Shy Angel Not Eating

[Tolak]

What temperature is the tank?

 

[silverchild23]

What temperature is the tank?

Generally 28 C

 

[jakester]

I am going through the same experience with my angel he too had a very stressfull journey. Mine is very skinny, breathing fast and not eating.

 

[silverchild23]

well, have finished the two doses of medication. Still no improvement so far. The really strange thing is that it's been over a week now, and despite the fact he's not eating, he looks perfectly healthy, and is swimming against the current strongly and everything (there is a small current in one area of the tank from the eheim filter outlet).
When everything else gets fed he just swims around at the bottom of the tank, yet the rest of the time he swims around with the other fish quite happily. It's almost like a concious refusal like annorexia or something. Is it possible he could be blind, or have no sense of smell?
Did a water change before the second dose of medication on the weekend. Everything is still at perfect levels and all the fish are healthy. Only this wee one who wont eat. And if it's confidence or stress, why is he quite happy swimming around with all the others in the tank?
I just cant fathom it.

 

[Black_Stalion]

when i bought my last 2 angels to go with the others, 1 of them wouldnt eat as you have said, but i noticed it used to eat the catfish pellets when the light was off... now he/she eats with the others and cant get enough food... o have u tried feeding him tubifex as my angels love them

 

[Tolak]

I'm guessing that you are in the UK. You could try Octozin, that seems to be made for internal protizoans. If you are pals with a vet, get some dimetronidazole. Metronidazole is easily available in the US, and works well with this common problem. Unfortunatly it's impossible to get for fish in the UK, but dimetronidazole works almost the same.

Anyway, try putting the fish in a quar tank, med, and turn the tank temp up to 90F. This increases the metabolism. Epsom salt may help if it is a constipation issue, but it doesn't sound like constipation. I've had angels with those symptoms and used metro & heat plenty of times.

 

[silverchild23]

I'm guessing that you are in the UK. You could try Octozin, that seems to be made for internal protizoans. If you are pals with a vet, get some dimetronidazole. Metronidazole is easily available in the US, and works well with this common problem. Unfortunatly it's impossible to get for fish in the UK, but dimetronidazole works almost the same.

Anyway, try putting the fish in a quar tank, med, and turn the tank temp up to 90F. This increases the metabolism. Epsom salt may help if it is a constipation issue, but it doesn't sound like constipation. I've had angels with those symptoms and used metro & heat plenty of times.

Ok, I'll try the heat and metro if I can get hold of any, thank you for the sound advice. So worried about him. Thank you

UPDATE::

Unfortunately my local fish store doesn't have any octozin. I used Interpet No.9 (anti-internal parasite) for internal parasites already. I've lumped for some general interpet no.5 medication (liquisil general tonic) just to make sure the tank is free from bacteria/parasites.
Do you think I should just see how he goes from the no.9 treatment, and if nothing improves, try the treatment again in 4 days time?

 

[silverchild23]

Ok....UPDATE

Now nearly two weeks since we bought our little angel, and he's STILL not interested in food.
Have tried medication for internal parasites, raising the water temperature, tempting with treats like bloodworm etc. and still he just swims around quite happily, ignoring any food that's put in the tank.

I just can't fathom it. He's very thin and small still, but he's still swimming around with as much vigour as the other fish and seems fairly happy.

All the parameters of the tank are 100% fine.

What are we supposed to do? It's like he's annorexic or something

Does it sound like anything anyone's come accross before?
Please Help

 

[Marshall..]

I have had discus that suffer with stress go off their food and get stringy white faeces,the stress was usually down to bullying so it could be your other angel dominating the other,if you have the room to add more it could take the pressure off your sick one.
I have used metranidazole from the vets to treat internal problems in the past,but you don,t need to go to the vets order it from plymouth discus (look at their website) Paul discus told me about this and it is pretty much the same thing. I recently used it just as a precautionary wormer as I have moved them recently and a move often triggers an outbreak in intestinal worms.

 

[silverchild23]

Ok, great stuff - I'll check it out.
I did consider getting another angel so maybe you're right. He does get shoved out the way a fair bit, so maybe that's adding to his stress.
I've also heard of some angels that only eat algae wafers (wierd I know) - and I noticed he likes to nibble at the amazon swords....what do you think, should I give it a go?

 

[QuotheRaven]

When I first got my angel it took 3 weeks for it to begin eating properly. However white feces isn't good and is usually a sign of constipation. Follow Tolak's advice The Angelfish Guru

 

[silverchild23]

When I first got my angel it took 3 weeks for it to begin eating properly. However white feces isn't good and is usually a sign of constipation. Follow Tolak's advice The Angelfish Guru

Blimey! 3 Weeks?! How on earth do these little guys survive without eating for so long? I've treated with internal parasite tinctures so hopefully if there was anything regarding an upset tummy he'll be ok in that department. The faeces is more clear than white, like he's just empty. Fingers crossed he just starts to nibble

 

[Marshall..]

How is the little angel doing?

 

[silverchild23]

How is the little angel doing?

Little is the word
Three weeks almost and still no visible improvement. Seemingly have tried everything, and stats are all still really good in the tank. All of my other fish are doing really well. The other Angel is coming on a treat, growing seemingly by the day, and full of life.
Just still so worried about the little tyke...he hasn't grown at all, still will swim about quite happily, showing no signs of discomfort or illness. He wont eat still - although he will come up for food (as in, he knows when feeding time is and he comes to the top of the tank with the other fish), but he just doesn't go for the food like the other fish, and while they all eat the food ravenously, he wont eat a thing.
It's mad, I dont see him eat ever, and yet he seems to have (some) energy and he is still alive. People are saying to me he's just a lost cause, but I dont want to give up on him.
I noticed the other angel still affirms his territory quite often, chasing the little one in short stints until he's the other side of the tank - but he never properly nips or causes damage. I am thinking of getting another angel on the weekend to see if having another smaller one will bring this one out of his shell.
I just dont know what to do.

 

[fishwatcher]

Could it be that he's picking little pieces of food off the plants? I'm sure he's eating somehow, but you're just not seeing it. Have you tried throwing a few algae wafers or shrimp pellets in after you feed the other fish? Possibly get it towards a side of the tank he hangs around? If you have a small tank or even a plastic tub you could put him in for while, maybe he'd start eating then.
I don't know...
good luck though, I hope he gets better!