Tang with Velvet EMERGENCY !!!

[neltel_7]

So I have a very unfortunate situation. My Tang has what seems to be velvet, I’m am like 95% sure it’s velvet. This tang sits in a 100gallon at my parents home and had been in there for 5 years. I just returned from a work trip to find the tang (which my parents had said wasn’t looking to good while I was gone) with what seems to be velvet all over and it’s avoiding light and not eating. The major problem is that I leave for Hong Kong in 32 hours and don’t have the ability to set up a QT right now.

Some of the major limitations are that 1. My parents will have no idea what to do to take care of this issue so while I’m gone for 2 weeks the tang will be on its own, 2. Not enough time to set up a QT and 3. I have very heavy rock work with lots of tunnels so I fear I won’t be able to catch it.


What are my options? Is it possible the tang can fight through it?? I’m very sad about this, so any help would be appreciated

 

[Formulator]

I think you have a decision in front of you - sleep or save the fish. If it is velvet, highly unlikely the fish will fight through on its own. The copper treatment needed for velvet can’t be done in the display unless its FOWLR and no invertebrates. So the only way to save your fish is to roll up your sleeves, grab a few red bulls, catch the fish and get a quarantine tank setup before you leave.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I have a very unfortunate situation. My Tang has what seems to be velvet, I’m am like 95% sure it’s velvet. This tang sits in a 100gallon at my parents home and had been in there for 5 years. I just returned from a work trip to find the tang (which my parents had said wasn’t looking to good while I was gone) with what seems to be velvet all over and it’s avoiding light and not eating. The major problem is that I leave for Hong Kong in 32 hours and don’t have the ability to set up a QT right now.

Some of the major limitations are that 1. My parents will have no idea what to do to take care of this issue so while I’m gone for 2 weeks the tang will be on its own, 2. Not enough time to set up a QT and 3. I have very heavy rock work with lots of tunnels so I fear I won’t be able to catch it.


What are my options? Is it possible the tang can fight through it?? I’m very sad about this, so any help would be appreciated

Please start with posting pics and even a video of at least 30 seconds of the fish under white light intensity. If velvet, some signs you will see are fish will scratch body against hard objects, lethargic behavior, Loss of appetite and weight loss, Rapid, labored breathing, Fins clamped against the body, and typically stay at the surface of the water, or remain in a position where a steady flow of water is present in the aquarium.

Velvet has a life cycle similar to that of ich protozoan as they go through various life stages which some become resistant to treatments

 

[neltel_7]

Please start with posting pics and even a video of at least 30 seconds of the fish under white light intensity. If velvet, some signs you will see are fish will scratch body against hard objects, lethargic behavior, Loss of appetite and weight loss, Rapid, labored breathing, Fins clamped against the body, and typically stay at the surface of the water, or remain in a position where a steady flow of water is present in the aquarium.

Velvet has a life cycle similar to that of ich protozoan as they go through various life stages which some become resistant to treatments

All of these symptoms are present so that’s why I’m fairly certain it’s velvet. I’ll see if I can get a pic when the lights turn on in the morning since the tang sleeps under a rock.

Do the life cycles just keep continuing forever? I’ve read this is the case but no other fish have shown any symptoms or odd behaviors in the past week or so and they looked normal when I got off my flight this afternoon. So just wondering if the others are resistant somehow. I have 3 fire fish, a bicolor blenny, a diamond goby, and 2 skunk clownfish

 

[neltel_7]

I think you have a decision in front of you - sleep or save the fish. If it is velvet, highly unlikely the fish will fight through on its own. The copper treatment needed for velvet can’t be done in the display unless it’s FOWLR and no invertebrates. So the only way to save your fish is to roll up your sleeves, grab a few red bulls, catch the fish and get a quarantine tank setup before you leave.

If I’m able to catch it is there a specific medication I should look to do? I know copper is known to work with velvet but the measurements need to be pretty precise. I’m not sure my parents will know what to do, to increase dosage if needed

Is there a better way to go about it or should I just go to the fish store tomorrow, pick up something and try and get the dosage right the first time and hope things work out while I’m gone

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

If I’m able to catch it is there a specific medication I should look to do? I know copper is known to work with velvet but the measurements need to be pretty precise. I’m not sure my parents will know what to do, to increase dosage if needed

Is there a better way to go about it or should I just go to the fish store tomorrow, pick up something and try and get the dosage right the first time and hope things work out while I’m gone

Coppersafe or Copper Power - the specific doses below:

Anything above 2.0 is therapeutic levels - 2.25-2.5 are the typical levels suggested in part to ensure the dose is high enough not to drop below 2.0. You probably don't want to go much higher than 2.5, as overdosing medication is generally a bad idea.

Like Sharkbait19 said ~1.4 mL per gallon.

Taken from BRS here:

"1.475 mL per gallon = 2.5 ppm"

Copper Power Parasite Treatment

Thanks to its special formulation, Copper Power is one of the safest and yet most effective copper solutions for treatment of external parasites, such as ich and velvet. Copper Power contains a very stable form of copper medication with low levels of precipitation, and thanks to this it is able...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Edit: To add: each 0.1 ppm would be 0.059 mL/gal.

(Also, for anyone curious with Coppersafe, it's 1.25 mL/gal = 2.5 ppm or 0.05 mL/gal = 0.1 ppm).

Edit: To add - figure out exactly how many gallons are in the QT, and have your parents aim for 2.25 ppm (that gives them some room for error/evaporation); knowing how many gallons it has, you can use the formulas I've listed to figure out exactly how much medication you need to reach the proper dosage.

