethargy, loss of appetite, clamped fins
Cause: stress, poor water quality,
failure to quarantine new fish
Medications: Velvet
Guard, CopperSafe
Ingredients: copper sulfate
Notes: Because the Velvet parasite
is only visibly present for a short time it is important to continue to
dose for the full recommended number of days
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More Information
Velvet or Piscinoödinium or Oödinium pilularis is
a parasitic infestation that is very common among both salt and
freshwater fish. This parasite is opportunistic and is present in most
commercial aquariums. When a fish is stressed due to temperature
fluctuations, poor water quality or other stressors they become
susceptible to the parasites.
Velvet is classified as a dinoflagellate. It is both a protozoan like
the Ich parasites but contains Chlorophyll so it is also considered a
type of algae. It survives by finding a stressed host and attaching
itself mostly to the gill or fin tissue where it kills the cells and
consumes the nutrients directly from the fish. If left untreated it
often leads to death. Physically, Velvet looks like a gold, rust or
yellow dust, finely sprinkled over the fish. In fact, it can be so
difficult to see that often a flashlight is needed to reveal it. This
shiny powder appearance has lead to many other names besides Velvet
including Rust and Gold Dust Disease.
Besides seeing the parasites directly on your fish you may notice other
symptoms including the telltale rubbing against rocks, gravel or other
décor. This is common with external parasites and is an attempt
by your fish to dislodge the pests from its body. As the disease
develops, symptoms may worsen and include lethargy, loss of appetite,
labored breathing and clamped fins.
Over a short time, the protozoa detach from their host and enter their
free-swimming stage where they divide and multiply many times. This is
when they are most vulnerable to medications but may not be obviously
present in the tank. It is very important when medicating that you
finish the entire course of treatment regardless of weather or not you
still see the parasites present. Follow the directions on the
medication package closely. Once the parasites multiply they must find
a new host (or the same old one) within 24 hours to survive. Because of
this life cycle it may appear that your fish has gotten better but
really once the Piscinoödinium completes reproduction the worst is
yet to come. Now many more protozoa are present in the water and
waiting to attack your fish.
If diagnosed early, Velvet is fairly easy to treat. First, you should
remove your betta and place him into a hospital tank away from any
other fish. Oödinium is highly contagious and keeping the infected
fish in a community tank can put others at risk. Make note, the
medications for Velvet may be toxic to other species like some fish,
snails, invertebrates and aquarium plants as well. Also, any filter
media should be removed so as not to eliminate the medication from the
water. Next, slowly raise the water temperature to 80˚F – 82˚F [26.6˚C
– 27.7˚C]. Because you don’t want to further stress you fish, be sure
to only increase the temperature by no more then 2˚F or 1˚C in a 24
hour period. A more rapid temperature fluctuation could cause
additional harm. It’s recommended you use a commercial Velvet
medication like Mardel’s CopperSafe® or Jungle’s Velvet Guard®.
Reducing the amount of light getting into the tanks by keeping the hood
lamp off and covering the tank may help to combat the parasites as well.
To prevent the Piscinoödinium parasites from infesting your tank
there are some simple precautions all aquarists can tank. First, always
quarantine new fish for 3 – 4 weeks before adding them to a community
tank. Be sure to always test your water parameters regularly and keep
tank water clean by performing frequent and regular water changes.
Avoid stressors like temperature and pH fluctuations and provide a
nutritionally balanced diet by offering a variety of live and frozen
foods.
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