Angel Dying Help!

[Snick]

I have had this Angel Fish for almost a year now, and have raised it up since it was a small fry... and it is sick for the first time and is down with something bad!
Current symptoms include cloudy eyes, weird rash on the top of the back and redness all over the body. He also seems really weak.
I must confess that I was 1+ month overdue on the water changes, until today... the nitrate levels were unsafe when I changed it today...
Currently, the water parameters sit at perfection (after the water change)... Ph a little high, at 7.5, but it has always been like that since it was a fry.

Here are some pictures to help you out (if there are any medicines or anything that I can do to help this guy, please tell me)

He is currently sharing the aquarium with 3 other angels of the same size and age, and 4 algae eaters.

 

[WILDER]

Bad bacteria infection bless it.
Issolate and get going fast with a very good bacterial med.

 

[Tolak]

Hemmoragic septicemia, more than likely brought on by poor water conditions. Start with 10% water changes a couple times daily for a few weeks. You will need to med with oxytetracycline hydrochloride. Septicemia can kill rather quickly, get the meds in as soon as possible.

 

[Snick]

so what is it? a bacterial infection or Hemmoragic septicemia? I need to know to get the meds!

 

[WILDER]

You can use that med tolak has stated.
Here a link to septicemia need to get water quality back into shape, and medicate fast.
Look under septicemia.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

 

[Tolak]

Hemmoragic septicemia is a form of bacterial infection.

 

[Snick]

OK I bought the medicine and applied it... (Tetracycline) hope it makes a difference... he looks pretty trashed so lets hope he does OK.
I isolated him to a 10 gallon hospital tank.

 

[Tolak]

Here's a link to one of the places I order from, they give a good plan on dosing & water changes; http/www.nationalfishpharm.com/products2.html

I can't believe I told you 10% water changes a couple times daily for a few weeks, it should be a few days. I'm doing damage control on my computer, thanks to someone downloading a nasty .exe file. You want to do some smaller, frequent water changes on the larger tank so the change in water parameters isn't so drastic on your fish.

The seperate med tank is an excellent idea, it makes observing the fish easier, is easier to keep clean, and saves on meds. Septicemia is a tough one, make sure to continue medicating even if the fish is looking better.

 

[Snick]

Just a quick question- is septicemia contagious? If it is, then my other 3 angels probably have it... They do not show ANY symptoms, so maybe they didn't get infected, or maybe the sickness hasn't kicked in...

 

[Tolak]

If you keep up on the water changes the fish that aren't showing any symptoms should be ok. I would still keep a close eye on them.

Stress lowers a fish's immune system, poor water quality causes stress. Add in a little aggression which angels have, being cichlids, and the one with the most weakened immune system will show symptoms first. By putting the ill fish in a seperate med tank you eliminated one stressor, the water, and another possible one, aggression. Keep an eye on the other 3, you may have a pair forming, which will stress the third fish in the tank.

The best, cheapest, and most reliable way to keep fish healthy is fresh water.

 

[Snick]

He died. I woke up and he was dead.

One of the other angels seem to have some fading or damage on scales of the head, looks like the beneficial slime is gone... is it the beginning of the same sickness?

 

[WILDER]

Sorry R.I.P.
So it looks like a bleached out patch on top of the head.

 

[WILDER]

Got a bad bacteria infection in your tank.
This is a good read.
It happens when you slack off with water changes.
http/www.petsforum.com/cis-fishnet/afm/G29060.htm

 

[Snick]

Yeah I'm really sorry about the water changes this will assure that it will not happen again... If I change these fish to a healthier aquarium, will they cure by themselves, or should I medicate them? Currently, only one of the angels seems to have the bleach, how do I know if the others aren't infected and the infection hasn't just kicked in? Should I change these angels to the 170 gallon tank that is finally cycled, since it has perfect water parameters?

Or do I pass the sick guy over to the hospital tank and treat him with what medicine?

 

[WILDER]

Slowly get water quality back into shape.
I would medicate the tank already on no 2 ill fish.
Septicemia can enter the tank water from the fish, so it can pass onto the others.