Please help!! I have a 30gal tank that I have had for over a year. Ph 7.1, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 40, Temp 78. I have 2-Angels 4 1/2", 2-Figure 8 Puffer 2", 1-Pleco, 1-Cory. Over the last month my female angel has been bitting the male. She has ripped off his lips and part of his forehead. He is fine just funny looking. The female has been looking no so good over the past week. She is staying at the bottom on her side or upright. When I or one of the other Fish touch her she will swim off and hide somewhere else. At times she looks ok and at times she looks like she is dead. She does not look discolored,stressed, or sick just not active. Before she began this action she kept wedging herself between the glass and the heater. Any help will be thanked.
Angel No So Angelic
- Thread starter bakamr763
- Start date
-germ-
Rheophilic....
Urm....
She sounds stressed. First 2 things that spring to mind;
Are you sure that you have a male and female pair? If they aren't a pair or maybe two males then they may be territiorial toward each other (then again my angel knowledges fairly useless)....
Are you sure the figure 8's haven't inflicted the males injuries and are also harassing the female, they are known as very aggressive fish (although there are obviously excpetions)...
With the lack of symptoms it is hard to guess, but looking at the serious damage received by your male i'd think they are probably both interlinked.
If they are stressed by each other and/or the puffers then there is a general increase in risk of illness.
Have you treated the male for his injuries?
Aside from stress lying on the bottom would be commonly related (amongst other things) with a swim-bladder infection, possibly acidosis (unlikely) or alkalosis (possible,has there been any large shifts in PH) but it does sound like it is probably stress.
She sounds stressed. First 2 things that spring to mind;
Are you sure that you have a male and female pair? If they aren't a pair or maybe two males then they may be territiorial toward each other (then again my angel knowledges fairly useless)....
Are you sure the figure 8's haven't inflicted the males injuries and are also harassing the female, they are known as very aggressive fish (although there are obviously excpetions)...
With the lack of symptoms it is hard to guess, but looking at the serious damage received by your male i'd think they are probably both interlinked.
If they are stressed by each other and/or the puffers then there is a general increase in risk of illness.
Have you treated the male for his injuries?
Aside from stress lying on the bottom would be commonly related (amongst other things) with a swim-bladder infection, possibly acidosis (unlikely) or alkalosis (possible,has there been any large shifts in PH) but it does sound like it is probably stress.
ArauraDiscus
Fish Addict
Figure 8 puffers are some of the worst fish you could possibly imagine to put together. First and foremost, Angels hate salt, but puffers need it to be healthy and live a full life. Puffers are also exxtremely nippy towards slow moving fish like angelfish. I'm suprised the Angels aren't dead already from harrassment from the puffers. A very bad combo, seperate them asap if you can for their own good.
I do know that they are a pair due to the fack that they were having hatchlings. I know that the injuries on the male are from the female because I have seen her pull him around the tank via the parts that were there. The puffers do not bother the angles dur to the angles having their territory setup before the puffers were introduced to the tank (they put them in their place very early). I have treated the male and the injuries do not look infected or bloody. I am not sure what could be wrong with her when she does swim it seams to take quite of an effort. To my knowledge there have not ben any adjustments to any of the water qualities w/ the exception of the nitrates which dropped with the water change. THANK YOU with the suggestions and anything else that you can think of.
ArauraDiscus
Fish Addict
You are very lucky because first, Angelfish aren't territorial. They only gaurd spots when they are mating, thats it and thats all. Secondly, figure 8 puffers are a thick brackish water fish while angels need water with absolutely no salt. How they are living together due to that is also suprising. Seriously, despit ethe fact that they are working out right now, consider rehoming one or the other, for long term healthy and happy fishes sake.
Thank you Araura! I would normaly agree with you, however I received my puffers when they very small. The angles were pampering their eggs and put the puffers in their place. They actualy hide from the angles in the plants. I have had both pairs together for almost a full year and they appear to be doing well with each other.
I will look into that. Than you
I will look into that. Than you
I imagine the reason the puffers are hiding is because of stress from poor water conditions (lack of salt, not ammonia or nitrite). The angel not being active could also be stress.
I am certainly no expert on puffers but from all I have read, they should only be in a species tank. You may have not had any problems yet but you have a ticking time bomb on your hands. You may go to bed one night and every thing be fine only to wake the next morning to a tank with no angel fish as I have seen what a puffer can do to another fish.
I am certainly no expert on puffers but from all I have read, they should only be in a species tank. You may have not had any problems yet but you have a ticking time bomb on your hands. You may go to bed one night and every thing be fine only to wake the next morning to a tank with no angel fish as I have seen what a puffer can do to another fish.
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
308 -
165 -
164 -
154 -
142 -
127 -
99 -
97 -
88 -
83 -
81 -
65 -
63 -
58 -
48