Angelfish Strange Behavior

[gollum456]

Hope someone can help. One of my angelfish is acting really strangely. He keeps getting himself trapped in different places. Under my bogwood on his side, wedged in my moss etc. He has lost loads of weight and his fins are ragged. Yet when I free him he swims around normally and will eat etc. The best way I can describe it is as if he has Alzheimer's or something.

Tank is 6 years established, most of my fish have been there for at least 5 years. I am far from a newbie with full knowledge of stocking levels, water parameters etc.

Just wanted to know if someone else has experience of this and whether I should put him out of his misery?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Akasha72]

could he be going blind perhaps? It would seem to be the obvious thing. Can he see food? You say he eats but does he dart from one side of the tank and snap up the food? Do his eyes look bright and clear or do they look a little cloudy?
 
Sorry, it's all I can think of.
 
 
As to 'putting him out of his misery' I'd say no. He may be getting old but unless he's sick to the point of being unable to swim, eat and be a normal fish I can't condone killing a fish.
He may be losing weight for all kinds of reasons - worms, parasites, etc. As to tatty fins ... they could be caused by tank mates bullying him or it could be fin rot. It could also be simply age related. 
I was told only this year that angels can live for 10 years or more. I fellow fish keeper that I know lost her angel last year and it was 11 years old. If he's around 6 years old he's probably still got a lot of life left in him yet

 

[gollum456]

No, his eating is normal, his eyes look good. Now I know he does it I keep a more vigilant watch. He hasn't done it since I posted this. 4am this morning I got home from work all was fine. Just got up now (11am) he was stuck low down in some moss again. Freed him up, seems to be swimming normally. I haven't seen any bullying. Seems to be putting weight on again.

Really, really strange I must say.

Thanks for input though.

 

[Akasha72]

in all honesty, my female angel was layed on the sand the other day ... for a split second I stopped breathing ... panic set in. I thought she was dead and my pair are only around 2 years old. When I stopped and observed her her eyes were on the male and she was just being stupid. She was absolutely fine and I think she was just trying all her tricks to attract her mate. 
I've seen my male get himself into all sorts of area's in the tank where he's had to virtually tip himself upside down and swim backwards to get out of the space he's just swum into. It seems to be an angel thing. I think they are a bit dumb and swim into small spaces and forget they can't get back out. I think yours is just doing the same thing