Marine Velvet (Amyloodinium)
Amyloodinium ocellatum
Critical severity ⚠️ Contagious
an extremely fast, deadly marine parasite that coats fish in gold dust and attacks the gills
Symptoms
Catching illness early gives the best chance of recovery, so check your fish daily. A fine gold-brown dust over the skin, rapid gill breathing, flashing, clamped fins and sudden deaths; far faster and deadlier than marine ich. Act promptly if you see several signs together.
Causes
A highly aggressive marine dinoflagellate parasite, usually introduced by new fish, that attacks the gills first and can kill within days. The underlying trigger is almost always stress, poor water quality or a newly introduced animal.
Treatment
Act immediately: treat in quarantine with copper or chloroquine (never in a reef), dim the lights, and improve oxygenation. Prognosis is poor once breathing is laboured, so speed is critical.
While treating, increase aeration, remove activated carbon from the filter, finish the full course even after symptoms fade, and keep the water immaculate. Marine treatments belong in a separate quarantine tank, never the reef.
Prevention
Strictly quarantine all new marine fish, as marine velvet is one of the deadliest and most contagious reef-tank diseases. The golden rules: quarantine new arrivals, never overstock or overfeed, avoid sudden swings, and keep up regular water changes.
FAQ
What is Marine Velvet (Amyloodinium) in fish?
How serious is Marine Velvet (Amyloodinium)?
How do I treat Marine Velvet (Amyloodinium)?
Can Marine Velvet (Amyloodinium) be prevented?
Will it spread to my other fish?
This information is general guidance, not veterinary advice. Consult an aquatic vet for serious cases.