marine velvet is extremely common, as common as ich. its also very common in freshwater tanks, betta's often succumb to it.
im 99% sure my fish died of marine velvet
they had nearly every sypmtom
first signs were flashing, itching against rocks
they started to breath a bit heavier but still continued to eat as normal.
they would continue to itch and were bothered by something, they would dart around sometimes but not too often.
then a fine powdery coating would show up, little tiny specks, not very white and large like ich, but more smaller and slightly tan. if i can compare the size to ich, lets say ich was salt grain sized (a bit exagerated) then velvet would be compared to powdered sugar size...very very fine.
sometimes it would be hard to see but under the lights at a certain angle you can see it very well.
they stayed with the dusting for about a few days id say, then the heavy panting would occur, that is when their gills were destroyed by the parasite.
once they heavy breathing occured they were dead within 24 hours.
velvet can wipe out a tank quicker than any other parasite out there
i wish i would have taken pictures, but at that time i didnt even think of it. i have a feeling it wouldnt be too noticable in pictures because it looks so subtle, which is why you may have trouble finding pictures of it.
i did add coppersafe, but it was too late, once the heavy panting starts the fish are done for.
oh when they had the fine dusting i did add quick cure, it did nothing but turn my tank blue.
the tank has to be fallow now for at least 8 weeks, im going for 10 weeks just to be safe
if your gramma is still alive?? then its probably not velvet, once velvet rears its ugly head it kills fast!
heres a pretty good article..(am i allowed to post a link?)
Unfortunately not that link if it has any links directing you to a competitor of SWF.com then its not allowed
see what had me baffled with this illness is that my fish were older and i didnt add any new fish, but now im learning that it doesnt necessarily have to come in on a new fish, it can come in on live rock and inverts, something i did add quite often. i bought new corals from time to time, and they all would come on a piece of live rock. i also added more clean up crew (snails and hermits) so i think my puzzle has been solved
