Flame Angel Help…again

[thecommentr86]

Hi guys,

After my first flame angel fixed I thought I’d dry another from the same seller (mistake I guess) and this was was fine for 2 weeks until I woke up this morning and it was super lethargic and it’s fins look damaged. I checked the other fish and they have no damage. He looked fine yesterday but did notice he wasn’t eating as much as he usually does and maybe thought he wasn’t hungry as he’s always eating algae of the rocks and copepods but today he was having trouble swimming.

I put him in a breeder box outside the tank and dosed rally feed ruby it’s all I got right now.

Any advice is appreciated

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi guys,

After my first flame angel fixed I thought I’d dry another from the same seller (mistake I guess) and this was was fine for 2 weeks until I woke up this morning and it was super lethargic and it’s fins look damaged. I checked the other fish and they have no damage. He looked fine yesterday but did notice he wasn’t eating as much as he usually does and maybe thought he wasn’t hungry as he’s always eating algae of the rocks and copepods but today he was having trouble swimming.

I put him in a breeder box outside the tank and dosed rally feed ruby it’s all I got right now.

Any advice is appreciated

So - you've had it for two weeks and it was eating well? The fin damage is from tankmate aggression, but doesn't seem too severe. However, the rapid breathing is a major concern. I don't think that stemmed from that minor fin damage. That may mean that it has some sort of gill disease.

What other fish were in with it?

 

[thecommentr86]

I have 2 clownfish, mandarin goby yellow watchman and hermit crabs. Pretty sure the nips are from the hermits as when I found him he was laying on the sand bed and the crabs where beside him.

Also I found that the inside of his mouth is very white and fuzzy I’m suspecting mouth fungus

So - you've had it for two weeks and it was eating well? The fin damage is from tankmate aggression, but doesn't seem too severe. However, the rapid breathing is a major concern. I don't think that stemmed from that minor fin damage. That may mean that it has some sort of gill disease.

What other fish were in with it?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have 2 clownfish, mandarin goby yellow watchman and hermit crabs. Pretty sure the nips are from the hermits as when I found him he was laying on the sand bed and the crabs where beside him.

Also I found that the inside of his mouth is very white and fuzzy I’m suspecting mouth fungus

Yes, it could have been the crabs. Fungal infections are really rare in marine fish (I've only seen two cases of external fungus myself in 50 years). It is more likely some bacterial infection, although I cannot account for why it would be growing inside a fish's mouth, but likely involves the fish's gills, thus the rapid breathing.

 

[thecommentr86]

Is there anything I can do, I already dosed medication in the breeder box with an air stone and I’m gonna set up a 5 gallon bucket QT. I just hope he isn’t to far gone

Yes, it could have been the crabs. Fungal infections are really rare in marine fish (I've only seen two cases of external fungus myself in 50 years). It is more likely some bacterial infection, although I cannot account for why it would be growing inside a fish's mouth, but likely involves the fish's gills, thus the rapid breathing.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi guys,

After my first flame angel fixed I thought I’d dry another from the same seller (mistake I guess) and this was was fine for 2 weeks until I woke up this morning and it was super lethargic and it’s fins look damaged. I checked the other fish and they have no damage. He looked fine yesterday but did notice he wasn’t eating as much as he usually does and maybe thought he wasn’t hungry as he’s always eating algae of the rocks and copepods but today he was having trouble swimming.

I put him in a breeder box outside the tank and dosed rally feed ruby it’s all I got right now.

Any advice is appreciated

Fish looks moribund and in turn questions if it will eat or swim normal moving forward?
My guess are the clowns as the aggressors but a guess. Ruby rally pro may help but based on video, likely not

 

[thecommentr86]

Fish looks moribund and in turn questions if it will eat or swim normal moving forward?
My guess are the clowns as the aggressors but a guess. Ruby rally pro may help but based on video, likely not

He does swim normally if I poke him gently and comes straight up. I set my phone up a couple days ago for an hour and recorders and saw 0 aggression and I work in my room and never see the fish attack each other

 

[thecommentr86]

This is him now after I give in a slight nudge and turned the air up in the breeder box.

