Angelfish Trouble not sure what to do

hI so recently (last weekend) I got new fish. I added two angels, two dwarf gourami, two german blue rams, and five dojo loaches to my 55 gallon tank that housed five guppies and a snail. I bought the angels small and they where still and inch tall the they where big enough to eat any of the other fish. Recently my snail passed, one of my guppies passes of tail rot that I cought to late, and then one of my sensitive rams died. I am relatively new to the hobby so I regret getting a sensitive fish like a german blue ram. But that’s not the problem. Yesterday I went to the store and got two mollies two platys, and some live plants to add to the tank (Amazon swords and minI dwarf hair grass) when I got home while the new fish where acclimating I redecorated my tank so I took all the fish out. I realized one of my small angels is missing. I looked in the filter in all the plants and everywhere else I could’ve looked I just can’t find her. After I put the new decor in the tank treated the water with some fish first aid (since my other fish died of tail rot I am treating my whole tank for a week) and feed my plants. Today my remaining angel is acting weird. I will show a pic
so you guys know what I’m talking about
Anyway she is breathing but she has been laying like that all day now. I feed them flakes and I started them on frozen blood worms just recently. I am getting a water tester sometime soon we ordered it but I hasn’t come yet. I’m really worried and if anyone can help that would be awesome. All my other fish seem fine they are all eating and swimming like they should be. I have called the place I got the angels from three times since I got them last week complaining that the angels don’t eat well, or just don’t eat at all. The workers said their stressed just give them the rest of the week, and when a week rolled by and they still weren’t eating or grabbing flakes then spitting the hole thing out they said just give it a few more days we’ll now one is dead and the other is sowing so I just don’t know what to do. I’m going to see what their policy is because they said it was a forty eight hour one but these fish haven’t seemed healthy from the beginning (the only day they are normally was on the first night I got them)

 

That is a lot of fish to add at one time.

I'm going to guess the water quality is terrible due to that.

How long was the tank running before all those fish were added?

Also... In the future I highly suggest you don't go out and buy a new fish right after one dies and others are sick. You should make sure your tank is healthy before getting more fish.

I suggest a large water change followed by daily water changes until you can test your water.

 

I definitely think a water test kit is what you should be on first, never mind buying new fish... do you have any idea if your tank is cycled?

 

I left my tank for a while and added a bit of ammoinia before adding my fish so it shpuld be cycled but without a test kit I can’t be sure. I am going to do a water change right now.

 

Just because your added ammonia, doesn't mean your tank is cycled.... ammonia starts it artificially if you aren't adding a bio load right away.... too much ammonia will kill the fish... ammonia converts into nitrite, which then turns into nitrate by the beneficial bacteria...a properly cycled tank should show no more then .25ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrite, and a reading of nitrates...I keep mine around 20 to 30ppm nitrate... my tank is moderately planted, I would suggest getting some plants in there like hornwort... that'll help with cycling... zebra danios are a tough little fish that can handle drastic water swings, and will help as a fish in cycle...

 

I’m planing on getting some more live plants to slowly replace my plastic ones but I can’t right now but as soon as I can I will. I don’t want to add danios just because if I get another angel when I get my tank sorted out properly I don’t want there to be any problems

 

I’m planing on getting some more live plants to slowly replace my plastic ones but I can’t right now but as soon as I can I will. I don’t want to add danios just because if I get another angel when I get my tank sorted out properly I don’t want there to be any problems

I've had danios to start cycling my tank originally and got angels afterwards and never had any issues... definitely get some plants in there, the sooner the better... they help with the toxins.

 

I've had danios to start cycling my tank originally and got angels afterwards and never had any issues... definitely get some plants in there, the sooner the better... they help with the toxins.

Ok. I am changing the water now too so that hopefully will help. I’m planing on it being a 50% start change

 

Changing the water will always help, but don't add anymore ammonia or anything.... did you say you were dosing with prime for your water?

