Velvet
Amyloodinium ocellatum (saltwater)What does Velvet mean?
Velvet (also called Marine Oodinium or saltwater dust) is caused by the dinoflagellate parasite Amyloodinium ocellatum. Far more aggressive than ich - infected fish typically die within 24-72 hours of visible symptoms. Looks like fine gold-bronze dust on the body.
How is Velvet used in aquariums?
Treatment: copper at 0.35-0.5 ppm in quarantine for 21+ days, with hyposalinity NOT recommended (velvet survives low salinity). Tank Transfer Method (TTM) is gold-standard: move fish to a new clean tank every 72 hours, 4 transfers total. Always quarantine new arrivals for 21+ days minimum.
How Velvet fits the bigger picture
Understanding Velvet matters because it's connected to broader husbandry decisions: disease prevention is cheaper than treatment - quarantine + dipping protocols paid back the first time you avoid a tank-wide outbreak.
Browse the Fast Aquatics care library for full husbandry tutorials covering Velvet in context.
Frequently asked questions
What does Velvet mean in fishkeeping?
Velvet (also called Marine Oodinium or saltwater dust) is caused by the dinoflagellate parasite Amyloodinium ocellatum. Far more aggressive than ich - infected fish typically die within 24-72 hours of visible symptoms. Looks like fine gold-bronze dust on the body. Treatment: copper at 0.35-0.5 ppm in quarantine for 21+ days, with hyposalinity NOT recommended (velvet survives low salinity).