Velvet Disease

Have you noticed that your once vibrant and colorful fish is now dull with a strange, rusty colored film covering parts of its body? If so, your fish is likely suffering from one of the most common fresh water fish diseases, known commonly as Velvet.

Velvet is also known as Rust and Gold Dust Disease. Its technical name is Oödinium. If your fish appears to have velvet, contact your Austin Vet Clinic today.

What Causes Velvet?

Velvet is caused by a tiny parasite known as Oödinium. Oödinium is a dinoflagellate. Once this parasite strikes one fish, every other fish in the same tank is at risk for infection.

The Oödinium finds a fish and adheres to it using flagellum. It then feeds on the fish until it is ready to drop from that host. After it drops, it divides into dozens of cells that disperse throughout the rocks and other ornamentation in the tank.

Signs

If you suspect your fish might be suffering from Velvet, look for the following signs:

• Scratching against objects in the tank
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Fins clamped against the fish’s body
• A fine yellow or rusty colored film
• Peeling skin in the advanced stages

There are a number of treatments for Velvet which vary depending on the type of fish. Chemical treatments are available at local pet stores, but some types of fish are too fragile for these types of treatments.

Contact Us

To learn more about Velvet, or for any of your veterinary questions or needs, contact your Austin Vet Clinic today.