Off Colour Angel

[MHunt]

Hi all,

I've got an angel who isn't too well, i've seen this kind of behaviour with other fish before they peg it and I wonder if there is anything I can do to help before it's too late.

I got a group of 5 angels from my LFS, two white, two striped and a marble/lace pattened. Four are doing fine, growing well even in the week or so since I got them, the other has stayed small, and has increasingly stayed away from the main group. Today it wasn't swimming well, occasionally bobbing at the top of the tank then darting down into the plants again, but unable to stay down for any period of time. On one occasion it span round in circles like a spinning top, then when it stopped the other angels and congo tetras started to pick at it, I guess sensing it wasn't well.

I'm not sure on a diagnosis other than some kind of internal bacteria either as a result of stress caused by being the runt of the pack and bullying, or simply a sick fish from the start. I've removed it to a hospital tank so I can treat meds more effectively, stop it being bullied and monitor it's condition till it's well, or whatever the outcome is. Could be some kind of swim bladder problem, again I think it may be caused by stress.

I haven't tested the main tank stats as I don't think that's the problem, all the other fish are healthy and doing well, I will tonight as I need to do a water change anyway but I don't expect any major problems.

Any suggestions to a cause? cure? suitable treatment.

I have dosed interpet internal bacterial meds and melafix as a general tonic to aid treatment. I haven't noticed any injury or anything odd on the fish like fungus or any parasites. It's just a poorly fish. Perhaps if it does get better I can grow it on in a separate tank till it's big enough to fend for itself, at the size it's at now it's just going to get bullied again.

Any suggestions are welcomed.

It's a weired day as I had a neon die from a separate tank too. Totally unrelated, just started floating round the tank.

 

[MHunt]

Update - looking very poorly just resting on the bottom of the tank and barely breathing. Did a water change but no noticable results.

 

[MHunt]

Pegged it earlier, just couldn't save it. Probably left it too late.

 

[WILDER]

Bless him.R.I.P.
Did he look skinny or bloated.
Fish with swim bladder will be unable to keep there balance and spin around the tank.
Swim bladder is caused by poor water quality, bad diet, unstable temp, bacterial, internal parasites, injury, birth defect.

 

[MHunt]

It was skinny if anything, I think it just got stressed for some reason, runt of the group, bullying etc and just wasted away and succumbed to a bacterial infection. Only a guess like.

I haven't tested the water yet, but all the other fish are looking fine so I don't think the water's bad, but i'll double check on Saturday.

My only concern is that the next bottom of the pile angel doesn't suffer the same fate, but the rest all look ok and are behaving normal at the moment.

 

[WILDER]

Keep a look out for when your fish go to the toilet.
As being skinny can be a sign of internal parasites, bacterial, old age.

 

[theshadowinc]

Keep a look out for when your fish go to the toilet.
As being skinny can be a sign of internal parasites, bacterial, old age.

I was reading through and was going to say sounds like an internal parasite, I don't think anything can help an internal parasite problem, but maybe someone would know, I have ran into that before where a fish has it from a store and it came with a internal parasite, most of the time I put it into a bag and take it back to the store depending how long ago it was. As far as I know once they have this they can't really get rid of it, it stops the growth of them. Just what I know about it.

 

[WILDER]

There are meds that kill internal parasites.
if the parasites have done alot of damage to the internal organs they tend not to make it.
Once a fish is really skinny the damage has been done.
You use a internal wormer to save the rest of the tank.,

 

[theshadowinc]

There are meds that kill internal parasites.
if the parasites have done alot of damage to the internal organs they tend not to make it.
Once a fish is really skinny the damage has been done.
You use a internal wormer to save the rest of the tank.,

What product I live in Canada, and the internal wormer what is this never heard of it before something my lfs is hiding from me lol,

 

[WILDER]

Depends on which parasite you are treating for.
Talok put a list of meds up on this thread.
Just click on the links.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=272704

 

[theshadowinc]

Depends on which parasite you are treating for.
Talok put a list of meds up on this thread.
Just click on the links.
<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=272704" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=272704</a>

TY that helped just doing some reading up on it now thanks

Was at my lfs the other day and seen one that was smaller than all of them, lfs person said it was an internal perasite took him out and threw him in the garbage ><(With this info should have ask for it lol it was a clown loach), but i have to look into this med stuff.

 

[WILDER]

Discusting behavour just throwing it in the trash was it still alive.
Try and get this med in canada Flagyl (Metronidazole
Info taken from this link.
[URL="http/www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm"]http/www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm[/URL]

Loss of weight or "skinny disease" is also quite common in Clown loaches. Typical symptoms are loss of weight and behaviour known as "knifeback" even though the fish is acting and eating normally. This sickness is more difficult to treat, it comes from a parasite organism (spironucleus) in the intestines of the same type that is thought to cause the so called "discus disease". I have successfully removed this disease from newly imported fish by using Spirohexol from JBL in the form of tablets. I have taken one tablet and crushed it and dissolve it in as little water as possible. I have then used discus granules which have been soaked in the solution. It becomes like a thick porridge after a short time when the food has drawn in the liquid. I then feed this to the sick fishes, after a week it looks like the sickness is gone. For the best possible effect do not feed with any other food. Flagyl (Metronidazole) also helps fight against this sickness but at least here in Sweden it is on prescription and can be a little difficult to come by.



Apart from this Clown loaches are not more susceptible than other fish, the above sickness usually occurs in fish that have been stressed during transport or subjected to other stress factors like cold water or poor aquarium hygiene. Do not buy fish that look emaciated! Well looked after fish are seldom sick. To quote my friend Elisabeth Hallberg; "the best way to avoid sickness is to keep the fish healthy".

 

[MHunt]

On observation the other fish appear ok, no stringy poo or lethargy. But i guess i'll have to keep an eye on them incase it's managed to spread to other fish.