Angel Fish Sick Again...please Help

[silverchild23]

Hi, before I start a mini-history....

I've had this angel for about 6 weeks now and from when I first got him he's been very sickly. For the first 4 weeks he didn't eat a thing (no, seriously!). My and my partner tried seemingly everything, including Aquapet No.9 for internal parasites, peas for digestive problems, Aquapet No. 5 for general medication, flubinol 15 for worms, the addition of salt, taking the water temperature up, feeding different foods inc. bloodworm, garlic, flakes, pellets etc. Nothing. Eventually, I gave final dose of flubinol 15 and fed them with garlic-soaked flakes, and mr silver actually started eating!

I was so happy! And he's been eating well ever since.

However, over the last week, his tummy started to get very bloated. I cut down on the feeds and fed crushed peas hoping it might just be constipation. And last few days he started pooping really long see-through faeces, with little 'sausages' of digested food in-between. I thought once again that this might just be him clearing his intestines of any blockages. However - now he's going off his food again.

I've tried tempting him back onto food with garlic-soaked flakes again but to no avail.

What does this sound like to you? Is it merely a bad case of constipation that's causing the bloating, long trailing faeces and loss of appetite, or could it be something more serious - perhaps whatever he had originally coming back again?

Oh - and he isn't being bullied.

Please help, I just dont know what to do anymore. Any advice would be appreciated.

TANK: Juwel Rio 240L / Eheim Pro II filter / Temp 26 C / Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0 Nitrate 20 (approx) / PH 7 / Medium Planted
FISH: 4xAngels / 4x Keyholes / 2x BN Plecos

 

[dixaisy930]

Is he bloated now? Does it seem like he has trouble swimming?

 

[silverchild23]

Nope, he's fine swimming.
The majority of the bloating has gone, he just seems to be pooping this long see-through poop and wont eat.
Do you think he might just start eating again if I leave him? Can constipation cause lack of eating

 

[lillykinloo]

Nope, he's fine swimming.
The majority of the bloating has gone, he just seems to be pooping this long see-through poop and wont eat.
Do you think he might just start eating again if I leave him? Can constipation cause lack of eating

This happened to one of my gourami last month. Yes, constipation can cause lack of eating. When this happened to my gourami, I fed him de-shelled peas and it cleared up within 2-3 days. It could be an internal parasite, but I think constipation is probably more common. Try the peas first. I hope the angel feels better soon!

 

[WILDER]

Get going with the parasite med again, they can soon come back.

 

[Tolak]

Treat with the flubinol 15 again. Angels like it a little warmer, 28c would be better, most of my angel tanks are around 30c.

 

[silverchild23]

Treat with the flubinol 15 again. Angels like it a little warmer, 28c would be better, most of my angel tanks are around 30c.

sounds like it could be internal parasites again then. I'll see if I cant get hold of some flubinol 15 again. The temperatures a little cooler because the keyholes dont seem to like it too high, it stresses them out, so I've kept the temp at a happy medium between 26 and 27 C.
Does anybody know where I could get flubinol 15 in a local shop around Croydon? It's just if I get it off ebay it'll take a couple of days for sure.

The problem with peas for constipation is he really doesn't go for them. The other angels love them but I think he's a bit more fussy.

 

[-germ-]

I'm pretty much a noob so i could be wrong, IF it is just a dietary problem then if its also a young angel have you tried feeding it live brine shrimp, one of my new angels refused to eat and never poo'd so i tried pretty much every food there is. Apparently most fry are raised on brine shrimp and after gobbling this up happily for a few days she is now weening herself back on to normal foods; flakes, jelly, bloodworm etc. And pooing regularly and possibly even happily
Might be worth a try?

 

[silverchild23]

I'm pretty much a noob so i could be wrong, IF it is just a dietary problem then if its also a young angel have you tried feeding it live brine shrimp, one of my new angels refused to eat and never poo'd so i tried pretty much every food there is. Apparently most fry are raised on brine shrimp and after gobbling this up happily for a few days she is now weening herself back on to normal foods; flakes, jelly, bloodworm etc. And pooing regularly and possibly even happily
Might be worth a try?

