Need advice - HELP

[WhiteTang]

Hi!

I recently lost my 5 month old clownfish due to velvet (as it was identified by other more experienced RC members, thanks).
I still have a yellow clown gobby in the tank which I know will help the parasite to continue be present and alive in my tank. But wouldn't the goby also get infected by velvet?
I mean I had a full blown outbreak of the disease. The clown look horrible at his final stages. And I was pretty sure that the goby will be gone in a couple days.

-I know that is not the attitude to have, and I should at least try to safe my fish. The problem is that at the moment I do not have a qt, I have plans on getting a really small 2g or 4g qt after the summer but if the goby is still in there how can I start going fallow for 3 months?-

And that brings me to my next questions. Is it possible that the goby is immune and NEVER get velvet?
Maybe I didn't have velvet to begin with?

 

[julie180]

Weather it was velvet or not, you obviously have some type of disease or parasite in your tank, as long as there is a host (goby) it will continue to live. Yes its possible your goby will not get sick, but it will still act as a host.

 

[snorvich]

Weather it was velvet or not, you obviously have some type of disease or parasite in your tank, as long as there is a host (goby) it will continue to live. Yes its possible your goby will not get sick, but it will still act as a host.

Exactly. Immunity, when it exists, is temporary (six months) and protects the fish from the parasite. However the fish still carries the parasite and will infect other fish.

 

[snorvich]

Hi!

I recently lost my 5 month old clownfish due to velvet (as it was identified by other more experienced RC members, thanks).
I still have a yellow clown gobby in the tank which I know will help the parasite to continue be present and alive in my tank. But wouldn't the goby also get infected by velvet?
I mean I had a full blown outbreak of the disease. The clown look horrible at his final stages. And I was pretty sure that the goby will be gone in a couple days.

-I know that is not the attitude to have, and I should at least try to safe my fish. The problem is that at the moment I do not have a qt, I have plans on getting a really small 2g or 4g qt after the summer but if the goby is still in there how can I start going fallow for 3 months?-

And that brings me to my next questions. Is it possible that the goby is immune and NEVER get velvet?
Maybe I didn't have velvet to begin with?

I believe the eventual consensus after looking at your various threads was the clown had brook not velvet.

 

[ThRoewer]

Exactly. Immunity, when it exists, is temporary (six months) and protects the fish from the parasite. However the fish still carries the parasite and will infect other fish.

I read the description of Cryptocaryon immunity as that it remains for at most 6 months without the parasite present.
However, if the parasite is present in the tank the fish should maintain their immunity to that strain due to constant exposure.
At least that is what I observed in my tanks.

Though I would dispute that Ich will remain in the system for ever without going fallow. If all fish have immunity or resistance or however else you want to call it the parasite will eventually dwindle and die out. I am quite certain that it happened this way in several of my past systems, because after it was gone it never came back - not even after long power outages or other near catastrophes.
And I took always water from my tanks for the fry raising tanks and even with up to 1000 baby clownfish in 100 liter tanks I never saw ich (which I should have if it was still present in the parent tanks).

In general I find Ich to be more of a nuisance than a real threat to a normal reef tank with suitable fish. Though if you have densely stocked breeding tanks or huge tanks with too many fish to house in HTs it can become a serious problem.

Now, when it comes to velvet or brook I wouldn't take any chances and take every measure to ensure it is out of my system

 

[WhiteTang]

I believe the eventual consensus after looking at your various threads was the clown had brook not velvet.

How do you come to this conclusion? I am just asking because I am curious.
I really appreciate everyones effort to try guess what happened and I am really thankful for all the advise. I feel more confident and educated to proceed at my own risk.

Until next time reefers.