Shy Angel Not Eating

[silverchild23]

We have just bought two new angels for our tank. Currently we are adding bit by bit to a 240L Juwel Rio, and have two BN plecos, four keyhole cichlids and these two angels. One is a mainly white n black one (pearl?), and one is a silver and black one (gold?).

Although all of our fish seem absolutely fine, swimming around happily, and eating ravenously, the silver angel doesnt appear to be settling in very well. Since we bought him back he's been very shy and retiring, and tends to stick shoulder to shoulder to the white angel.

Although he's appeared gradually slightly more confident, he most certainly isn't eating properly (showing no external signs of disease) and as the other fish clamber for food at the top of the tank, he will tread around the base of the tank hiding in a corner. In fact I've only seen him eat the slightest bit of flake food. We also feed small sinking red nuggets, and small amounts of potato and cucumber now and again.

It just really worries me. I think the white angel is getting annoyed with the silver one as it has begun to chase it and try to nip it on occasion (although it's settled now), which is only making the silver one more nervous. The silver one's poo (sorry to say) has hardly anything in it so it's obviously not getting enough to eat. They're both such beautiful angels, and I just want the silver one to be healthy and happy.

All the parameters of the tank are fine according to our tests.

Any tips on what I can do?

 

[thegnu]

i would stop feeding the potato and cucumber as it can foul your water very quickly and feed your plecs algae wafers. your other fish would benefit from this as well, and feed your fish frozen bloodworms

 

[silverchild23]

i would stop feeding the potato and cucumber as it can foul your water very quickly and feed your plecs algae wafers. your other fish would benefit from this as well, and feed your fish frozen bloodworms

I've spoken to many people who have said potato/cucumber are good for the diet (if not so much for the water) - but we give them little, so it doesn't make a huge difference. The water is fine. Any more suggestions?

 

[paul-discus]

Yes cucumber is fine so long as you take it out after 5 or 6 hours, the water will be fine. With the angel i personally believe that it may have internal parasites which can be dealt with by adding something like Interpet (I believe it's number 9, not too sure) or by using a de-wormer. Angels do carry internal worms so as long as it's treated no problem.

 

[silverchild23]

Yes cucumber is fine so long as you take it out after 5 or 6 hours, the water will be fine. With the angel i personally believe that it may have internal parasites which can be dealt with by adding something like Interpet (I believe it's number 9, not too sure) or by using a de-wormer. Angels do carry internal worms so as long as it's treated no problem.

Ok I'll try that out - thank you

 

[crazie.eddie]

Find out what they feed the angels at the place where you got it from. It may not be accustomed to the foods you are offering it. The angel may also have a preference. Try feeding other foods, such as frozen bloodworms, frozen mysis shrimp, frozen brine shrimp, etc. Especially the bloodworms, I haven't seen any fish not like bloodworms. Also, if you can, try to get a hold of live brine shrimp. Angels are more aggressive when they see live prey. Use a turkey baster to squirt food towards the other angel as well.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

My guess would be parasite. Most internal parasitic medications will do the job.

 

[silverchild23]

My guess would be parasite. Most internal parasitic medications will do the job.

I fed bloodworms, but believe it or not, he only nibbled at it, didn't hardly touch it. I gave the tank a dose of interpet no.9 for internal parasites last night. How long do they normally take to feel better?

 

[crazie.eddie]

I would stop with the medications, unless YOU KNOW it's parasites. It's eating a little and not spitting out food, so it may not be parasites. If it's feces look good, then it's probably not parasites. It could be simple constipation.

As I mentioned, find out what it was fed at the place where you bought it from. Also, did you observe the angel prior to purchasing it? Was it eating well? Was it acting the same?

What's your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels? What is the pH of the place where you bought the angel from? How big are the angels?

 

[silverchild23]

I would stop with the medications, unless YOU KNOW it's parasites. It's eating a little and not spitting out food, so it may not be parasites. If it's feces look good, then it's probably not parasites. It could be simple constipation.

As I mentioned, find out what it was fed at the place where you bought it from. Also, did you observe the angel prior to purchasing it? Was it eating well? Was it acting the same?

What's your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels? What is the pH of the place where you bought the angel from? How big are the angels?

As I said before, it nibbles - i.e. on the VERY odd occasion something will float past and it will put it in its mouth before spitting it back out. It's poo is stringy white and empty looking. So I think there's got to be something wrong with it other than constipation - it certainly isnt getting the nutrition it needs. We observed the angel a little before buying, and it seemed ok. We weren't in the shop all day so I dont know whether it was eating well there - but ever since we've had him he hasn't eaten. All levels are fine, as I said before. The shop uses local water as do we so the pH is most probably the same - they certainly dont add anything. In any case, all our fish are from the same shop, as is the other angel, and they're all absolutely perfect. As I said it's not the water. And feeding-wise - when the guy gave us the food to feed them in the shop he said 'that's what we feed ours' and he's the one who puts potato etc in the tank. It wasn't even interested in the bloodworm (apart from the odd nibble like I said). The angels are about 2-2.5 inches tall. It isn't so nervous since the original post, but the eating problem remains.

 

[paul-discus]

adding the wormer was still a good thing to do in my opinion but i also fully agree that it would be wise to know what the shop was feeding them as yes fish do get used to particular foods but normally angels will eat whatever you drop in the tank which is why i couldn't rule out interrnal parasites and if this is the case and not treated it would only end up in secondery infections that may kill the fish.

 

[silverchild23]

adding the wormer was still a good thing to do in my opinion but i also fully agree that it would be wise to know what the shop was feeding them as yes fish do get used to particular foods but normally angels will eat whatever you drop in the tank which is why i couldn't rule out interrnal parasites and if this is the case and not treated it would only end up in secondery infections that may kill the fish.

...and that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I will try and find out exactly what they fed them in the shop, but seeing as he isn't eating anything (even the bloodworm), i'd rather be on the safe side - so thanks for the advice Paul-discus. How long does the medication generally take to begin to make a difference to the fish?

 

[cheesy feet]

With me i normally see a difference with fish in a week or two.Anways good luck with your angel

 

[KathyM]

This sounds less like parasites and more like typical angel stress problems. Angels are prone to stress related illness, especially on introduction to new tanks. Watch out for the beginnings of finrot, any hiding in darker corners, refusal to eat, etc. Check out my old threads to see why.

 

[silverchild23]

This sounds less like parasites and more like typical angel stress problems. Angels are prone to stress related illness, especially on introduction to new tanks. Watch out for the beginnings of finrot, any hiding in darker corners, refusal to eat, etc. Check out my old threads to see why.

He definitely had a stressful journey home, it wasn't until we got home that we realised the silly girl in the shop had put far too little water in the bag the poor thing. It's fin was practically over the top of the water. We wont trust them putting enough water in again that's for sure (we kept him in the bag and paper bag so that he wouldn't be more stressed - hence why we didnt notice till we got home. It definitely stressed him out. But it's been a week now and still no improvement in the eating. Although he seems alot more confident now.