Angelfish not eating

[DivaSkyChick]

I bought three angelfish at the same time, several weeks ago. All smaller than a quarter. One thrived, one died within three days and one does not eat. The thriving angel has grown to almost a fifty cent piece size whereas the vegan has hardly grown at all. I know she eats something - algae, wood? but she lets bloodworms fall past her face twice daily. She gets all excited about food coming but then won't eat it. Occasionally she'll take a bite and then spit it out. I've NEVER seen her actually eat.

Someone told me it couldl be parasites? How do I treat that? I have a quarantine tank but it's not cycled because the heater and filter I bought for it was crap so I took it all apart and ordered better stuff that hasn't arrived yet. Should be here tomorrow or Friday. Can I throw some bio-spira in there along with whatever medicine is necessary and just change half the water daily? skip the cycle process altogether?

What do I do for her?

 

[Vip]

I would say you have Nitrate in the water, my angels died from this as well, and ive had over 30! Put on the filter tomorrow and there should be enough ammo in the water to make some good bacteria. All should be fine with the water but just in case i would do a 20% water change.

 

[Dubby]

Divaskychick:

Use some media from the main tank in the quarantine tank to help it cycle quickly. You should be able to use it almost immediately!!!

 

[WILDER]

Can you post test results in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, to rule water quality out first, how big is the tank, what fish and which type.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Sorry, of course I should have posted the details.

37 gallon tall, heavily planted
ammonia zero
Nitrates zero
Nitrites 20 ppm
ph 7.2
kh 5 or 6

I change 40% weekly. There is some algae growing in the past week possibly connected with overfeeding. I feed one small cube of blood worms twice daily but one day I also gave them a couple of algae tabs which did not getting fully eaten by morning.

Fish
15 juvenile cardinals - all healthy doing great
2 rams - just spawned this week but lost interest in their eggs after 48 hours. Their colors are brilliant.
5 otos, healthy fat little things
Two angels bought at same time - started with three - one died within 72 hours, one is growing fast and into everything and the other has barely grown in three weeks and I've NEVER seen her eat fish food or worms. At least not swallow. She is constantly picking at leaves, roots and bogwood, however. She is not grossly skinny (she's thin tho) and does not have a sunken stomach or any other symptoms that I can see. I decided she's just a vegan but have been assured that cannot be the case and that she probably has internal parasites.

Treatment? ideas?

 

[WILDER]

Could be internal parasites, but it will be thin if's it not eating, can you issolate the fish as if it is internal parasites other fish will catch them, what does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet, might be hard to tell if the fish hasn't been eating.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Have never seen her poop. The other fish are always pooping solid black poops.

I can isolate her this weekend when I get the quarantine tank up. But what meds for parasites?

 

[WILDER]

I wouldn't medicate to you are sure it's internal parasites, as it never eaten anything since you got the fish, not eating is not a good sign.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Do you have any idea how to find out for certain???

I'm pretty sure I figured not eating is not a good sign! lol

 

[sammydee]

Have you tried feeding earthworms? I have not yet come across a fish that won't eat these.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

I haven't tried anything but Omega flake food and bloodworms. You think she might just be THAT picky?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

It sure sounds like parasites is a reasonable diagnosis. Since I am not sure what meds are available in the UK, I will offer my best suggestions and hope you can use them. One excellent treatment for this is Metronidazole- this is available from Seachem for sure. Metro is also the main ingredient in a med called Hexamit but it is more expensive this way.

It is a relatively benign med that is hard to overdose. It is most effective dosed in food if fish are eating and the water if not. It will not kill your bacteria.

As for treating, using an H tank reduces the amount of meds needed and makes it easier to monitor the fish. An H tank need not be cycled but does need heat and surface aggitation- an airstone is fine as is a sponge filter. You should change 25% of the water every other day, daily if the tank is very small. If you do a 25% wc on a non medicating day, then you need to add add a 25% dose to the tank after the change or in the new water before the change. On medicating days always do any scheduled wc before dosing.

The sooner you treat this fish the better as eventually it becomes too late.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Thanks so much. I'm not in the UK either so I'll look for Metronidazole.

Since I might not have the quarantine tank up until next week - I just checked and delivery isn't scheduled until Tuesday - and since parasites are contagious, should I just go ahead and treat the main tank? Could the metro hurt any of the other occupants?

Better to wait? Tank is a heavily planted Eclipse with bio wheel - you're certain Metro won't hurt the bacteria? How about the plants?

Thanks again, I feel better at least having a plan.

 

[Dubby]

If you are worried about Metro... you could add salt (provided the other inhabitants tolerate it). Salt is very good for getting rid of parasites.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Other inhabitants are 5 ottos, 15 cardinals, two rams (one who suddenly might have ick now!) and a second angel. Will they hate salt? How much salt for a 37 gallon?