 

[neltel_7]

Coppersafe or Copper Power - the specific doses below:


Edit: To add - figure out exactly how many gallons are in the QT, and have your parents aim for 2.25 ppm (that gives them some room for error/evaporation); knowing how many gallons it has, you can use the formulas I've listed to figure out exactly how much medication you need to reach the proper dosage.

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Spare time]

Thank you so much!!!

Please have them add biospira or fritz cycling bacteria to the QT and make sure to have a biosponge or similar.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

All of these symptoms are present so that’s why I’m fairly certain it’s velvet. I’ll see if I can get a pic when the lights turn on in the morning since the tang sleeps under a rock.

Do the life cycles just keep continuing forever? I’ve read this is the case but no other fish have shown any symptoms or odd behaviors in the past week or so and they looked normal when I got off my flight this afternoon. So just wondering if the others are resistant somehow. I have 3 fire fish, a bicolor blenny, a diamond goby, and 2 skunk clownfish

If you can see spots, and if the fish has been sick for awhile, this might be ich.

Another key diagnostic for velvet - it affects most fish in the tank at about the same time. Are you seeing ANY signs of rapid breathing in the other fish?

 

[Dom]

I'm curious to know; have you recently added anything to the tank?

 

[neltel_7]

If you can see spots, and if the fish has been sick for awhile, this might be ich.

Another key diagnostic for velvet - it affects most fish in the tank at about the same time. Are you seeing ANY signs of rapid breathing in the other fish?

This is not the case. The only one that is effected is the tang.

 

[neltel_7]

I'm curious to know; have you recently added anything to the tank?

I added a bi color blenny about 4 weeks ago

 

[neltel_7]

Please start with posting pics and even a video of at least 30 seconds of the fish under white light intensity. If velvet, some signs you will see are fish will scratch body against hard objects, lethargic behavior, Loss of appetite and weight loss, Rapid, labored breathing, Fins clamped against the body, and typically stay at the surface of the water, or remain in a position where a steady flow of water is present in the aquarium.

Velvet has a life cycle similar to that of ich protozoan as they go through various life stages which some become resistant to treatments

These are the closest shots I could get. @Jay Hemdal
Thoughts on these? There is now some weird black stick looking thing in its mouth. And way less spots than last night which I guess means whatever it is is going through a new stage of the life cycle.

It’s also acting a lot weaker and hiding in one spot.

 

[neltel_7]

These are the closest shots I could get. @Jay Hemdal
Thoughts on these? There is now some weird black stick looking thing in its mouth. And way less spots than last night which I guess means whatever it is is going through a new stage of the life cycle.

It’s also acting a lot weaker and hiding in one spot.

Here are some way better pictures. Again wayyyy less spots than yesterday. Not even comparable. @Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

These are the closest shots I could get. @Jay Hemdal
Thoughts on these? There is now some weird black stick looking thing in its mouth. And way less spots than last night which I guess means whatever it is is going through a new stage of the life cycle.

It’s also acting a lot weaker and hiding in one spot.

I dont see this stick thing you mention from its mouth but the substance on its body is in alignment with lymphocystis however there are strings coming from it which suggest mucus cones which often begin with skin irritations and can be mixed in with ich. You will notice in may cases the other occupants show no signs but keep an eye on them. I suggest isolating the fish and treating with Coppersafe or even copper power at 2.25 and that number monitored with a Hanna copper test kit. Increase oxygen during treatment with an air stone and provide good diet and maintain good water quality using a reliable test kit

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here are some way better pictures. Again wayyyy less spots than yesterday. Not even comparable. @Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

These are more visible. For the future, turn off blues and use white only

 

[Jay Hemdal]

These are the closest shots I could get. @Jay Hemdal
Thoughts on these? There is now some weird black stick looking thing in its mouth. And way less spots than last night which I guess means whatever it is is going through a new stage of the life cycle.

It’s also acting a lot weaker and hiding in one spot.

So - I see distinct spots (ich), mucus strings (brooklynella) and really rapid breathing (Velvet and brooklynella). This is going to be difficult to treat.

How was the biosecurity broken? New fish or something? I don’t see how multiple diseases can just show up on a five year old fish.

Coppersafe works best for ich and velvet, but formalin works best for brooklynella.

 

[neltel_7]

So - I see distinct spots (ich), mucus strings (brooklynella) and really rapid breathing (Velvet and brooklynella). This is going to be difficult to treat.

How was the biosecurity broken? New fish or something? I don’t see how multiple diseases can just show up on a five year old fish.

Coppersafe works best for ich and velvet, but formalin works best for brooklynella.

I added a Bi- Color Blenny about a month ago. But other than that nothing has changed. I’m not sure how one fish could possibly bring all of that!! That would be such an unfortunate shock!

Unfortunately I just got back from work so I wasn’t able to set up a QT. But the fish is still kinda swimming in the same spot that it was before. Would it be helpful to add medicated food to help boost the immune system of the other fish (and the tang itself if it decides to eat it) help reduce the risk of things going horribly wrong in the tank while I’m gone? I’m thinking that I may just need to end up hoping for the best with this with only 9 hours remaining before I’m on the other side of the world, unless you advise otherwise.

Since the disease is already in the tank, will the fish be equally susceptible if the tang was to unfortunately pass away while I’m gone? Would it be a get the tang out as soon as possible scenario?

 

[Debramb]

I’d order Rally Reef Pro for your parents to add to the DT. We’ve used it for years and Great success. It’s Reef safe.
I wish you the best!
Debra
I’m not the expert like the others, just wanted to chime in ‘cause dire circumstances.