Angelfish Problems

[tmaschm]

Ok guys I have a fish tank (29 gallon) that has had the same inhabitants for over a year now. These inhabitants are two common angelfish, one B. Rainbow, and one Plec. I made the decision to leave them in the care of my girlfriend while I work this summer to avoid having to transport them 5hrs from Fayetteville, AR to Memphis, TN. Anyways, one of the angelfish is now having "trouble breathing" and is laying sideways at the bottom of the tank. He doesn't seem able to eat or move much either. My GF immediately changed the tank water and his condition seems to have improved only slightly (he moves around a little). Btw the other angelfish seems pretty healthy, which is why I am confused because it seems that if tank conditions were unfavorable then all the fish, or atleast all the fish of the same species would be suffering, not just one. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your time guys!!!

-Trip M.

 

[tmaschm]

Nobody has an answer???

 

[tmaschm]

Just had the water tested at the local pet store and they said everything is ok. Anybody got any ideas of whats up with this fish?

 

[Don Trinko]

I do not have an answer. Fish do get sick and die like other animals do but in many cases we do not know why. It is possible to autopsy a dead fish and find out why it died but most people do not go to that extreem.
If there are no external symptoms ( look at the gills closely)I would try a medication for internal bacterial infection. I would QT the sick fish first incase it is something contagious. Don T.

 

[WILDER]

Can you issolate him, he not going to make it i'm afraid once the breathining gone with the other symtoms they rarely do.
Sorry.

 

[tmaschm]

Thanks guys! I am doing all I can. What would the medication for an internal bacterial infection be and how could I quarintine the fish without having to buy another tank? I appreciate all your time and help. I understand that fish get sick and die like all animals, but wanted to make sure you guys didn't see somthing that I could be doing wrong.

 

[WILDER]

Need location.
If in the uk anti internal bacteria med by interpet.
Good luck.

 

[tmaschm]

Ok so I have a friend bringing me a small temporary tank to isolate the angelfish in this week.

Found this website..
http/www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/gill%20disease.htm

I think this might be what my fish has. When they say you can treat one fish with a salt bath, what does that mean? How much salt do you add? Also, should I do the salt bath first, then use Potassium Permangenate or what? I am going to continue the search for info. Thanks guys.

 

[tmaschm]

Hey guys I just read the post about cycling, because I haven't done it since I set my tank up two years ago. I was wondering how I could speed this process up, because with a sick fish it seems time is of the essence. Since the isolation tank is only a ten gallon tank, could I just siphon ten gallons from my 29 gallon tank and then replenish it? Sorry I'm such a newb. This is the first major problem I've had since getting into the hobby.

 

[WILDER]

Take some water from the main tank and add some fresh conditioned water.
Match ph and temp.
Take a sponge from your main tank and add it to the hospital filter.

 

[tmaschm]

Thanks that is what I thought, just wanted to confirm. Is the sponge the part that is in the filter i.e. I should take the sponge out of my old tank put it in the new tank and buy a new one for the new tank right? Btw I put the fish in a salt bath last night and after I reintroduced him to the tank the other angelfish started biting at him. He isn't doing in anymore, but was it just cause the salt?

 

[WILDER]

Fish will attack a sick fish.
I would keep him in issolation.