Angels Getting Nipped

[qwikimpss]

I have 3 angels in my 55 gallon tank with 7 platies and 6 gold barbs. My problem is that the last few mornings my angels' fins have been getting nipped. The tail fin on my once-gorgeous koi angel has been bitten almost 1/2 way down. Who could be doing this? I'm thinking the Gold Barbs but I have always read that gold barbs are some of the most peaceful barbs (maybe next to cherries) and I have never ever seen or heard about platies nipping.

Here is my second question, if I move my barbs into my 29 gallon tank I'd be moving my Brilliant (or Red Tail) Rasboras into my 55 gallon tank. Does anyone know if they'd nip my angels also? I don't believe so as the Rasboras are not really picked on, but bullied a little bit by the Pearl Gourami and Ram in my 29.....any ideas?! I want my angels back to their normal and beautiful selves!!!!

 

[kjb66]

I think the gold barbs are definately the fin nippers i know nothing about rasboras but the angels need a break before disease gets a chance to attack them!

 

[Tolak]

How old are the angels? if only one angel out of the 3 is getting torn up more than the other 2 it could be from the other angels.

 

[qwikimpss]

The angels are still young. I just got them, they are about 2 1/2 inches long. It had crossed my mind that one of the other angels could be doing it too, I have a koi or calico angel (depending on which name you call it) a gold veil angel and just a wild colored, barred angel. The wild colored one is pretty small compared to the other two and my koi and gold veil are about the same size and the koi angel is the one getting picked on.

I did move my gold barbs into my 29 and moves my rasboras into the 55 and I think no matter what they will stay put because, well, they look better in the different tanks! I will see how the nipping goes with the barbs moved. If it doesn't improve and it does end up being another I don't know what I'll do because I don't want to move my ram or my pearl gourami to put the victim angel in my 29.....maybe I can use it as an excuse to the "boss" to let me put up my other 29......but we'll wait and see...

 

[KathyM]

If you're not seeing the nipping occurring, be careful as that's what we thought was happening to our angels, but they turned out to have finrot (with no visible fluffiness) as a secondary "symptom" to a general weakness from them being poorly bred. I'll look up the link to our thread so you can have a peek if you want.....back in a min.....

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=142860&hl=

There it is. Just to get you started on what went on, we bought them when they had fins that looked like they'd been nipped, half a tail etc (and we thought it was from fin nipping), so the developments on there happened after that. Hope it helps.

 

[qwikimpss]

Ok, update. I have gotten a tank divider for the 55 gal and have my victim angel sequestered. I also went out and got some Melafix and am dosing that as instructed once a day. I woulda set up a hospital tank but I don't have a spare filter (I have a spare tank and heater tho) and the boss wouldn't let me buy a spare filter.

His fins are already starting to look a bit better even after two days alone, they look like they are starting to grow back a bit so I am hopeful. I'll keep ya updated.

 

[saboy]

If you have good water quality they will grow back fast, my angelfish pair had some marriage problems where te female bullied the male, his dorsal fin was nipped badly, but healed up nice , I could see the difference in 1 week, within 2 weeks was back to normal and healthy, good thing is that angel pair are a happy couple again.

 

[sylvia]

Just though I'd mention that you're likely to ahve problems with 3 angels - 2 will typicaly pair up, elaving the 3rd to be bullied. I'm not saying that's what hapenned here because you say they're still young but it's something to consider for the future regardless of who's responsible this time.

 

[qwikimpss]

Yeah, I had 4 to begin with, then I lost one after the I brought them home (didn't make it thru the night) so I used the guarantee and picked up my gold veil and then a couple days later I lost one of the originals. I do want to get one more but I want to wait until this issue is cleared up and they are all back to health.

My stats are pretty good for angels, PH is 6.4, nil on ammonia or nitrites, nitrates fluctuate between 10-20 ppm between water changes and my water is soft. (I've waited years to have soft, acidic water and I had to move to Maine to get it!)