Velvet (Amyloodinium) infections in fish can easily be avoided.

“5. Conclusions

Our results indicate that infestations of […] the gill parasite A. ocellatum can be avoided if a defined pattern of water quality is kept within production ponds with a defined fish stocking level. This pattern of water quality can be achieved by water renewal with night tides, which should be carried out by considering the dissolved oxygen values in production ponds.”

What?

Velvet can be avoided. 
It is not inevitable. 
Even in a scenario where it’s commonplace.

How?

Stocking levels matter.
Water quality (not our definition*) matters.

This is something I (and others) have been stating for years — mostly against stiff opposition in social media forums.  (Folks who generally see infections as inevitable and chemical treatments as mandatory….which they are if you don’t know or heed this info.)

Managing Velvet Disease in Marine Fish Hatcheries

Article Link: Managing velvet disease in marine fish hatcheries. Authors: Roberts-Thomson, Ashley. Journal: PhD Thesis, School of Molecular & Microbial Sciences, The University of Queensland. PDF Link Interesting that there’s a test for dino’s! Diagnosis of A. ocellatum has until recently relied on histology. To advance early detection of the parasite a PCR diagnostic was […]

Fish invading dinoflagellates: a synopsis of existing and newly proposed genera.

Article Link: Fish invading dinoflagellates: a synopsis of existing and newly proposed genera. Authors: J. Lom Journal: Folia parasitol 28 (1981): 3-11. PDF Link Just quoting this nice description of Amyloodinium’s basic features. Notably, they have no chloroplasts, they do have thecal plates (armor). And at the time they were only known to be a […]

Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates

Article Link: Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates Authors: Rosset, S., et al. Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin (2017), Volume 118, Issues 1–2, 15 May 2017, Pages 180-187 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.044 PDF Link Open Access funded by European Research Council Under a Creative Commons license open access No comments for this […]