Debi

New to the world of Angels I was hoping for some help. I bought 5 Angel babies as I was told that they do better in numbers (odd numbers). They are only the size of milk bottle caps and already in 2 weeks I have lost 3. The first one I found stuck in my log - must have drowned The second I found stuck in some weed - must have drowned The third one I have just found this morning, I didn't know he was dead until I was watching him sitting on the bottom (yes I was watching him because I thought that a little unusual) when he just toppled over on to his side and one of my bristlenoise went to pounce on him. What is going on - can anyone offer any help to this newbie Angel keeper. They are half blacks and I have always wanted them and have had tanks for years - never have I had such chilling losses.

Thanks in advance - Debi.

Isabella

I am very sorry about your angels. Can you tell us what your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH readings are? What size is your tank and what other fish are in there in addition to the angels? Also, have you acclimatized the angels after you have bought them?

jeremyhusband936

check your ammonia and nitrite levels....also, angels are a harder fish to keep. If one of them gets sick at the pet store, usually the whole tank gets sick....next time you go to buy some angels, try to get some babies that a breeder just brought in....i had the exact same problem though and it was the petstores problem (I bought her at petsmart and when i went to tell them that she died two days after i got her they told me they had to quarintene the whole tank). Hope this helps!

Debi

Thanks for that, all nitrate, ph, etc is perfect in the tank. I don't buy my fish from a petstore I am lucky enough to buy direct from a wholesaler (friends, you know) and they were perfectly healthy. My tank is 200ltrs (or a little over), I have 3 comets, 3 dwarf gouramis, 7 lemon tetras, 6 serpae tetras, 1 neon rainbow, 5 bristlenose, 1 red tail black shark, 3 Bala Sharks and 1 ghost knife. I feel so useless, my poor angels. I tempered them first before introducing them to the big tank. They were eating well but after I put them in the big tank I had to make sure that they I feed both ends of the tank so that they would eat. I feed high quality flakes, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and vegetables (pumpkin, zucchini, etc) My tank filter cycle is 1200ltr/hr. My water even looks really clean, you know what I mean. I didn't know that they were going to be such a disaster - I sure the Angels feel so betrayed... Also tank temp sits at 26c

Debi

Anybody got any thoughts??

Tom

There is a method that I used on my angel and seems to be fine and has grown a lot since I got it.
http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/4-fres....html#msg43128
I know some people say it is for sensitive fish and I think angels would fall into that category along with clown loaches, oto cats, and some cichlids. I hope it helps.
Tom

Gunnie

I am sorry this is happening!

My guess would be they are being stressed out by other inhabitants in your tank. Although cichlids have the reputation of being aggressive, angels are some of the least aggressive in that category. They are a little more sensitive than other fish to their environment, and the other fish already established in that tank will definately challenge them if they get too close to the territories already claimed in the tank.