gregjen

HELP! My mature angels (productive pair)* have been fighting and not acting like normal. The female is often swimming tilted to one side and/or slightly tilted up. The male is overly aggressive and they seem to fight. Both will go through violent flashing on the bottom.....spooked. Sometimes they lock mouths, but roughly. Active parents and breed regular. Only other notables are the mother had a little whitish around mouth....thought from cleaning slate or locking mouths. Some notable marks on scales from fighting.

Water quality is good....0 ammonia and nitrite, steady ph and somewhat normal nitrates...20 or less. They are in there own High 20 gallon and have been for at least a year. Have many offspring and they continue to care new little ones between fights. Not normal or typical behavior.

Butterfly

If their damaging each other they need to be seperated for a bit. The white on her lip could be fungus, take a close look and if it is then she needs a course of treatment with Maracyn or maracyn II.
Angels that are getting ready to spawn will lock lips and act very aggressively towards each other but if one of them isn't feeling well the other will perceive this as weakness and possibly kill the weaker one. I have had this to happen.
Carol

gregjen

Thanks Carol....good info. Will treat for fungus and separate if needed. Why do they thrash violently against the bottom sometimes??

Butterfly

You mean like they flick against the bottom like they itch? If so thats called flashing, sometimes high Nitrates can cause this. A water change should make them feel better.
Carol