Angel Staying Towards Bottom

[Durbkat]

I noticed today that my biggest angel has been staying towards the bottom today. I don't know why because it used to always swim around the tank and try to get me attention. But now he just stays in the back towards the bottom by the filter intake. But he will come to the front trying to get my attention if I start to stare at it. So what do you all think is wrong with him?

 

[Alex_]

I would think he is sick or being picked on

 

[Durbkat]

It looks as healthy as ever and its the biggest one there so I doubt its getting picked on and it doesn't get picked on during the day.

 

[Tolak]

Size doesn't matter when it comes to angels being aggressive. Actually being picked at by other angels is an obvious sign of aggression, others are less obvious. Body language is used by fish, very similar to the way dogs use it. A couple of nips or chases by another fish that goes unnoticed by the aquarist is all that is needed to set the tone. After that a slight sideways tilt to the body, common to many cichlids, gets the message across.

If the fish is eating it could be aggression. Sick angels tend to avoid water flow, it just might be a smart angel, having learned that stray or leftover food goes towards & sometimes gets hung up on the intake.

 

[Durbkat]

Its still eating but like I said I haven't seen anything happen to him. I've never seen food go to where he is. Do you think that could be his territory and he is just guarding it?

 

[Tolak]

Could be territory. If you see that angel chasing others away, that's it.

Food does go towards there, it's the filter intake. Sometimes it's hard to tell angel behavior, as you can't watch the fish 24/7. If the fish is eating, and acting normally otherwise, I wouldn't worry.

 

[Durbkat]

Thanks. Today all 4 angels have been schooling together and moving around the whole tank. Its wierd. I guess they had an argument or something yesterday. LOL