Please help my angelfish!!!!!

[boozybears]

Please someone help me! I have a small marble angelfish named Franklin. This morning i noticed he was acting a bit 'off'. After being fed he just hung out at the top of the tank... just kinda floating with his nose by the surface of the water. He didn't swim around.. just floated there in one spot. Tonite he was just kinda doing the same by the heater. While watching him he started to turn onto his side then did a nose dive straight to the bottom of the tank. I thought I had just witnessed his death but when I got close his gills are still moving. After about 5 minutes he suddenly moved, swam a short distance then repeated the process... nose dive straight to the bottom. At last check (yesterday) amonia and nitrite= 0. Nitrate was approx. 20.

Does anyone know what this could be??? Goldy, his partner is sticking so close, nudging him trying to get him to swim... sooo heartbreaking.

thanks in advance,
Val

 

[tstenback]

how long have you had the angel and how long has the tank been established.

 

[boozybears]

I started the tank in feb 2004, it's been cycled for 1 1/2 months now. The fish is new... just got the two angels a week ago.

Val

 

[boozybears]

Ok.. just checked on Franklin... he's back up again but he's on his side swimming in circles... it's the weirdest, saddest thing. He can't right himself and he can't swim in a straight lines. Is this just him dying or does he have a disease?

Val

 

[tstenback]

Are there any red streaks in the fins or around the mouth?

it sounds like swim bladder infection. the fish is unable to stay in the mid water of the tank without a struggle, preceded by bloating or floating near the surface. If it is then i dont think there is much you can do for him, but i will try to dig something up if possible.

 

[boozybears]

no.. there are no red streaks and no signs of bloating. He's down again but still alive. Thanks so much tstenback for trying to help..... i'm starting to think there's not much hope. Even if I find out what it is all the stores are closed now so i couldn't do anything until the morning...

Val

 

[tstenback]

i really think that it is swim bladder infection. Angels do tend to be susceptible to this. it is an internal bacteria and while the bacteria is actively multiplying the fish tend to float around near the surface and it seems to be a struggle just to stay upright. Then when they sink as you mentioned this is the damaging of the swim bladder and it is usually permanent and there is not much we as fishkeepers can do it. It is a very sneaky disease in angels. Sorry i dont have better news. Hope he proves us wrong.

 

[boozybears]

Too late.... my poor Franklin just died Thanks again for trying to help.


Val

 

[patchwork_python]

I am so sorry to hear Franklin didn't make it but there is often nothing that can be done even with veterinary, prescription-strength medicine when angels have symptoms like these.

I lost an angel after it's eye was damaged in a fight and infection tracked up towards it's brain, it had similar symptoms to Franklin's and altho the vet said it might have recovered with antibiotics, the chances were very slim. And tbh, as you've seen, it was probably kinder to put it out of it's misery there and then as the drugs would have taken at least a few days to work.

It is possible things like swimbladder infections, eye infections, etc would become systemic and cause septicemia so I would assume this would be pretty lethal and very difficult to treat unless you could inject the fish or find medicated food, if the fish was even still feeding.

There really was very little you could have done, heart-breaking tho that is. My condolances once again.