difference between velvet and ich

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Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.

While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.

Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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zoeum
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:56 am
Location (country): England

difference between velvet and ich

Post by zoeum »

Hi everyone,

I've been doing a hell of a lot of research today as I think my puffer has ich, then I realised that ich sounds the same as velvet!!!

How are you suppose to tell the difference between the 2?
I've looked but can't seem to find any solid difference.

Hope someone can help!
Zoe.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: difference between velvet and ich

Post by Pufferpunk »

Ich are larger spots, about as large as a salt crystal, evenly spaced on the fish. Velvet looks like smaller white specks, coating the fish's skin, looking like it's covered in white velvet. Both are treated identically.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
zoeum
Puffer Fry
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:56 am
Location (country): England

Re: difference between velvet and ich

Post by zoeum »

If they are both treated the same then I guess that's fine.

I can't tell as my puffer is so small!

Thank you!
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