JamesG wrote:
I am concerned about one of my angelfishes. Last week I was worried
that a different angelfish was sick so I moved it to a hospital tank.
I increased the temperature in my main tank up to 82F and things seemed
to be okay until yesterday. As I was moving back my other angelfish
back (it had some white marks on its tail that I decided were just
injuries to the bones from getting picked on) I noticed that the one in
the main tank was hiding in the corner. It has not been eating as
vigorously as it used to either. I am worried that it may be sick.
Should I move it to the hospital tank? What would you recommend
treating it with? I haven't really noticed a fish with raw patches
like this before except that I used to have a Black-Belt Cichlid that
had young feed on the raw patches on its body (gross but effective baby
food I guess). Do angelfish do this? Could it just be that the
temperature change might have prepared it for spawning? This is likely
wishful thinking since it is probably sick. Any thoughts you have are
appreciated.

Thanks,
James

First, check your water parameters in the main tank. If you've had one
fish with possible finrot and one with raw patches, something is likely
going on to stress the fish. Test water, do some extra water changes,
clean the gravel thoroughly, and add fresh carbon. Watch your angels
and be sure a breeding pair hasn't formed as a pair will chase and
stress the other fish in the tank.

A fish with raw patches on its sides is most certainly sick. Angelfish
do not feed fry off of their slime coats. And an angel that's losing
interest in food is in bad shape - when are angels not piglets? ;-)
Move it to the hospital tank. How do the patches look? Are they
reddish or whitish and slimy?

Reddish patches are usually bacterial and fairly common. I suspect this
is your problem because of the other fish with fin problems. You'll
want to treat in quarantine with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Give food
with oxytetracycline
(http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/medicatedfood.htm tells how). If
the fish stops eating use Maracyn 2 in the water. Treat for 10 days
with the antibiotic, even if the fish looks well. Watch for ammonia and
aerate well if you put Maracyn 2 in the water - it shouldn't disturb the
filter but you never know.

If the patches are white and slimy, the fish may have costia - this is a
less common disease but can happen to angels. If so, check your other
fish in the tank for slimy patches. To treat, use a formalin/malachite
green ich medicine or Clout (Frank's fave if I remember correctly).

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com