 

She died during my water change. I guess I caught it to late

Changing the water will always help, but don't add anymore ammonia or anything.... did you say you were dosing with prime for your water?

I am putting these things in the water
this is only for a week
this after every water change
and this weekly. But that’s it. Then they get flakes, I tried bloodworms as a treat and to try to get my angel to eat but my angels didn’t eat ever and the blood worms floated. Then everyonce in a while I give pellets to the loaches but they either pollute the water or they don’t eat them at all so I’m not giving those often at all.

Also can anybody please share with me a cheap and easy way to cycle a tank I apparently cannot figure out how

 

hI so recently (last weekend) I got new fish. I added two angels, two dwarf gourami, two german blue rams, and five dojo loaches to my 55 gallon tank that housed five guppies and a snail. I bought the angels small and they where still and inch tall the they where big enough to eat any of the other fish. Recently my snail passed, one of my guppies passes of tail rot that I cought to late, and then one of my sensitive rams died. I am relatively new to the hobby so I regret getting a sensitive fish like a german blue ram. But that’s not the problem. Yesterday I went to the store and got two mollies two platys, and some live plants to add to the tank (Amazon swords and minI dwarf hair grass) when I got home while the new fish where acclimating I redecorated my tank so I took all the fish out. I realized one of my small angels is missing. I looked in the filter in all the plants and everywhere else I could’ve looked I just can’t find her. After I put the new decor in the tank treated the water with some fish first aid (since my other fish died of tail rot I am treating my whole tank for a week) and feed my plants. Today my remaining angel is acting weird. I will show a pic View attachment 474488 so you guys know what I’m talking about
Anyway she is breathing but she has been laying like that all day now. I feed them flakes and I started them on frozen blood worms just recently. I am getting a water tester sometime soon we ordered it but I hasn’t come yet. I’m really worried and if anyone can help that would be awesome. All my other fish seem fine they are all eating and swimming like they should be. I have called the place I got the angels from three times since I got them last week complaining that the angels don’t eat well, or just don’t eat at all. The workers said their stressed just give them the rest of the week, and when a week rolled by and they still weren’t eating or grabbing flakes then spitting the hole thing out they said just give it a few more days we’ll now one is dead and the other is sowing so I just don’t know what to do. I’m going to see what their policy is because they said it was a forty eight hour one but these fish haven’t seemed healthy from the beginning (the only day they are normally was on the first night I got them)

Angelfish should be added to tanks that have been fully cycled and established for a few months with excellent water parameters. They are highly sensitive to nitrates. Best kept at 5ppm.
Test your water with an API master test kit. You've added a lot of new fish at one time. I would suspect you will see ammonia readings.

 

HI folks. I brought an angelfish from the community tank at work to treat a sore in its side that I thought was from being picked on by the angel pair who lived in the tank. MelaFix and Pimafix seemed to work, as the sore scabbed up and looked much better. Now, for the past couple of days I have noticed these spots on him. I have scoured the web but I can’t find what this might be. I have looked closely to see if I see movement or stringy bits, in case it’s anchor worms. Not seeing any of that stuff. Any help to identify and treat would be much appreciated. He is the sole fish in a 30 gallon atm. I wanted to get him a friend, but not until this is figured out. Also, I’m in Canada, where most fish meds are apparently contraband... not sure why. Yesterday I added some aquarium salt and today I dosed with MelaFix again. Parameters are all good, and I have been doing a 50% wc once a week. Temp is 78.

 

Not sure what that is but it seems these spots are showing up on angelfish and on discus. Clean water is the best thing for it. Seems they go away in a few weeks with clean water.

 

Water changes, how much/often do you think? Should I finish a course of Melafix?

 

I’d say 50% every other day for a week. See if it goes away. If the melafix didn’t call for the water changes wait till you finish douses before starting water changes.

