Velvet or Ich?

[nuxx]

Hey guys,

Although I qt'ed my new fish I know Ich slipped into my new tank, probably on one of my three older fish.

I've seen the raised granular marks on my yellow bellied blue tang. Was planning on doing hypo on the tank since no coral yet and a handful of inverts.

Thing I'm worried about are on my black and purple tangs there is a slight dusting that you can only see at certain angles. It's almost more of a silvery sheen.

Could this be velvet or light Ich dusting?

It's been about a month since I've noticed this. Fish are acting normal and eating well. Hasn't got worse.

Hard to take pictures of...

If it was velvet would it have gotten worse or killed the fish if visible for a month?

Don't want to do hypo if velvet as well as Ich...

Thanks so much guys!

Btw: signature for tank details...

 

[GroktheCube]

Ich can cause increased mucous production by virtue of irritation.

Keep in mind that hypo generally kills inverts too. Inverts in general do not control internal specific gravity in the way that fish so. Hypo is also not a 100% cure for ich.

That said, I just tore down my 120 to catch the fish so that I could treat ich, and to call it a PITA would be an understatement.

 

[nuxx]

Yeah been catching inverts already lol

Do you think the increased mucus coating could be the shimmer?

 

[snorvich]

I would start reading here. Then, I would post in the fish diseases forum for the most attention and help. If it looks like a sprinkling of salt, most likely would be ich; if it looks like a sheen, most likely velvet. With velvet, the clock is running rather quickly . . .

 

[nuxx]

Thanks guys, I think my paranoia is getting the better of me.

I think it's just shimmer from the Tangs' scales at certain angles.

Had a very versed local reefer tell me this and also read the same here:
http://www.qualitymarine.com/News/Company-News/Red-Sea-Fish-are-Back-in-Full-Supply-(11/22/06)

When healthy the body of the tang can have a unique metallic sheen under certain lighting.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, if it were velvet you would not see the behavior currently exhibited; fish would be much more reclusive, light sensitive, and hanging near the returns. And, of course, you would have had mortality based on your time line.

 

[nuxx]

Yes, if it were velvet you would not see the behavior currently exhibited; fish would be much more reclusive, light sensitive, and hanging near the returns. And, of course, you would have had mortality based on your time line.

Thanks for your input Steve

Off to catch some shrimp, crabs and snails before hypo :celeb1: