Help - Caring for sick Angelfish

I have an adult angelfish that has for the second time been severely beaten up by a second adult angel in my 75 gallon tank. He healed up within a couple weeks with the help of some Melafix the first time, but this time he's in even worse shape. I should have removed him from the tank earlier (he remained in the tank the first time this happened). He is now in a 5 gallon hospital tank and I've been feeding him with a Turkey baster. He struggles to stay upright , but he has an appetite as his color looks normal. His fins are really bad though. I know some of you will say to euthanize but I'm not ready to give up on him yet. I raised him from an egg so there's more of an attachment to him. What are some things I should do to help speed his recovery? Eg, more frequent water changes, elevated temperature, etc? Tank is currently at 80F.

 

Hello! This is my personal opinion from personal experience. What I would recommend is to treat him with MelaFix (to prevent infection), API Stress Coat Plus (to help his fins heal), making sure the tank is oxygenated, warm, and clean. You might even want to get some VitaChem to increase his vitamin intake. It takes a lot to regrow fins. I would also increase your water changes to twice a week to prevent infections/fin rot.

As he gets stronger, what I'd personally do is get him into a 20-30g if possible and keep him separate from the other angel. Angelfish are cichlids and have complex hierarchies. I doubt that those two will get along if you put him back in when he is recovered. Maybe someone else has a differing opinion on that. I haven't had extreme aggression with the angelfish I have kept.

If you could send some pictures, that would be great so we can look at his condition.


Thanks! I hope he recovers swiftly.

~Purity

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm doing all of those things. I hope he improves over the next week. He is laying in the bottom of the tank, so it isn't looking too good. If he recovers, I'll be selling the other angelfish that is the aggressor.

 

Of course! Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope everything goes well. He sounds like he's been through the ringer. Give him time. Don't give up on him just yet. Fish can miraculously come back sometimes.

 

He's doing better and starting to swim a little more. Fins and torso are also showing improvement