 

HI again, I’m hoping I can get some more knowledge on this. It’s been almost 2 weeks since I posted about my angelfish rescue. He is still living solo in a 30 gallon tank. He still has the spots, and they might be a bit worse now, not really sure though. I’ve been searching and reading, and I believe that his condition is lymphocystis, a viral infection which is generally unsightly but not fatal or really harmful. The lesions should fall off with time (up to months), and any future outbreaks will be less severe.

I went through a 7 day cycle of MelaFix before hearing about lymphocystis. No improvement. Since then I have been doing 50% WC every two to three days (every other day more recently), and not adding anything to the tank except for Prime. I’m willing to do this until the end of time if it helps. Not seeing an improvement yet, but I don’t expect to with this presumed diagnosis.

Now my concern is that this fish doesn’t want to eat. He hasn't had a good chow down in at least two weeks. He ignores flakes and softened Bug Bites. He has nibbled on bloodworms, like maximum three or four little worms. I have tried adding garlic to food to boost his appetite, and tried my soft homemade gel food that I give to my goldies. He ignores it all.

He is swimming fine, he appears to be growing somehow, fins are perky, but most of the time he hangs out in a corner looking sad. I want to get some company for him (whole other issue), but I won’t until the cysts are gone.

So is anyone familiar with any of what I am describing? My heart hurts for this guy... he’s had it rough, and I really want him to enjoy his life. TIA.

Here is a picture from yesterday. Please note, this side has always been worse than the other, in the first pic.


I have been trying to care for an angelfish rescue. He seems to have lymphocystis, which appeared to be improving slightly. I have been doing 50% WC every 2-3 days. I have large almond leaves in there too. He is alone in a 29 gallon. Levels are 0-0-10. His pH is higher than angels like it. Any tips on lowering it? Also, does anyone think this reddened and swollen eye is more of the lymphocystis, or something different? I have MelaFix and Pimafix on hand. I am in Canada, where antibiotics are essentially unavailable.

 

It's hard to tell, but I think the red eye might normal coloration. The dot on his nose looks like an injury (like from another angel perhaps, I've seen similar marks). Looks like maybe scale damage as well, not that it cannot heal. Was he beat up in the old tank? You are on the right track with the water changes and capatta leaves. I don't think the redness is part of Lymph, but i'm not sure i'd say it looks like Lymph either (going by the pic, you can see the actual fish). Just my guess is he was beat up and fresh clean water is the best medicine for that.

 

Fluval peat has good reviees for lowering pH and GH

 

I would not touch the ph. Once the fish adjust to a ph it does more harm than good to muck with it. Since he's been in the tank for a few days and hasn't croaked i'm going to assume he has adjusted to the current ph. Also note that most ph ranges listed for a fish come from their natural habitat if your fish was not a wild fish it was probably raised in a different ph that might be totally unrelated to its natural habitat.
-
my silver angles had natural red eyes. Take a look on line or local pet store at a lot of silver angels and see if their eyes look similar to your.

 

He has been away from his community rank for about two months now. I initially took him to treat a hole in his side. It healed, although a small scab has been in that spot ever since. Then came the cysts. I have another post about that elsewhere in this site. Then, when those start to look better, his eye is messed up. Today it is a million times worse, and now I suspect pop eye. Sigh. Poor guy can’t catch a break. This pic is today.

 

Oh ok, I see it now. Yeah, looks like popeye for sure. I will check out your other thread now.

I'm sorry, I have to deal with snow, but I my heart goes out to you and good luck with getting him back to health. I know it's a pic, but it looks like missing scales /tissue damage to me. Lymph is more cauliflower like. What do you think?

If so, frequent water changes are the key to his recovery. He does need to eat eventually, so we need to address that.

I'll get right back, or hopefully you get a second opinion in the mean time.

 

Just from the hole by his head I’m thinking hole in the head. The holes in the back could be scrapes or holes. They do like like holes. Like hith there is another disease on the lateral line. This could be that and would get the same treatment as for hith.

