Angel Problem - *update* Fin Rot, Please Help

[KathyM]

There seems to have been some significant improvement since late last night. I honestly thought I'd get up to find them deadas they seemed weak last night, but this morning we've got unclamped fins at feeding time, and what seems like much stronger angels.

 

[KathyM]

Bit of an update. They're still improving and eating well. However, their fins are still a little clamped, and they look a little red around the edge of their body as you look at their sides (if you get me). the water is as above still, so not quite sure what's going on.

 

[GuppiesRGr8]

hi im just a newbie but i have a book that has angles in and it says for Altum angle fish 82-86 f

and for angle fish it says 75-82 f

and by the way the book is called "the aquarium fish hand book and the isbn no. is 1-84013-668-5

hope this helps but im just a newbie and i would check this info first.

 

[BigIan]

as for the ph swings also check your kh and gh, as the softer water will be turned acidic by the carbon dioxide and other things the fishy`s excrete, harder water can buffer this,
keep a close eye on your water stats and get a kh/gh test kit.

my angels acted very much the same when i firwst put them in they cowered and hid away, but as they`ve begun to grow theyve become much bolder, and have begun bickering amongst themselves,

add lots of plants to alow them places to hide and to feel secure

 

[KathyM]

Thank you very much for your advice. I'll definitely get a kh and gh test - I had no idea about all that to be honest

The tank's half planted - we have some vallis, amazons swords, the dreaded cabomba, etc etc.

We're doing another water change tonight to be safe - will report back with any changes.

 

[BigIan]

as your from keighly you`l no doubt have similar water to me (quite soft) it can be easily counterd either by adding some bicarbonate of soda with each water change or by adding crushed shells or various forms of rock to the tank in order to buffer the watter

cabomba is a great plant it grows easily and lets the fish hide in it.

 

[WILDER]

Ask tolak about the red as sometimes they can be stress bars or something.

 

[Tolak]

Lighter colored angels, such as golds, light marbles, or koi will show a little line of redness below the dorsal & in front of the tail from time to time. This usually appears when they are stressed, though sometimes it can show up for no apparent reason. I wouldn't worry unless it starts to spread, instead of staying in a defined line.

 

[KathyM]

Thanks very much! Well it looks like I was a bit over worried because they're doing even better today.

I'm wondering if the black widows we put in last week are the problem though as they're a bit nippy. The LFS said they wouldn't be a problem in a large group.

We're going to add more plants as cover, and keep an eye on the BWs and see what happens. And thank you all for your advice, it's been a great help!

 

[WILDER]

Thats good news, good luck.

 

[KathyM]

Thanks Wilder, you've been an absolute star.

 

[KathyM]

Right - bit of an update.

Angels had the beginnings of fin rot Don't know how the hell they've got it because the water's just about perfect:

pH: 6.4-6.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5-10

So if anything, the water's improved since they started acting oddly.

We've treated them with King British Fungus/Finrot which hasn't done a thing. 3 are active and eating well despite being tatty as hell - they're full of energy too. The last one is reclusive, has very little dorsal fin left and hasn't eaten as far as we're aware for the last 5 days.

We've been keeping up with water changes trying to get on top of the problem. We can't use salt as it's a planted tank and we have cories.

Last night we gave them a dose of King British Tonic to see if that would boost them but no change as yet.

The LFS sold us a bottle of Tetra General Tonic saying it cures everything, but having read the back of the bottle it's methylene blue which means we can't use it as it'll kill the plants.

What would your advice be? I'm not sure if its kinder to help the really poorly one die, but we've come this far and if someone can say he's not suffering, we'll keep trying.

 

[KathyM]

Oh an interesting bit to add: We went to the LFS where we got these and there was one of these angels left, he was poorly too. However, my sister bought two out of this batch and has had no problems.

 

[KathyM]

OK I getthat this is an angelfish topic, but instead of moving it to New World Cichlids, can it be put in emergencies? At least it was getting read in beginner's questions.

 

[Tolak]

Columnaris often imitates finrot, it could be that. The angel that isn't eating probably has an internal protazoan, which isn't too difficult to cure with meds available in the U.S.

The problem is med availability in the U.K. I use metronidazole for internal protizoans, which I am almost certain isn't available over in the U.K. I think dimtridazole is available to you, though you may have to get it through a vetrinarian. I could post my usual longish cure for protizoans if you like, some of it may apply.

If you could post a pic of the finrot situation, it wouls help. Do a search for columnaris on this site, I'm sure you will find a med that is available in your area.

*Edited for spelling, just woke up, need coffee.*