Fish looks moribund and in turn questions if it will eat or swim normal moving forward?
My guess are the clowns as the aggressors but a guess. Ruby rally pro may help but based on video, likely not

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is him now after I give in a slight nudge and turned the air up in the breeder box.

This is a much better appearance and getting him to eat will be valuable. This looks like a closed breeder box and an acclimation box will allow flow, oxygen and ability to carry waste from the acclimation box

 

[thecommentr86]

I can make it into acclimation box where the water flows out into the tank but I worry about the medicaifon going into the water. I know it’s reef safe but I heard it can damage corals. I’m thinking of doing a 5 gallon bucket QT.

I hope he recovers cause he’ll lay down for a bit then like wake up and swim normally for like 10-15 mins then lie down again for like 3 mins. Def better than this morning.

This is a much better appearance and getting him to eat will be valuable. This looks like a closed breeder box and an acclimation box will allow flow, oxygen and ability to carry waste from the acclimation box

 

[Tamberav]

Aggression typically happens after lights out or early morning when fish try to retreat to the rock to go to sleep. Fish also act different when we are near the tank and sometimes won't show any aggression then. A camera can help monitor.

I noticed your other one had ripped fins too so just something to consider.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I can make it into acclimation box where the water flows out into the tank but I worry about the medicaifon going into the water. I know it’s reef safe but I heard it can damage corals. I’m thinking of doing a 5 gallon bucket QT.

I hope he recovers cause he’ll lay down for a bit then like wake up and swim normally for like 10-15 mins then lie down again for like 3 mins. Def better than this morning.

I use it and no effects on coral. A bucket with aeration is ok but prefer a rubbermaid type tub. Best is a separate tank if possible. Myxazin I would use in a separate tank

 

[thecommentr86]

Yea I notiched that as well and it’s from the same seller. So I think maybe they have sick fish for the flames I’m not sure. I’m shocked if it is aggression they don’t go after my mandarin goby since he’s super slow and he’s super healthy atm. The clownfish also don’t seem to attack each other

Aggression typically happens after lights out or early morning when fish try to retreat to the rock to go to sleep. Fish also act different when we are near the tank and sometimes won't show any aggression then. A camera can help monitor.

I noticed your other one had ripped fins too so just something to consider.

 

[Tamberav]

Yea I notiched that as well and it’s from the same seller. So I think maybe they have sick fish for the flames I’m not sure. I’m shocked if it is aggression they don’t go after my mandarin goby since he’s super slow and he’s super healthy atm. The clownfish also don’t seem to attack each other

Well mandarins have a thick slime coat and supposedly taste/smell nasty and noxious. It is how these slow movers protect themselves from predators and jerks. I have never licked a mandarin to verify though lol

 

[thecommentr86]

Haha I didn’t know that! I’m unsure now if it’s aggression as I have never seen any. I did see how the inside of the flames mouth was white as hell which makes me think it’s some kind of infection possibly?! He is breathing a little bit slower now and not as hard as this morning but still swimming normally and sometimes lies down. Hopefully that means improvement

 

[thecommentr86]

Will try to pick up a rubber container or a 5/10 gallon QT tank to set up my room is small and the tank takes up a large portion . But he seems to be doing better. Breathing has slowed to a more normal pace and while he still lies down he’s constantly putting himself upright swims normally than lies down for a couple mins and repeats this process. When he does lie down now he props himself on the side instead of being flat which I think is a good sign?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Is there anything I can do, I already dosed medication in the breeder box with an air stone and I’m gonna set up a 5 gallon bucket QT. I just hope he isn’t to far gone

Given the severity of the symptoms, I'd say the prognosis is poor, but try the Ruby Reef Rally Pro.....