 

Great idea^^, it does look like missing scales or holes along the lateral line doesn't it?

Since this fish was being harassed in old tank pre rescue, it is most likely HITH brought on by stress. At least fresh water is still the best cure for this, you're in the right track. I like to add capatta leaves (Indian Almond Leaves) to help condition the water. They will stain the water tea colored, but it will be faint will frequent WCs. They are supposed to release antibacterial and antifungal compounds and I have good success using them especially for soft water fish like angelfish. I will toss in 1 large leaf for 30 gallons when i'm trying to heal a fish. I use 1/2 leaf as a regular thing per 30 gallons. For some applications where I don't want the mess of the leaf degredation on the bottom, I will add the IAL to the filter in a DIY pantyhose bag like a tea bag.

The other treatment is good nutrition. He is not eating And a good natural way to stimulate appetite is getting the best nutrients. So you could always try dosing the water with vitamins. Boyd Vitachem can be added to the water and when he is eating again, you can dose the food as well, so a good investment for right now and going forward.

My last suggestion option for when he is eating again is adding Epsom Salts to the food. Here is some info on how to do this as well as some general good info for treating HITH and Hexamita.
Treating Hexamita aka Spironucleus
It's more against the parasite responsible for Hex, but could have some effect for your angel you never know. At least it's available everywhere, cheap and doesn't cause any harm.

 

Thank you for all the great input. I’m happy to say that the spots have basically disappeared. Unfortunately, now we have a case of what appears to be popeye. The eye is very red and swollen, and his mouth seems to be unable to close. While his appetite came back again since I originally posted, he is not eating once again. I don’t know if he doesn’t want to, or can’t. Unfortunately, I cannot get fish meds here in Canada, and when I look at ordering from USA, delivery times are between three weeks and two months. This, on top of postage fees that are higher than the cost of the product. Now I am treating with Melafix and Pimafix because that’s all I have on hand, and that interferes with my water changes, which I was doing every other day, because I am supposed to use these products for 7 days before a wc. Ugh... poor fish. Her he is today.


I know, this poor little rescue is monopolizing this page, but his issues keep compounding. After what appears to have been lymphocystis cleared up, he developed popeye. I have threads on both in this section. Along with his bad eye, now there are red blotches around his mouth and eye (and nose?), he does not seem to be able to close his mouth, and is opening it very quickly. He is not eating anything, after just having just gotten his appetite back. He is alone in a 29 gallon tank. I have been doing water changes every two days. Levels are 0-0-5, but his pH is high at 8. I have two large almond leaves in there, for the past week or so. I can’t get decent meds in Canada. I only have MelaFix and Pimafix, and began dosing with these yesterday. Only now I’m not supposed to change any water for seven days from first dose. I’m concerned about his eye, but moreover, his mouth, lack of eating, apparent rapid breathing. He is as active as he has ever been (not very... he spends most of his days in this corner, and at night he moves out to the main part of the tank). My heart is breaking for this poor guy. I want him to have a good life. Anyone have knowledge or experience with these symptoms or conditions? Any favor would be great! Please check out the video.

There is redness at the base of his pectoral fins as well.

 

U can get octozin on amazon uk

Also angelsplus has metro infused flakes

 

OMGOODNESS I didn't realize your post was from early January. Well his sides look great now, great job! So I guess it was missing scales?

I'm also in Canada, so understand your frustration. So is the eye protruding like it's retaining fluid? Do you have another pic? I just thought I saw one somewhere....I know Epsom salts are good to draw out fluid, but not sure about dosing the whole tank....
He is alone in the 30 gallon, no live plants?

 

It was missing scales, but moreso little lumps and bumps. It is a little hard to tell from the pic... Yes, he is all alone in a 30 gallon tank. I have wanted to find some little friends for him, because I'm sure he's lonely, but not until he is healthy. I doubt that he notices, but across the room from him is my 75 gallon with my four goldfish, who are happy and healthy, and who swim around playfully together all day. It looks like he's watching them all the time. I'm probably experiencing more empathy than what is reasonable, but I just feel so sad for my sweet angel. <3 Here he is from the front...

