Marine Velvet Compared to Marine Ich
Marine velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum) is a dinoflagellate and marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) is a ciliate (a type of protozoan), but they have similar life cycles that can affect fish in marine aquaria.
Marine velvet is much more severe in its impact and is the primary source of tank wipe outs. I see anecdotal discussion attributing tank wipe outs to marine ich, but it is much more likely that they are actually caused by marine velvet.
Here are some differences:
1. Hyposalinity can be used to treat marine ich successfully. It has no affect on marine velvet.
2. A low level of copper (a non therapeutic dose) has been known to mask marine velvet. That is why LFS or online fish suppliers that run a low level of copper can supply fish with marine velvet.
3. A fresh water dip has no effect on marine ich, but it does provide temporary relief for marine velvet, as many of the trophonts can be dislodged with a 5 minute dip.
4. Fish such as mandarins can often avoid contracting marine ich, however, they can easily contract marine velvet
Most similarly symptomatic to Brooklynella, Oodinium organisms primarily attack the gills first. At the onset of this infestation fish often scrape up against objects in the aquarium, lethargy sets in, and rapid respiration develops, which is the result of excess mucus in damage to the gills due to the invasion of the parasites. This is typically noticed as fish staying at the surface of the water, or remaining in a position where a steady flow of water is present in the aquarium such as near overflows or powerheads. Fish often become reclusive and hide out of the light
As the disease progresses outwards from the gills, the cysts then become visible on the fins and body. Although these cysts may appear as tiny white dots the size of a grain of salt, like the first sign of Saltwater Ich or White Spot Disease, what sets Oodinium apart from other parasites is that at this point the fish have the appearance of being coated with what looks like a whitish or tan to golden colored, velvet-like film, thus the name Velvet Disease.
Now in the advanced stage of the disease the production of gill and body mucus increases, the fish becomes listless, refuses to eat, and it's not unusual for a secondary infection to develop. For fish that reach this end stage of the disease, it's typically too late. They usually do not respond to treatment, and most often will die. Early in the life cycle, treatment with copper will work or treatment with copper plus formalin dips. (see my blog) The most effective treatment is a single dose of chloriquine diphosphate at 10mg/l for 20 days.
Ich, on the other hand, if visible at all (often it is invisible in the gills) will look like salt sprinkled on the fish (in reality it is under the skin). There are three proven treatment protocols for marine ich: tank transfer, hyposalinity at 1.008/1.009 (test with a calibrated refractometer), copper (test a minimum of daily before lights out).
Marine velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum) is a dinoflagellate and marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) is a ciliate (a type of protozoan), but they have similar life cycles that can affect fish in marine aquaria.
Marine velvet is much more severe in its impact and is the primary source of tank wipe outs. I see anecdotal discussion attributing tank wipe outs to marine ich, but it is much more likely that they are actually caused by marine velvet.
Here are some differences:
1. Hyposalinity can be used to treat marine ich successfully. It has no affect on marine velvet.
2. A low level of copper (a non therapeutic dose) has been known to mask marine velvet. That is why LFS or online fish suppliers that run a low level of copper can supply fish with marine velvet.
3. A fresh water dip has no effect on marine ich, but it does provide temporary relief for marine velvet, as many of the trophonts can be dislodged with a 5 minute dip.
4. Fish such as mandarins can often avoid contracting marine ich, however, they can easily contract marine velvet
Most similarly symptomatic to Brooklynella, Oodinium organisms primarily attack the gills first. At the onset of this infestation fish often scrape up against objects in the aquarium, lethargy sets in, and rapid respiration develops, which is the result of excess mucus in damage to the gills due to the invasion of the parasites. This is typically noticed as fish staying at the surface of the water, or remaining in a position where a steady flow of water is present in the aquarium such as near overflows or powerheads. Fish often become reclusive and hide out of the light
As the disease progresses outwards from the gills, the cysts then become visible on the fins and body. Although these cysts may appear as tiny white dots the size of a grain of salt, like the first sign of Saltwater Ich or White Spot Disease, what sets Oodinium apart from other parasites is that at this point the fish have the appearance of being coated with what looks like a whitish or tan to golden colored, velvet-like film, thus the name Velvet Disease.
Now in the advanced stage of the disease the production of gill and body mucus increases, the fish becomes listless, refuses to eat, and it's not unusual for a secondary infection to develop. For fish that reach this end stage of the disease, it's typically too late. They usually do not respond to treatment, and most often will die. Early in the life cycle, treatment with copper will work or treatment with copper plus formalin dips. (see my blog) The most effective treatment is a single dose of chloriquine diphosphate at 10mg/l for 20 days.
Ich, on the other hand, if visible at all (often it is invisible in the gills) will look like salt sprinkled on the fish (in reality it is under the skin). There are three proven treatment protocols for marine ich: tank transfer, hyposalinity at 1.008/1.009 (test with a calibrated refractometer), copper (test a minimum of daily before lights out).
