Angelfish Beginner Help!!

Hey fellow fishloreians!
My angelfish I got yesterday will not eat anything I offer to him. I have tried krill and 2 different kinds of fish flakes. He wont even acknowledge that it is there.

He is still a juvenile if that tells you anything..

 

What size tank do you have and what are your water parameters?
Don't worry yet, it's fairly likely that he is just adjusting to his new environment and will start eating soon. If you are really worried you could try soaking some food in garlic to entice his appetite.

 

Ok, the tank is a 1.5 but I will be moving him to a 20 gallon in about a week. I know the 1.5 is waaaay to small.

What do you mean by the water parameters?

 

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate then temparature, ph, gh... You have him i quarantine now? Are your tanks cycled?

 

Yes they are cycled. Not a qt tank.

I cannot get the water parameters, I have no test kit yet.

 

How can you be sure without tests?
He is in too small tank definitely and 20gallon if it's not tall will be small for him in some time. So probably stresa by small space, ammonia etc. I would move him in bigger tank as fast as possible l.

 

I am going to. It will be about a week tho.

 

Then try to keep his water fresh, use prime and give him some food everyday he will probably eat after few days. If he doesn't eat food remove it with net or you could have ammonia spike in that bowl.

Good luck

I m

I mean remove food.

 

Ok, it is not a bowl. It is a filtered fish tank, no bowl.

 

Hahahah bowl can be tank too just a joke. No hard feelings

 

Instead of a 20 gallon tank, have you considered getting a 29 gallon tank or a 20 high? It will keep the water parameters more stable. Plus a fish that can potentially be 6" needs a little more room to swim. Also an Angelfish needs to be kept in waters that are warm, like 78 F. Have you tried brine shrimp or blood worms?

 

Ok.

I

I don't think I can get a 29, it is too big for the space I have in my room

 

Then try to get 20 high one at least that is minimum for 1 angelfish

 

I will get a link to the one I really want.

Here it is.
 

Here is a 29 gallon for just a few more dollars, I might could get it. 

Omgoodness, that is just the stand.

 

This would be i think minimum dimensions for 20gallon approximately 80 litres tank 61 x 51 x 32 cm, L x H x D
That is minimum minimum , this is dimensions from tetra 80 starter kit

And btw you need to cycle new tank with stronger filter than you have in 1.5 gallon tank now. You can use some filter media from old filter but you will need time for bacteria to grow.

 

Ok, I could get some water from the tanks at petco maybe and boost the cycle start.

Or would that be a bad idea??

 

Baaad idea, big no no. Never put shop water in your tank that's are basics. Plus water from tank doesn't have that much of bacteria. In your place i would give back angel fish, scape new tank, cycle it with filter media from smaller one and some bottled bacteria add some ammonia source . Test your water regularly and see when cycle is finish. Then go buy fish and add it to established tank.

Or second option do fish in cycle with daily partial water changes and with using a prime for week or two, tests will tell. (google it)

But first option is much more saffer for already stressed fish.

 

How do I do a fish-in cycle??

 

You can do a fish in cycle using tetra safe start, it’ll boost the bacteria. But it will be difficult, plus you will need a test kit and frequent water changes, water changes daily to keep NO2 and NH3 at low levels, they are deadly if they reach 1 ppm. As well the water doesn’t hold the bacteria, but if you can use some substrate or filter media then you can speed the cycling process, as well as prime or a conditioner to bind the ammonia. But a fishless cycle would be best. All and all it’s up to you. Best of luck.

 

Ok, thanks. I dont really know what I am going to do at this point. I really want to keep Marty because I LOVE HIMMM!! I am not going to give him back.