Angelfish not eating but trying

[nazboy]

Hello I would appreciate any insight on this issue I’m having with my angelfish.

Tank size:50 but filled to 30g
tank age: 2 years
pH: 8
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:1-2ppm
kH:n/a
gH:n/a
tank temp:84F


Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

I have 2 anglefish (breeding pair) in this tank and one is eating very well but the other does not. This started a couple weeks ago. It stopped eating so I did a course of bactocide 2 then it began eating. Then a couple day after the full course , it stopped eating. Then I did a course of bactocide 1 thinking the issue was something else and it once again, began eating then stopped. This is where I’m at now. I’m thinking of trying metronidazole and prazi in case it’s a gill/internal parasite issue (based on ChatGPT apparently).

yesterday it tried to eat the flakes but then couldn’t chew (it seemed). Then today it gets right under the food and pecks but doesn’t catch it. It seems like tomorrow it won’t be interested yet again.

I should add that some times it seems like it’s “coughing” when just swimming around.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
50-75% every 4 days

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Prime

Tank inhabitants:
1 other angelfish

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): none

Exposure to chemicals:
None

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[Back in the fold]

Sometimes they go on a little hunger strike for some reason . Why ? Nobody knows . Mine does it frequently . She eventually eats again .

 

[GaryE]

There's nothing obvious. The fish looks well to me - not starved, with no obvious injuries. It doesn't look wormy.

They do that coughing type movement occasionally. Some who aren't worried abut the fish call it yawning. I never use meds without knowing what I'm treating, as they can do more harm than good. That's the first time I've looked at Bactocide. The ingredients look harmless, possibly even harmless to the pathogens it's supposed to deal with.

It's frustrating, but I would watch and see.

 

[Innesfan]

The symptoms you described do not sound like hunger strike or being finicky about food. Do his poops look normal?