Velvet...

fishfreak2009

Swimming in the School
So every time I purchase a fish from a certain local fish store they happen to come down with velvet. I went and purchased two fish yesterday and I put them in quarantine. After an hour long acclimation I added the two fish two my quarantine setup. Came downstairs this morning and the koran angelfish has horrible velvet. No signs of velvet on the fish when I purchased it, but within 24 hours it shows up horribly. My quarantine setup is always sterilized between uses, and I vigorously support quarantine after losing everything (over $600 worth of livestock) but my clownfish pair to velvet brought in by a copperband butterflyfish purchased from the same store. I just don't understand it. It's extremely frustrating and I really hope I don't lose a $70 fish now. At least the koran seems to be responding pretty well to the cupramine treatment so far.

Sorry for the rant, but it's just so frustrating and depressing. :furious:
 
Not a expert but maybe its just the LFS. Have you tried a new Local fish store?

how did you lose $600 worth of livestock, i never quarantine because i dont have time or space to setup another tank. Hopefully the fish gets healthy again.

Let me know a update
Thankz
 
While not common knowledge. a nontherapeutic level of copper kept in a system long term can mask velvet and it is likely that your LFS has velvet in their fish system and that they keep a low level of copper in their system. I would stop buying from that LFS unless they magically start providing a 14 day guarantee. For velvet issues and treatment, please see my blog.
 
how did you lose $600 worth of livestock

The fish got velvet and before I realized what was wrong everything got sick and they were all too far gone besides the clownfish by the time I was able to get copper. I think I might start buying my fish from www.liveaquaria.com now, and running those fish through a 6 week quarantine.
 
The fish got velvet and before I realized what was wrong everything got sick and they were all too far gone besides the clownfish by the time I was able to get copper. I think I might start buying my fish from www.liveaquaria.com now, and running those fish through a 6 week quarantine.

Good plan. Its very easy to lose $600+ worth of fish to velvet, or any similar parasite. I think this is a big reason for the high turnover in our hobby. The typical LFS sure has changed; they used to be great sources of info ,and stood behind their fish. I'm sure there are some good ones left; but you can't compete against the internet, great online dealers (LA is outstanding, IMO & IME), and Fed-Ex. (I think Fed-Ex may be the best advancement in our hobby since LR).
 
While not common knowledge. a nontherapeutic level of copper kept in a system long term can mask velvet and it is likely that your LFS has velvet in their fish system and that they keep a low level of copper in their system. I would stop buying from that LFS unless they magically start providing a 14 day guarantee. For velvet issues and treatment, please see my blog.

A good reminder; and I think a lot of the velvet is mis-diagnosed as ich. That can be a huge mistake.
 
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