5 Yr Old Angel Died, Hole In Gill Of Survivor

[jenrn]

I have had this 50 gallon aquarium for 5 years. It is well established with no new occupants and no recent changes in the tank. I had two Angelfish that occasionally displayed aggressive behavior, but never harmful. I found one dead today and the other breathing fast and with this hole in his gill. Was it a fight or a disease? I appreciate any thoughts.

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Tank size:50
pH:6.8
ammonia:
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 78

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Death of one five year old and hole in the other one's gill

Volume and Frequency of water changes:30% every other month

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: gravel only no additives

Tank inhabitants: WAS two angelfish and one ghost knife

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): nothing

Exposure to chemicals: none

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[FishFillet]

hmmm... well it could have been a fight, does the other anglefish have any wounds like a missing eye or something? if not then I have no idea

 

[jenrn]

Angelfish was fuzzy and dead. not sure what he was missing, except a heart beat =( would they do this after 5 years living together?

 

[Vin Swords]

Water change every other month? I didn't know it's possible ..


Looked like fight to me... How big is the bgkf?

 

[colleen0309]

My 2 silver angels lived happily together for 8 or 9 years, then decided they couldn't stand each other. So, yes, this can happen. If that is an injury to the other angel, you are going to need to step up on water changes. I do 50% a week for normal maintence. When there's a problem, I do it every day or every other day depending on what I'm dealing with. Are you sure the culprit wasn't the knife fish?

 

[squeeky_jane]

I would up your water changes to keep the possible wound clean. I tend to do 20% water changes a week and sometimes more when I have a population explosion. Place some tonic salt in the water as that too will help to keep the wound clean.

 

[colleen0309]

the ghost may be sensitive to the salt. I wouldn't add any. I'd just be doing big water changes

 

[jenrn]

Ok thanks guys. I will step up the water changes and keep an eye on the ghost.

 

[Sesshis_grl]

But will water changes be enough? I had this with one of my angels after they all started fighting, and even with water changes it didn't heal.

 

[colleen0309]

As long as the wound doesn't show signs of fungus, frequent water changes should be enough. You could add some melafix (tea tree oil) to the tank. It helps with healing.

 

[-Craig-]

Hate losing angel fish, Use to breed them and injuries like this happened a few times when they use to fight over territory (Their tank had a lot of spots they could fight over too, they just fought over this one spot) mine all recovered, Step up water changes.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Yeah you should be doing more water changes. Also it wouldn't hurt to add some melafix.

 

[jenrn]

Thanks everyone. The other Angel is doing pretty good. The wound looks to be healing. I don't think it was the knife fish that did this, although possible because he is HUGE (approx. 10in now), but the Angel is very big as well( I would guess his body to be about 4-5"). I never see them fighting, and my angels ALWAYS showed mild signs of aggression but nothing serious until this. Anyways. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[XeroTolerance]

That's good that the wound is healing.