Angel Stoped Eating

minniemouse

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Hi, I have a marble angelfish about 2in across and 3ins from top to bottom. I have had it for 6 months now and until today everything has been absolutely fine. When I came home today I noticed that he was just hanging out in the corner not swimming around like it usually does. When I dropped some food in there he showed no interest in it what so ever. Usually hes attacking it like crazy. I have another angel of the same size and got them at the same time. The other one is perfectly fine. Any thoughts or ideas would be great. Thanks oh I tested the tank and all the readings were normal.
 
What are the other tankmates, what size tank, what is your maintenance procedure, and what and how often have you been feeding? What's the tank temperature, and is there any whitish stringy feces?
 
What are the other tankmates, what size tank, what is your maintenance procedure, and what and how often have you been feeding? What's the tank temperature, and is there any whitish stringy feces?


The other fish are platys, bristlenose plecos, and ghost shrimp. I vaccuem out the bottom once a month cause I have a wet-dry filter. I feed once a day six days a week. Temp is at 77. No stringy feces.
 
Any abnormalities on his body? Such as visible parasites, bloated stomach, etc. etc. ?? Is he gasping for air?


How often are water changes done?


How is he swimming when he does?
 
Any abnormalities on his body? Such as visible parasites, bloated stomach, etc. etc. ?? Is he gasping for air?


How often are water changes done?


How is he swimming when he does?

No abnormalities on the body. He looks completely normal. Water changes done once a mouth. I have a wet/dry filter. He doesn't look like he is gasping for air. He is swimming with his face kind of pointing up. Hes not really swimming either just kind of floating in one area.
 
That temperature is rather low, I keep angels at a minimum of 80F. You didn't mention what you are feeding, a diet consisting of mainly flake will cause constipation at that temperature. Add in some bloodworms, a heavy protein food, along with the lower temp which slows down their metabilism, and they plug up.

The temperature also slows down their immune system, besides their metabolism. Angels are prone to internal protizoans, not eating alone is usually constipation, hiding is a sign of internal protizoans.

I've dealt with this so many times, and helped other people through it that I have a little word doc I copy & paste to make my life easier;

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, hex-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 10 gallons. You will have to adjust how much you use when doing water changes. You may want to give this a try.
 
That temperature is rather low, I keep angels at a minimum of 80F. You didn't mention what you are feeding, a diet consisting of mainly flake will cause constipation at that temperature. Add in some bloodworms, a heavy protein food, along with the lower temp which slows down their metabilism, and they plug up.

The temperature also slows down their immune system, besides their metabolism. Angels are prone to internal protizoans, not eating alone is usually constipation, hiding is a sign of internal protizoans.

I've dealt with this so many times, and helped other people through it that I have a little word doc I copy & paste to make my life easier;

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, hex-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 10 gallons. You will have to adjust how much you use when doing water changes. You may want to give this a try.

Thanks a lot! Will a temp of 80 harm the other fish I have?
 
80F won't hurt them, but for medicating the angel you will need another tank where you can get the temperature up. The livebearers might make it in the 90's, the cats won't, been there due to a faulty heater.
 
Well my little guy didnt make it. Found him this morning. I've raised the temp though and the other one seems fine. I feed them a variety of food, frozen bloodworms, (thawed first) brine shrimp, and green algae.
 
Too bad.

At least now you know.


Personally, I would up the water changes, trust me I know they aren't fun!! :crazy:

If you can't do weekly ones, then you may possibly want to try 1 every 2 weeks. Why not consider a siphon drain/fill kit? You can do water changes with the flick of a switch...
 
Too bad.

At least now you know.


Personally, I would up the water changes, trust me I know they aren't fun!! :crazy:

If you can't do weekly ones, then you may possibly want to try 1 every 2 weeks. Why not consider a siphon drain/fill kit? You can do water changes with the flick of a switch...


sounds interesting where would I go about finding one of those?
 

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