Thankyou germ. Only thing is, the angel of concern has a history behind it, and it did get back to eating again - it just ignored brine shrimp when we tried it originally. It just seems as if it's taken over again. I've ordered some flubinol 15 and I'll see how that goes. He's been sick ever since we got him (apart from the last two weeks where it seemed to clear up) so I think he must have got whatever it is from the LFS we bought him from. Poor bugger - I just hope he can pull through this for good.

 

[-germ-]

Sorry i couldn't help...
Good luck to you and your fish

 

[silverchild23]

Sorry i couldn't help...
Good luck to you and your fish

Many Thanks Germ
Fingers Crossed

 

[silverchild23]

I've just ran down to the chemist and bought some Epsom Salts, just to help him flush out whatever's in there. I've read reports on here and from other people regarding the dosage, and they all seem to conflict...?

What's the best concentration for a bath in epsom salts (I plan to take him out and put him in a bucket for the bath)? I heard somewhere it's 1 teaspoon/litre, and somewhere else its 5. Confused Also, how long should you 'dip' them for?

 

[-germ-]

Short Dip:
In a large container filled with water from your aquarium, add 1 tablespoon Epsom salts per gallon (this keeps water temperature constant for the initial part of the bath. Swim the fish in this solution for 1/4 to 1/2 hour or until stress shows or feces are released. Top the water up in the fish's usual container with dechlorinated water and return the fish to it. Change the water in about an hour to remove any feces and residual salts. Repeat daily until fish shows signs of recovery. Check for signs of bacterial infection or parasites for further treatment.
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Add 1 Tbsp per gallon of Epsom Salt to some aged, temperature-adjusted (same temperature as the water the betta is already in) water.

Pour Epsom Salt solution into a containter.

Place the Betta in the Epsom Salt bath for 15-20 minutes. While the Betta is having a bath, change the water in his tank so that he has nice, clean water to go back to afterwards. Make SURE that the water in all of these containers is the same temperature, we don't need the Betta getting another disease right now.

Hopefully the Epsom Salt bath will help to loosen the blockage, just sit back and watch. The Epsom Salt bath can be repeated up to two times a day - just be aware that it is stressful to the fish, so if you can get him to eat the pea, give the pea a shot first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Came off 2 different sites (neither selling epsom salts) so i assume the time and meaurement is accurate..........
I hope

 

[silverchild23]

Short Dip:
In a large container filled with water from your aquarium, add 1 tablespoon Epsom salts per gallon (this keeps water temperature constant for the initial part of the bath. Swim the fish in this solution for 1/4 to 1/2 hour or until stress shows or feces are released. Top the water up in the fish's usual container with dechlorinated water and return the fish to it. Change the water in about an hour to remove any feces and residual salts. Repeat daily until fish shows signs of recovery. Check for signs of bacterial infection or parasites for further treatment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add 1 Tbsp per gallon of Epsom Salt to some aged, temperature-adjusted (same temperature as the water the betta is already in) water.

Pour Epsom Salt solution into a containter.

Place the Betta in the Epsom Salt bath for 15-20 minutes. While the Betta is having a bath, change the water in his tank so that he has nice, clean water to go back to afterwards. Make SURE that the water in all of these containers is the same temperature, we don't need the Betta getting another disease right now.

Hopefully the Epsom Salt bath will help to loosen the blockage, just sit back and watch. The Epsom Salt bath can be repeated up to two times a day - just be aware that it is stressful to the fish, so if you can get him to eat the pea, give the pea a shot first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Came off 2 different sites (neither selling epsom salts) so i assume the time and meaurement is accurate..........
I hope

Nice One Thankyou

 

[silverchild23]

Ok, Update...

My angel still isn't eating. I've given the tank a dose of flubinol 15, have combined that tieh Aquapet No.9 for internal bacteria, and have given him two baths in epsom salts.

Nothing.

He still wont eat, still poops the clear poop (with the occasional 'sausage' of food in it), and has a swollen belly that keeps on reoccuring. It seems that the epsom salts baths have no effect at all and dont seem to make him poop which is strange because everyone seems to rate it on here (I've been using 1teaspoon per litre for between 30 mins and 1 hr).

The flubinol seems to have had no effect this time (last time it seemed to work) so I'm giving the tank another dose tonight. I might do another dose of Aquapet No.9 in a couple of days time.

Is there anything more I can do? Does anybody have any idea at all what it is?

Please Help - anything would be appreciated (for tank conditions see 1st post).