55 Gallon Tank Adding juvenile angel and EBA

[mossman]

I have a 55 gallon hex tank (48" width) with a grown Bolivian fam and a juvenile flag cichlid, which joined the tank two weeks ago and is doing very well. I ordered a juvenile angelfish which arrives tomorrow and have a juvenile EBA in a 10 gallon quarantine. Would it be better to introduce the angel to the main tank first or the EBA, or would it not make any difference?

I'm growing plants but they are very small at the moment, but I have a few 18" tall artificial plants in the tank to break up the sight lines. No other hiding spots. I have a cave in the 10 gallon but the EBA never uses it. He is very outgoing and confident. The Bolivian ram is also confident and never hides. The flag cichlid hangs out by one of the tall plants at night. Any advice for success would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TClare]

I don’t think it matters much which you introduce first, the EBA and angelfish are unlikely to interact. I think the only potential issue might possibly be between the EBA and already established Bolivian ram, assuming the flag cichlid is a festivum (Mesonauta sp), not a Laetacara?

 

[mossman]

I don’t think it matters much which you introduce first, the EBA and angelfish are unlikely to interact. I think the only potential issue might possibly be between the EBA and already established Bolivian ram, assuming the flag cichlid is a festivum (Mesonauta sp), not a Laetacara?

I figured the Angel would be more timid and would need time to find a comfortable spot in the tank, but I suppose you never know how things will pan out.

It's a Festivum.

 

[TClare]

I figured the Angel would be more timid and would need time to find a comfortable spot in the tank, but I suppose you never know how things will pan out.

It's a Festivum.

I’ve not known angelfish to be at all timid when first introduced to a tank (though I have always introduced more than 1 at once). It should get on ok with the festivum in theory, but these cichlids are very individual, you’ll just have to watch carefully and see how they react to each other. Neither of these should have any problems with the acara or ram.

 

[mossman]

I’ve not known angelfish to be at all timid when first introduced to a tank (though I have always introduced more than 1 at once). It should get on ok with the festivum in theory, but these cichlids are very individual, you’ll just have to watch carefully and see how they react to each other. Neither of these should have any problems with the acara or ram.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[mossman]

All four fish (angel, EBA, Bolivian ram, flag cichlid) are getting along well for now. The flag cichlid hangs out at the top behind the filter intake quite a bit but he comes out periodically and swims among the others and doesn't seem bothered by them. I hardly see him eat at feeding time and he looks a little thin to me, but he's got his colors so hopefully he's okay.

 

[TClare]

What are you feeding them? My festivums are not at all keen on pellet food, but love any flakes. Mine also like to stay at the top of the tank amongst some branches I have close to the surface, so yours is probably behaving naturally, but perhaps in your tank there are not any branches or plants that reach near to the top and would give it somewhere else to take shelter, other than the filter intake? Do you have a photo of the tank? Also I wonder if having one or two more might help it to feel more secure, though I appreciate there is not a lot of room in your tank...

 

[mossman]

I just planted some new plants (likely not nearly enough) and started injecting CO2 after a few year hiatus. It's pretty bare right now but I'm hoping the swords will take off and provide some coverage.

I feed tropical flake food, spirillum flakes, cichlid pellets, freeze dried bloodworms, fresh bloodworms, brine shrimp, sinking pellets, and he doesn't seem very interested with any of these. I have seen him eat brine shrimp once.

 

[TClare]

Hmm he doesn't look too good, when the plants grow it will be a lot better for him, but I would be concerned about him not eating, not sure what to recommend - have you tried any other live food besides brine shrimp?

 

[mossman]

I'm going to move him to a hospital tank and treat with a broad spectrum medication and see if he gets better.

 

[TClare]

I'm going to move him to a hospital tank and treat with a broad spectrum medication and see if he gets better.

Yes that might be the best plan, I just hope he doesn’t get too stressed, but it does seem that something is going on. You could also try to encourage feeding by trying some live food - can you get mosquito larvae or daphnia?

 

[mossman]

I'd rather him get acclimated to the multiple foods I already have rather than requiring a special diet. The store I ordered him from said they fed him brine shrimp and flakes.

 

[TClare]

I'd rather him get acclimated to the multiple foods I already have rather than requiring a special diet. The store I ordered him from said they fed him brine shrimp and flakes.

OK well good luck I hope he improves soon.

 

[mossman]

The flag cichlid didn't make it. I moved him to a 10 gallon quarantine and treated with meds and think that overwhelmed his system. I (foolishly) followed AI's advice and dosed with Polyguard, which I thought was a gentle medication. Turns out it's one of the strongest. After realizing this, I did a 50% water change and added some aquarium salt. I think was already too late since he had barely eaten anything in the two weeks I had him.

I also noticed I'm missing three corydora from my main tank and the EBA looks a little bloated and keep spitting out his food, so I'm worried the entire tank is infected. I'm currently feeding medicated food (pellets and wafers soaked in Metroplex and Focus) and hope I don't lose any more. I don't really see any signs of infection, but the fish deaths for me panicked so I decided to play it safe.

 

[TClare]

I'm very sorry about the festivum, it did not look good, but its always difficult to know if its best to remove and treat or not, and what medication to use. And re the other fish, I am really not an expert on fish diseases and treatment but I'm not sure if metroplex is the best medication to use, it is for treating protozoan parasites but won't treat other bacterial infections, for which kanaplex might be better. It would be a good idea if you start a separate thread with a new title so that people with more disease experience might comment.