Albino Angelfish Acting Weird

[Colt Frost]

So I bought an angel about 2 weeks ago, and it's acting sickly. He's not eating very much, not responding when I put my finger right next to him, and not swimming very much. He doesn't look sick besides those symptoms though. Can't see any indications of it having a parasite. I'll post a picture of him.

Here’s a picture

Anyone? It's hiding in the corner. I just did a 40% water change and it perked up a little, and then went right back to hiding.

 

[MommaWilde]

Hi, I’m sorry this is the first response you’ve gotten.

Just a couple questions to start ruling things out...
Can you list your water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)?
What size tank and type/size filter?
What tank mates if any?
Also, is your tank cycled, how long have you had the tank running?
Oh and did you declorinate the water (use water conditioner)?

 

[varmint]

Further to the questions listed above, what is the temperature of the water.

 

[Colt Frost]

Hi, I’m sorry this is the first response you’ve gotten.

Just a couple questions to start ruling things out...
Can you list your water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)?
What size tank and type/size filter?
What tank mates if any?
Also, is your tank cycled, how long have you had the tank running?
Oh and did you declorinate the water (use water conditioner)?

0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 10-15 nitrate. 40 gallons, a cascade 700 canister filter, and a marine land bio wheel 200, it’s cycled and a little over a year, and yes I dechlorinate the water. And tank mates 3 other angelfish, 1 dwarf gourami, 2 mollies, 6 bronze cories, a clown pleco, and 5 nerite snails. The 4 Angelfish In the tank are just growing out until they can go into my 135. I need to swap them soon though. I have an extremely aggressive pair in my 135 at the moment that killed my other pair. I didn’t know the aggressive one were even a pair. I’m starting to suspect bullying because every time on of the other angels come near him he hides. And he’s not eating now.

Further to the questions listed above, what is the temperature of the water.

78 degrees

 

[MommaWilde]

Ok yeah, your water seems perfect so I’m guessing bullying also. I mean if he’s new there’s a chance he could be sick but if it’s just that he’s hiding and seems stressed...

 

[varmint]

Based on your answers, I would consider Bullying being the problem with this particular angel.

 

[MommaWilde]

I have angels too. Right now I have 6 in a 135 gal. But I may need to move my two smallest. My big ones are bullies but they don’t do damage. So your new angel sounds like my newest one.
It could be that you could add some plants to break up line of sight and give them time.
But a 40 might just be too small for them. Of course it is long term but I get it when you want to put some size on them before putting them in the big tank.

 

[Colt Frost]

Ok yeah, your water seems perfect so I’m guessing bullying also. I mean if he’s new there’s a chance he could be sick but if it’s just that he’s hiding and seems stressed...

Ya, I’m gonna try switching them around. Putting the four into the 135 and putting the 2 aggressive angels into the 40. I have the stockings already worked out for these tanks and that’s what I was going to anyway, so might as well do it early lol.

I have angels too. Right now I have 6 in a 135 gal. But I may need to move my two smallest. My big ones are bullies but they don’t do damage. So your new angel sounds like my newest one.
It could be that you could add some plants to break up line of sight and give them time.
But a 40 might just be too small for them. Of course it is long term but I get it when you want to put some size on them before putting them in the big tank.

My final stocking for the 135 is going to be 6 angels, 1 Electric blue acara, 1 threadfin acara, 10 Congo tetras, 10 sterbai cories, and a gold nugget pleco.

 

[MommaWilde]

I love electric blue acaras. My second 135 gal has a gold severum and 7 EBAs. I’ve never kept threadfin acara but they are really beautiful too

 

[Colt Frost]

Ok, the angelfish still isn't eating. It doesn't look any skinnier of bigger than it was, but it's a bit more active, but still not eating.

 

[Sarah73]

Have you tried brine shrimp?

 

[Colt Frost]

Have you tried brine shrimp?

I've tried frozen, and live bbs.

I just fed some more bbs to see if she would eat, she still didn't.

Do you think it's eating when I'm not looking? Like eating food form the bottom? He looks fine, he's swimming fine, my biggest angel sometimes pecks at him, but not very often.

 

[MommaWilde]

Hmmm idk. Usually when something tasty goes in the tank they should go for it.

I have been searching articles and YouTube and it seems having angels of too different of sizes usually doesn’t end well long term.
I’ve been having similar issues in my tank with the bigger ones bullying the smaller ones, not hurting but chasing (like yours). However mine do eat when I feed.

I’ve decided, for my situation, I’m going to move my big ones to a different tank, rotate some fish around. If at all possible, especially since yours is not (or appears to not be) eating, you may want to do the same. Maybe when they’re all the same size you could try rearranging the tank and reintroduce.

*edit: I just want to say that I have only been keeping fish for 2+ years. I feel comfortable making decisions about my tanks but I am by no means an expert. Maybe we need a really experienced angel keeper to help you.

 

[Colt Frost]

I could switch the two smaller ones, with my breeding pair. Smaller ones back in the 40, breeding pair back in the 135. But my breeding pair killed my other 2 angels so I'm kind of afraid of putting them with other angelfish. But my bigger ones of the 4 are just a tiny bit smaller than the pair.

 

[MommaWilde]

Yeah if the others are known killers I wouldn’t do that. You are there with your fish. I’d do what your gut tells you is right

Did you ever get around to trying just adding more plants? Sometimes that can really help.

 

[Colt Frost]

Did you ever get around to trying just adding more plants? Sometimes that can really help.

I have no idea what to do. I switched them around, but they're just flaring at each other constantly. And fighting. I have no other tanks. I put in a divider.

 

[MommaWilde]

Ok we need to get some more experienced people here to help.
@TexasDomer she has helped me and many others with stocking and she may know who knows a lot about angels

Edit: adding @bizaliz3 I believe she breeds them

 

[Colt Frost]

Ok, so I switched everything back to the way it was. Breeding pair in the 40, everyone else in the 135. I'm going to monitor them for a little bit, and if the little albino angel doesn't improve, I'm going to think of something else. Petco doesn't have it's dollar per gallon sale going on, so I can't buy another tank for them to go in. The 4 in the 135 seem to get along, just the top dog pecks at the albino once in a while.

Ok, the albino one is by itself chilling out on the other side of the tank from the others. The other 3 get along perfectly well. The only downside is the little black one I have loves being with the albino one. And the bigger ones aren't letting them be together.

 

[MommaWilde]

Aw, well at least no one is killing each other. I’ve noticed angels can be quite finicky.
If you want to try the plant thing, hornwort is really easy and you can float it or tie it down and it’s pretty cheep. There’s a few types of live plants that are good like that and don’t need fancy lights. Or you can get the tall vine type fake plants. I separate those and zip tie them to tiny Tera cotta pots. That way I can arrange them as needed for the fish. I don’t have a green thumb so this is just what works for me.
Good luck! I hope they settle down for you

 

[TexasDomer]

I'd put it in a QT tank with decor and try to get it eating. I think it might also be bullying, and moving the group to a bigger tank with more angels may not help with the problem.