Sabi

Hi

About 1 week ago i noticed that my silver angel was staying in one place with its face turned upward and every so often wiggling ever so slightly. As i had 2 angels in my 67gal and there was some fighting i took silver out and put her in my 24gal. But this carried on although she ate when i fed her. I got worried and put her into my 2gal hospital tank on Friday. Also, on Friday i noticed the F-H my other angel were showing the same symptoms. By Friday afternoon i had him in the hospital tank too.
From what i read on diseases the one that matches these symptoms the most is flukes or gill flukes. But for the life of me i can NOT SEE anything, be it by the gills or on the body. They appear to be in perfect shape on the outside yet they are shaking and wiggling as if they want to get something off them. Silver doesn't wiggle as much as F-H but she stays with her mouth face upward.
The breathing is not what can be called "normal" but not rapid either, just more fast than usual.
Silver eats everyday when i feed(flakes, granules, worms) but F-H doesn't eat unless its blood worm or flakes and from what i make out on this is that he wants "soft" food. I don't see anything on the mouth either.

I had a case like this with my angels some months back, and treated them with anti internal bacteria and salt. I started this treatment again on Monday. Since then, they don't wiggle, shake or sit one place ALL the time but every now and then swim about or take an interest around them. I'm at loss as to WHAT this could be. Only thing that i think it COULD be is something internally.
No other fish in either of the other tanks are affected, it is only the angels.


nitrate:10, nitrite 0.1, pH 7.5, Temp:27'C, ammonia?
Thanks for your input.

Sabi

I've noticed something that may be the cause.

Around their mouth, going up to just before the head there are tiny holes.
Does anyone know anything that can help, i'm really worried. The poor buggers are trying to be tough. I wish i can help them some more.

COBettaCouple

I wish I knew what was going on.. but I would guess internal bacteria. What med are you treating them with and would you be able to post a pic? How does the lateral line look?

Sabi

Thanks for answering, Dave! I'm treating with 'Interpet' Anti Internal bacteria. The lateral seems fine... maybe if you point out something i can notice something different. Posting a pic wont help if you want to see the holes. It is so tiny i can hardly see it. I was scrutinizing them so hard that i noticed it by chance. Apart from that nostril hole thingy (cant remember what it is called) there are the fine holes. I think thats why they were shaking their heads and wiggling.... Both seem much better today, F-H actually was chasing after the food and they are starting to chase each other AGAIN. That shows me they are improving i hope!

COBettaCouple

Sounds like you're doing what I would with them and I would ask a member like Allie about the holes as she's got way more Angels experience than I do and don't have any ideas on that honestly.

Sabi

Will do, tnx for trying to help.

Allie

http://www.nationalfishpharm.com/articles/hexamita.html

It could be hole in head disease/Hexamita.

Sabi

Hey, you beat me! LOL. Tnx going to check out the link now.

Allie

No problem..I hope your angels will be ok.

Sabi

Horror upon horror, as much as i hate to say it i am beginning to think it is hole in the head disease! The only reason i never thought it was that is because i thought HITH disease had ONE hole!

Allie

Oh pooh. Yikes!

COBettaCouple

Unfortunately, it seems cichlids have a tendancy towards problems along the lateral line, but treatment with the proper meds and the usual clean water, etc will give them a good chance of recovery.

Sabi

Hey, Allie/Dave i just want to say Thanks for what you have said here. I was really worried about them and it was so nice to be able to just discuss what was happening with my angels.


I'm so, so happy to say that they seem to be back to normal! I can still see tiny-ish holes when i look closely but their behavior seems to be absolutely normal and they are double hungry feeding time. I think they want to make up for all they missed out when they were sick! The running time of the 3rd dose of medication ends today. I dont think i'll dose them again after this.

Allie

You re welcome....if I can help I usually try.