atmmachine816

Two days ago I noticed my male angel breathing harder than normal, visibly opening mouth but was showing no other signs of stress, still appetite, just recently mated with the female and laid eggs, just tested water all good results. So I put in a airstone since maybe he was having lack of oxygen but I didn't think so since no other fish had a problem. This did not help at all. Today I come home from school and he is resting on the gravel still breathing hard with the female right by him, though she is fine, she's just keeping him company I guess. He's not laying on his side or anything, he's just resting on the gravel normal position. There are no signs of disease or anything wrong with him on the outside and no other fish have any problems breathing or are not healthy. I had tested the water 5 days ago and everything was good so I don't think it's water quality. If I have time today I'll test again and upload a video of his breathing. Now he is 11 years old. Is he just getting old? This is what I believe it is since my research I didn't find anything that would correspond with just breathing. As of yesterday when I fed them he still ate. Your thoughts?

thanks

p.s. if a moderator thinks this should be in the disease section then you can move it there.

Allie

I just lost one of my angels b/c I didn't treat him in time. I would put him in a sick tank...look up fish diseases...and treat him if needed.

atmmachine816

I have looked stuff up, can't find anything. I wouldn't know what to treat him with and unfortunately I don't have a hospital tank. My parents won't allow anymore tanks, I rarely have sick fish though so thankfully it's not a problem.

atmmachine816

Here's a video

Isabella

Atm, no need to move this thread anywhere. As for your Angel, maybe it really is his old age showing on him, that's all. I mean, if his coloration is OK, his fins look clear and normal, his scales and body in general looks OK (no films and grains/patches of any kind), no swelling in his eyes and abdomen, then ... it appears not to be any disease, but perhaps old age, as he's 11 years old. I do hope it's just that, and not some disease. Definitely keep an eye on him and keep the water clean. The video would be helpful, thanks.

Isabella

Ooohh, poor baby He looks OK except for the hard breathing, like you said. His breathing indeed is faster than in should be. Do fish get any "respiratory" diseases (if I am making any sense here)? If it were not a fish, I'd think it has some respiratory problem.

But then again, maybe he's just beginning to die of old age?

I am so sorry Atm; it's such a beautiful Angelfish.

By the way, your tank is so beautiful. Such cute Harlequins and Guppies!

atmmachine816

Yes I do hope it's just age, I've really come to like him. If it is just old age, hopefully he will pass away soon, it seems to be getting worse pretty fast. I only hope if he does die the female won't get mad and take out her anger on the other fish. This happened when I first got all the angels and I gave them away. I am not certain of any respiratory diseases, I have not seen any medications to treat this. I do hope he gets better.

Thanks about the tank, harelquins and guppies

Isabella

Is he doing any better now

Jim

I'm so sorry your angel isn't well. He looks healthy enough, his color is great. I see what you mean, there's no real sign of anything. But it seems to me I read somewhere that angels live around 10 years or so. Assuming that is accurate, it very well could be age.

Sabi

I'm sorry about your angel, atm, afraid i cant help! he looks so pretty shame!

atmmachine816

So guys wasn't able to come on, ended up staying over night for a cross country meet today and didn't get time to come on. Came home today and he hasn't changed much. He's breathing has slowed but it looks like he's not going to live much longer. He's still resting on the gravel in his normal spot, still looking healthy but not breathing well.

atmmachine816

hmm he is bloating up a bit but not much. Could be a sign of dropsy but his scales are not pineconing and he's not very big at all. I wasn't aware of having a breathing issue before and during dropsy though either. Your thought's on this?

Sabi

So sorry for your angel atm! Did you try a water change? I dont think it can do much help but it may make him feel better.

atmmachine816

hmm no I didn't think of doing that, don't think it would have helped but probably should have. That slipped my mind, probably from him starting this on my first day back to school, had a lot going on. He passed away sometime last night after I went to bed, he had no out signs of disease when I examined him so probably old age. I will do a larger than normal weekly water change today, routine when a fish dies. My female seems to be grieving him, she's been with him most of the time, today is the first time she's been away from him besides when I fed her or was right by the tank, poor girl.

Jim

atm, wow, I'm sorry... that really sucks. I'm getting really attached to my pair of angels, I know how you must feel.
I'll be curious to hear how your female does, considering someday I'll most likely be faced with the same situation. Hopefully she'll be OK and move on. But I was wondering, and I apologize if this is a bad question right now, but is she the same age as he was?

atmmachine816

thanks

Not a bad question, yes she was the same age, so she may pass away soon too. So far she's ok, but not showing her colors. She doesn't show her colors well usually when she's mad or scared, the colors are pale looking. She's not sick thankfully, just sad. Obviously fish can get very attached to each other too. I'm thinking you would have a bigger problem with having two angel pairs in the same tank, one dieing and having problems than one pair in one tank.

Jim

I think you may be right... with 2 pairs if 1 dies the remaining pair might turn on the "widow" fish and take over the tank.
But now I have to wonder... if you have a pair on the young side, and one dies, will the other eventually pair up again with a new angel?

atmmachine816

I wouldn't see why not, only problem is finding one that he/she would like. Unless it was a big tank I would think you would need a full grown or almost full grown angel though since the adult angel would probably pick on a baby angel if you tried to put one with the adult.