 

IMO, your initial diagnosis of Lymphocystis was probably correct. The Angel's immune system is apparently compromised.
Contracting Pop Eye / Bacterial infection, without any external stressors is another indicator of a weakened immune system.
There's something going on internally that's bringing the Angel down. Even if meds were available, selecting the proper one would be difficult without positively identifying the underlying illness.
You are doing a great job with the Angel, hope things get better soon.

 

You could try some epsom salts in the water to hopefully bring some swelling down. For a 30 gallon, it wouldn't hurt to add just a bit (say 1tbsp per 10 gallons). Just remember in a non-planted tank you'll want to remove it by changing water because no plants to uptake magnesium. Just be sure not to keep dosing without removing/changing water. If you want google using Epsom Salts for popeye and see if it's something you want to try. But good water and nutrition is his best shot.

Whether it's Lymph, HITH or Hex, the treatment is all the same, so some vitamins would be helpful. Good luck!

 

He won't eat a thing.

He is much worse today. His other eye is beginning to swell, and the skin around the first one is ragged and fluffy looking. Now he is hanging out close to the top of the tank... not gasping though. His mouth looks a little better. Still not eating. I added epsom salts, one tbsp per gallon. I am picking up Tetra Lifeguard today, but I'm losing hope. Everywhere I look, it tells me that water quality is the cause of my fish's woes, but water changes are more than regular, and parameters are always ideal. I don't know what I should do about water changes now that I have added the salt. I'm not going to use the MelaFix and PimaFix anymore for now. Screw the Canadian govt and its stupid restrictions on fish meds!

 

Ahhhh Did you mean 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons? Or teaspoon per gallon? 1 tablespoon is a lot at once...I would water change some out now if that is the case. You would dose 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons, so 3 tbsp in your 30 gallon. So add slowly, maybe 1tbsp every 4 hours or so until you are at 3tbsp. Then when you change say 50% water, you just redose 1/2 the Epsom Salts dosage of 1.5 tablespoons. Make sense?

Your poor angel has already felt the damage from the bad water quality and stress of the old tank you rescued him from. These things take time to heal. You are doing the very best you can and I encourage you to not give up hope. I know Methylene blue has been contraband for years in Canada, sometimes you can find Kordon Methylene Blue at Big Als or at least you could.... if you do find it, let me know.

 

Oops... actually one tbsp per five gallons, as instructed on a few online sources I found.

 

Oops... actually one tbsp per five gallons, as instructed on a few online sources I found.

How is he doing today? Handling the salts ok?

 

Octozin you just put in the water. I'm using It for my cichlids. The bottle specifically says for angel fish. One tablet for every five gallons. Three days. With expedited shipping I received it in five days. 200 tabs. How big is your tank?

If your tank is small I'll overnight you a treatment at your cost for shipping. I know how much we love the title guys.

 

Several threads have been merged, members can help you better if they have all the information in one place & can see what’s already been advised

 

Angel craze, do you think this stuff would help

 

He died during the night last night I’m so mystified about what he had because popeye shouldn’t do that.There must have been some serious underlying issue. I’m very sad that he didn’t really have a happy life, probably from about day one. Poor baby.
I appreciate everyone’s input here.

Andyfischer Thanks so much for the offer. I wish I had the chance.

How is he doing today? Handling the salts ok?

I ended up changing half the water again, in case it was too much. Either way, he was already really weak by that time, and died in the night.

 

I ended up changing half the water again, in case it was too much. Either way, he was already really weak by that time, and died in the night.

It was sad reading through the thread It must of been awful going through it!
Don't beat yourself up!

 

It was sad reading through the thread It must of been awful going through it!
Don't beat yourself up!

Yes, it has been heartbreaking.

jinjerJOSH22 Thank you <3