Amanda

So I bought 2 angels from Petsmart yesterday, and one died during the night. It was gasping for air as soon as I took it out of the bag. It may have been b/c the lady bagged 6 fish together. So my mother went after work to get another, and now that one looks like it's not doing well!!
The other angel from Petsmart is doing fine, and an angel from my LFS is doing good too. The new angel is just sitting at the top of the water, he's colored up though, so I thought he would be fine. But I'm nervous that I'm going to loose this angel too. I did a 25% water change as soon as I released the new angel, just to be safe. And everything is testing fine. I feel like giving up on these angels!

TFA101

how does the acclimation process go? i know angels can be sensitive to that process

what are your water paramters

Amanda

ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 15-20
Well, the one that died was acclimated very slowly. The one I just got jumped out of the bag when I opened it, overzealous little fish. That's why I did a water change so quickly, to get some fresh water into the tank as soon as I could.

kittenface14

I am sorry for your loss. About a year ago, I had a fish gasp for air and start jumping into the lid of the tank almost knocking himself out, he also died during that night. I think it was stress related, the process of going from the lfs to home can be very stressful for some of our little fish friends.

capekate

Hi Amanda
sometimes the batch of angels from the chain stores can be sick and weak before you even get them, so you never really know how they are going to do when you get them home. Its a hit and miss.
Your new angel didnt have enough time to acclimate to your tank's pH level and water temp before jumping out of the bag, and coming in from the pet store the bag of water was most likely a bit colder than your tank water. Im betting its reacting to the shock and I really hope that it makes it for you.
Your finding out unfortunately just how sensitive Angel fish can be.

Amanda

I did at least get a chance to float the bag, it was when I was going to start adding water that the little thing jumped out.
I'm so frustrated!

capekate

The little dickens! Doesnt he know the ruuuuules! You dont jump out of the bag til your fishy mommy says its time!

AlyeskaGirl

I bought two angels and about two weeks later one died. It stopped eatting. I'm like, great.....here we go. The other angel was a little aggressive, so it could of been that. Stress. Because my water tested fine. I even did a water change just incase.....but it didnt make a differ!! then I bought another angel a week ago and the other angel ofcouse was like this is my turf!!! So he got fishedout and put into my 50 gallon, i just walked him over and plunk......with a jack dempsey!!! All is well in both tanks now!!!

Amanda

The angel passed today.
But....it's not me!
When my mom brought the fish back to Petsmart, she was maaaad. And as she walked in, she saw another man with a bag with a dead fish. So she went up to him, and he had a dead angel too! Turns out, Petsmart lost an ENTIRE tank of angels in ONE day. And apparently, any ones that they are selling are all dying.
So, I don't know if I should hold out much hope for my surviving angel from Petsmart, that beautiful white one. He just hangs out in one corner by himself, the other fish avoid him.
He's beautiful, I hope he makes it.

Butterfly

I'm so sorry for your loss. Hope the other one makes it. Keep us posted .
Carol

Fish_wise_man

It seems like your water parameters are fine.

I don't know about the Nitrate part though. Although I can tell you that angels are extremely sensitive animals and can be stressed out so easily. Even some of my fishes that I bring home from the LFS... some of my fishes even loose a lot of color due to stress.

Do you have any live plants? good clean filter, and if you don't have any plants an air disc to blow some air into the tank?

I used to have an air disc that helps with the air. Although when I bought some live plants it seemed to not make my electricity bill go up. Since it produces oxygen too.

Although if you have plants, don't bother putting in an air disc. It will agitate the normal oxygen flow from your plants. So then your fishes will get too much oxygen and they will get stressed out. It happened to my tank before a long time ago xD

Amanda

The white angel from Petsamrt died yesterday....well either that or my black angel murdered him.
I don't have any live plants, but I'm hoping to be able to get some from CWC & Dino in the spring.