Is there any cure for FW Velvet besides copper which has so many risks/reasons not to use (chelated doesn't work/adheres to tank and decor/dangerous to Puffers more than the actual disease)?
Could raising the temp, adding aquarium salt, Pimafix, Melafix, & an airstone be the best "cure"? I've done a lot of research on the internet and have read up on it. Marine Velvet seems is treated with Cooper and kills fast. Basically, from my research it sounds like a death sentence. Thanks for any insight.
Freshwater Velvet
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
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.
Read this before posting!!
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.
-
cuteyiddlepuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
- My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta - Location: Turnersville, NJ
Freshwater Velvet
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
-
Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
- My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: Freshwater Velvet
I have heard that flubendazole and quinine together makes a powerful remedy for velvet which is still much safer than copper.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
-
CtHM
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:23 am
- My Puffers: 2 beautiful SAP's, and 1 female DP.
- Location: Meridian, ID, USA
Re: Freshwater Velvet
Salt changes does not usually affect Velvet, as it is found in all salinities and very hardy, therefore that I wouldn't think would work at all. :/
"Little fishies go 'pook pook pook' "
~Lenore
~Lenore
-
cuteyiddlepuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
- My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta - Location: Turnersville, NJ
Re: Freshwater Velvet
Thanks for replying.
I called an aquatic vet to try to get my hands on something, I can't get anything at the store. I hope he calls me back.
I called an aquatic vet to try to get my hands on something, I can't get anything at the store. I hope he calls me back.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
-
cuteyiddlepuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
- My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta - Location: Turnersville, NJ
Re: Freshwater Velvet
Yay, I talked to the vet, I have an apt at 2:40
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
-
dab335
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:36 pm
- My Puffers: Diodon Holocanthus, Canthigaster Compressa, Canthigaster Valentini, Arothron Nigropunctatus, Arothron Nigropunctatus(yellow-belly), Chilomycterus Schoepfi, GSP, F8
- Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island
Re: Freshwater Velvet
I dealt with marine velvet and we lost our porcupine puffer due to it but we treated our other fish in the tank with chloroquine diphosphate, it seemed to work. Let us know how u make out! 
-
cuteyiddlepuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
- My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta - Location: Turnersville, NJ
Re: Freshwater Velvet
I went to the vet and he took a skin sample-it turns out it's not velvet just bacteria. He also did tests on a white spot he has on the side. It's just a scar. He really did look worse last night and before that, today he looked better. I think it's b/c I added some other treatments to his water that worked.
Sab, sorry you lost your Puffer
Sab, sorry you lost your Puffer
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
-
dab335
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:36 pm
- My Puffers: Diodon Holocanthus, Canthigaster Compressa, Canthigaster Valentini, Arothron Nigropunctatus, Arothron Nigropunctatus(yellow-belly), Chilomycterus Schoepfi, GSP, F8
- Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island
Re: Freshwater Velvet
Im glad your puffer is fine. Post some pics when u can. I'm still trying to get mine to pose, LOL!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Freshwater Velvet
Wow, you found a fish vet? Cool! What did he charge you for that?
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
cuteyiddlepuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
- My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta - Location: Turnersville, NJ
Re: Freshwater Velvet
Ummm, lets say he is one expensive fish. Just the exam was $70 and then more for tests and meds so it came out to $120. He gave me levamisole phosphate to deworm my GSP. I don't regret it because I can watch my GSP pass worms........YUMMY! I was with the vet for at least an hour, he was really into it. I don't think he gets many aquatic clients. The office staff was really checking my Puffer out.
I'm taking photos of the procedure to post. I think it's similar to levamisole hydrocholride, it works by paralyzing the worms.
I'm taking photos of the procedure to post. I think it's similar to levamisole hydrocholride, it works by paralyzing the worms.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
-
Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
- My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: Freshwater Velvet
Probably safer than the hydrochloride. My puffers did not react well to it.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Freshwater Velvet
What about the skin problem?
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
cuteyiddlepuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
- My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta - Location: Turnersville, NJ
Re: Freshwater Velvet
He said that I need to get my water hardness down with reverse osmosis water. He also said the large water changes 50% could be irritating to him and that irritation results in bacteria, adding decholorinator to water can result in ammonia. He also said feeding snails introduces parasites so I will probably cut back on that, I can feed my brackish FW water snails because the salt kills the parasites. He said they can chomp on dead rock or coral but not too much because that adjusts the hardness. Although, I do think the bacteria is a secondary infection from the Ich which is now gone. If it continues I'm going to treat it with an antibiotic.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly