HELP What’s wrong with my angelfish

[lbunney]

What is wrong with my angel fish?
I have had her and her mate for 1.5 years her mate died last week. He had the weird stringy stuff on him too. I did not see anything near his head like this one has. They were in a tank with others none of the others have this. She is not eating well and hides most of the time.
It’s an established tank
PH 7.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 40ish

 

[tbrown]

This is a saltwater forum so it might be a while before you get an answer.

@00W @Mschmidt @steveschuerger ever seen this?

 

[JayM]

What is wrong with my angel fish?
I have had her and her mate for 1.5 years her mate died last week. He had the weird stringy stuff on him too. I did not see anything near his head like this one has. They were in a tank with others none of the others have this. She is not eating well and hides most of the time.
It’s an established tank
PH 7.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 40ish

Maybe try here:

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www.fishforums.net

 

[KrisReef]

This is a saltwater forum so it might be a while before you get an answer.

@00W @Mschmidt @steveschuerger ever seen this?

@tbrown , what is this Cronie intern, might be failing talk about in your signature?

I thought your reply in this fresh water post was fantastic.

Do you think these fresh water posts are from AI Bots? I’m wondering this myself.

 

[00W]

Thanks for the tag @tbrown yes I have seen this before will need pictures of the whole tank,other fish,what the fish has been eating.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What is wrong with my angel fish?
I have had her and her mate for 1.5 years her mate died last week. He had the weird stringy stuff on him too. I did not see anything near his head like this one has. They were in a tank with others none of the others have this. She is not eating well and hides most of the time.
It’s an established tank
PH 7.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 40ish

Nitrates are a tad high for this fish and may be causing the protective body slime to fall off or start of fungal. Add Epsom salt at one teaspoon per 10 gallons along with stress coat for slime restoration and assure temperature not too low (ideal is 77-81)

 

[KrisReef]

Nitrates are a tad high for this fish and may be causing the protective body slime to fall off or start of fungal. Add Epsom salt at one teaspoon per 10 gallons along with stress coat for slime restoration and assure temperature not too low (ideal is 77-81)

I’m thinking that old salts may have started out fresh?

Lots of smart fish keepers on here.

 

[RV Reefs]

Hi! I have several freshwater tanks that may be of service. I can't see any problems with the body besides the head wound, but if possible, please get a better picture of the fish's body. I'm noticing some slight issues with the fins, but I can't be sure if its a bacterial or fungal fin rot, due to stress. I'm concerned because the head looks to have a wound from another fish, or it could be a bacterial/fungal infection.
I do have some questions: What other tank mates are in this tank, what is the tank size and temperature, and what are you feeding this fish? I know you said the angelfish isn't eating well, but you MUST get this fish to eat.

fishforums.net and bettafish.com are other good resources. There will be much more expertise with freshwater angelfish on those forums then on here! Reply if you need anything.

 

[littlefoxx]

I’m thinking that old salts may have started out fresh?

Lots of smart fish keepers on here.

Im not old but Ive kept freshwater fish since I was in first grade! Switched to salt 2ish years ago lol “old salts” had me dying

 

[steveschuerger]

Looks like a bacterial problem. And yeah couple other things pH seems a bit high and gotta get those nitrate under control. Unlike saltwater tanks the lower the better with them. Water changes! Change out as much of the water as possible as well before and after treating.

 

[00W]

Here's my big boy.
His mate of 6 years passed away a few months ago.
He went into hiding and became a recluse, refusing to eat. What you might be seeing are empty mucus casts, which are caused by the intestines still working yet nothing really coming out.
This white stringy stuff can also happen from constipation.
These fish are dumb eaters and I've had to make sure to get vegetation in them like broccoli and peas.
Water quality is a must, temp a bit higher. I keep mine @82.
Despite your tests as @vetteguy53081 mentioned, nitrate high, ph high and I'm thinking a water quality issue.
Good advice with the salt, might want to do a water change.
These guys are big babies and you have to treat them as such.
Good luck and keep us updated.
Ask as many questions as possible.
I'm an old salt from way back.

 

[lbunney]

Thanks for the tag @tbrown yes I have seen this before will need pictures of the whole tank,other fish,what the fish has been eating.

Thank you for the reply.
Here is a picture of the tank. It’s a 55 gallon.
I feed a variety. Flake, frozen blood worms, shrimp pellets, carnivore pellets, algae pellets, zucchini occasionally.
I have some bottom feeders so I try to vary their food.
Tank temp is 81
Fish include:
The large Angel fish
3 smaller Angel fish (started with 8 down to 3 now)
3 blood fin tetras
4 neon tetras
1 rainbow shark
2 yo-yo loaches
2 bristle nose plecos
4 Kuli loaches
The small angels were in a different tank until the big angels mate died. She was acting off and not eating so I had hoped moving her with others would help. But it didn’t. At that time I didn’t notice the string stuff on her. But her mate did have some before he died.

 

[Mschmidt]

As others have said, lower pH and nitrates. I haven't had this particular issue, but I'd tend to trust those who have spoken before me.

I'd do this in order:
A 50% water change, add stress coat and salt, add tannins (rooibos tea of your budget doesn't allow for driftwood) 3 to 5 tea bags in the filter will help lower pH and reduce stress as well. Feed more veggies, I would focus on herbivore mix with your stocking, and spice with carnivore pellets.

For longer term success you may want to add hides and line of sight breaks. The bigger angel will pick on the smaller and you may end with 0 by the end of everything. Real driftwood will help buffer ph where the angels and tetra like it, even captive bred.

 

[MnFish1]

Thank you for the reply.
Here is a picture of the tank. It’s a 55 gallon.
I feed a variety. Flake, frozen blood worms, shrimp pellets, carnivore pellets, algae pellets, zucchini occasionally.
I have some bottom feeders so I try to vary their food.
Tank temp is 81
Fish include:
The large Angel fish
3 smaller Angel fish (started with 8 down to 3 now)
3 blood fin tetras
4 neon tetras
1 rainbow shark
2 yo-yo loaches
2 bristle nose plecos
4 Kuli loaches
The small angels were in a different tank until the big angels mate died. She was acting off and not eating so I had hoped moving her with others would help. But it didn’t. At that time I didn’t notice the string stuff on her. But her mate did have some before he died.

Since you've had the fish for 6 years (or more) - I would be surprised that water conditions would suddenly change to cause both the other death and whatever is bothering the angel (i.e. its probably used to the pH and temp you've always used). Did you do anything new to the tank before the other death? Did you happen to add more fish or anything else to the tank? Under ideal conditions Angels (freshwater) - live 10-12 years. Do you happen to know how old he was when you got him/. I would consider a hospital tank with a broad spectrum antibiotic - with the usual cautions with regards to filtration/aeration. Though the fish is likely used to the current parameters in your tank, I would consider a water change (or a series of water changes) to get the nitrates lower. Raising the temperature may also help.

 

[00W]

Thank you for the reply.
Here is a picture of the tank. It’s a 55 gallon.
I feed a variety. Flake, frozen blood worms, shrimp pellets, carnivore pellets, algae pellets, zucchini occasionally.
I have some bottom feeders so I try to vary their food.
Tank temp is 81
Fish include:
The large Angel fish
3 smaller Angel fish (started with 8 down to 3 now)
3 blood fin tetras
4 neon tetras
1 rainbow shark
2 yo-yo loaches
2 bristle nose plecos
4 Kuli loaches
The small angels were in a different tank until the big angels mate died. She was acting off and not eating so I had hoped moving her with others would help. But it didn’t. At that time I didn’t notice the string stuff on her. But her mate did have some before he died.

My opinion.
Too many fish in here.
Not enough real foliage or hiding spots.
Need lots of real plants.
Water just looks hard.
Clean but hard. Soften it up a bit.
Good advice from @Mschmidt about using a conditioner.
I use tetra aquasafe or whatever it's called.
Have been for years.
Lower the lighting if possible.
Tank looks extremely new.
More aeration and what's the filter you are using?
I had one of these big babies live through college, a kid, 2 moves, marriage and a divorce. They become very tame as they get older.
Mine still eats like a dumb dumb but hey, he's very personable.
Keep us posted.
Joel

 

[tbrown]

As others have said, lower pH and nitrates. I haven't had this particular issue, but I'd tend to trust those who have spoken before me.

I'd do this in order:
A 50% water change, add stress coat and salt, add tannins (rooibos tea of your budget doesn't allow for driftwood) 3 to 5 tea bags in the filter will help lower pH and reduce stress as well. Feed more veggies, I would focus on herbivore mix with your stocking, and spice with carnivore pellets.

For longer term success you may want to add hides and line of sight breaks. The bigger angel will pick on the smaller and you may end with 0 by the end of everything. Real driftwood will help buffer ph where the angels and tetra like it, even captive bred.

Yeah, I was wondering if the head "injury" wasn't potentially a Hole in the Head syndrome. I didn't notice anything on the face to indicate that but always something to wonder about with SA Cichlids.

 

[tbrown]

Since you've had the fish for 6 years (or more) - I would be surprised that water conditions would suddenly change to cause both the other death and whatever is bothering the angel (i.e. its probably used to the pH and temp you've always used). Did you do anything new to the tank before the other death? Did you happen to add more fish or anything else to the tank? Under ideal conditions Angels (freshwater) - live 10-12 years. Do you happen to know how old he was when you got him/. I would consider a hospital tank with a broad spectrum antibiotic - with the usual cautions with regards to filtration/aeration. Though the fish is likely used to the current parameters in your tank, I would consider a water change (or a series of water changes) to get the nitrates lower. Raising the temperature may also help.

I think he said they were going on 1.5 years, @00W had his for 6 years, but I was thinking the same thing. Angelfish - if you get them as adults - can be short lived without great conditions.