Angel Fish Emergancy

[sheepheadfish]

I have a marbled angel fish about 4 inches that has been healthy for about a year but now acts sickly sitting on the bottom of the tank. It isn't sideways, just sitting upright all the time and eating less than it's usual piggy self. No sores or ich or fin damage. Acts like it is hard for it to swim, like it is too heavy. I changed the water and that didn't help, the water is clear and all other fish are fine, lots of happy snails and live plants. It perked up last week for a few days, but then is getting worse, mostly listless and slowly swimming a short bit then sinking to the bottom and sitting there all day. Temp stays at mid 70's F. No one is bothering him.
Please help!! I don't want to lose him. Thanks!!

 

[WILDER]

Try some shelled peas, sounds like swim bladder does it look like his tail weighing him down.

http/www.fishtanksandponds.info/care-mai...swimbladder.htm

Also stats would be good in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.

 

[sheepheadfish]

I have a marbled angel fish about 4 inches that has been healthy for about a year but now acts sickly sitting on the bottom of the tank. It isn't sideways, just sitting upright all the time and eating less than it's usual piggy self. No sores or ich or fin damage. Acts like it is hard for it to swim, like it is too heavy. I changed the water and that didn't help, the water is clear and all other fish are fine, lots of happy snails and live plants. It perked up last week for a few days, but then is getting worse, mostly listless and slowly swimming a short bit then sinking to the bottom and sitting there all day. Temp stays at mid 70's F. No one is bothering him.
Please help!! I don't want to lose him. Thanks!!

Thanks for the reply, but no he acts like he is too tired to swim, he remains in normal swim position and can move very fast if frightened. He acts like his side fins can't move his body around. He acts like he is very old.How do you give shelled peas, I have never heard of that for fish, do you mean dried English peas or fresh ones and do you crumble them up or buy them at a pet fish store? I am in the States and have never heard of that. Please advise.

 

[Tolak]

It's plain green peas, like you get frozen or in a can, with the shell removed. This helps with constipation issues. Epsom salt also helps with constipation, 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of tank water, increase by a teaspoon per 10 gallons for a couple of days for a maximum of 3 teaspoons per 10 gallons.

Usually when angels act that way, it's an internal protizoan. Loss of appetite, tending to hide towards the bottom or back corners, and white feces are major signs. I have a 3 year old silver super veil that is going to get medicated starting tonight, been showing symptoms for a couple of days.

Here is what I do, I've done it before & saved at least 10 angels this way, along with an oscar. Put the angel in a quar tank, I usually use a 10 gallon. Increase the temp over a day or so to 90-94F. Treat daily with 40 mg/gallon metronidazole, with 50% water changes daily. If the fish isn't eating, don't feed for the first 3 days. After 3 days, get some frozen brine shrimp. Take a portion about the size of a few match heads, and sprinkle on some metro. You have to eyeball this one, make the shrimp look kind of like a tiny powdered donut. Once it thaws, mix it in & feed. Sometimes they still don't eat for a few days, but once they start to mouth the food & spit it out, the meds seem to get in their system real good. Continue medicating the water & food for 7-10 days.

Metronidazole is sold as flagyl, het-a-mit, and a few other names I can't recall offhand, used to treat hexamita & hole in the head. They usually suggest 20mg/gallon, this often isn't enough. Metro deteriorates in 8 hours, so you could do twice daily water changes. I've done this on the weekends when I have time.

I've also added epsom salt while using metro, this helps with any constipation issues, cleans out the digestive tract. I start with 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water, increasing by 1 teaspoon daily for 2 more days to bring it up to 3 teaspoons per gallon. You will have to adjust how much you use when doing water changes. You may want to give this a try.

 

[sheepheadfish]

It's plain green peas, like you get frozen or in a can, with the shell removed. This helps with constipation issues. Epsom salt also helps with constipation, 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of tank water, increase by a teaspoon per 10 gallons for a couple of days for a maximum of 3 teaspoons per 10 gallons.

Usually when angels act that way, it's an internal protizoan. Loss of appetite, tending to hide towards the bottom or back corners, and white feces are major signs. I have a 3 year old silver super veil that is going to get medicated starting tonight, been showing symptoms for a couple of days.

Here is what I do, I've done it before & saved at least 10 angels this way, along with an oscar. Put the angel in a quar tank, I usually use a 10 gallon. Increase the temp over a day or so to 90-94F. Treat daily with 40 mg/gallon metronidazole, with 50% water changes daily. If the fish isn't eating, don't feed for the first 3 days. After 3 days, get some frozen brine shrimp. Take a portion about the size of a few match heads, and sprinkle on some metro. You have to eyeball this one, make the shrimp look kind of like a tiny powdered donut. Once it thaws, mix it in & feed. Sometimes they still don't eat for a few days, but once they start to mouth the food & spit it out, the meds seem to get in their system real good. Continue medicating the water & food for 7-10 days.

Metronidazole is sold as flagyl, het-a-mit, and a few other names I can't recall offhand, used to treat hexamita & hole in the head. They usually suggest 20mg/gallon, this often isn't enough. Metro deteriorates in 8 hours, so you could do twice daily water changes. I've done this on the weekends when I have time.

I've also added epsom salt while using metro, this helps with any constipation issues, cleans out the digestive tract. I start with 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water, increasing by 1 teaspoon daily for 2 more days to bring it up to 3 teaspoons per gallon. You will have to adjust how much you use when doing water changes. You may want to give this a try.

Thanks, I will get some tomorrow, and try everything that you have told me, he isn't getting any better, and I am very fond of him, he has always been a fish with personality!!

 

[WILDER]

I would follow tolak advice he excellent with angels and has alot of experience, good luck.