Should I Euthanize Sick Angel?

[DivaSkyChick]

Hi,

My Angelfish has been sick for a few months. At first I thought he had injured his mouth - a part of his upper lip seemed to be missing. Then it got worse and he seemed to have some sort of sore on his face. He was still eating normally (voraciously, even) and lording it over his tankmates. I treated with water changes, quick cure, added salt. Did Quick Cure several times and thought it helped a little with the sore. Eventually, he developed more sores. It looks like he has flesh eating disease.

I looked online for discriptions of diseases that matched but didn't find anything. I treated with two full sessions of maracyn and maracyn 2, out of desperation.

I left town for a few weeks and expected him to die while I was gone. Instead he has more sores, his stomach is all swollen and he has little white things on one fin. His poop his white and seems to have little balls in it, too. His breathing is labored but he still eats a lot.

Maybe someone here can identify what his wrong with him but I'm guessing that either way, he's a gonner. Should I put him out of his misery? If so, how? Any treatment ideas would be much better. I don't have a hopstial tank or any way of getting one.

He's in a 40 gallon tank with three small clown loaches, about ten cardinal tetras and one otto. I have a retrofit light system for the plants and lots of algae to compete with the plants. It's a constant battle. Water tests normal for nitrate, nitrite and ammonia.

Thanks for advice.

 

[WILDER]

Bacterial infection and he dosn't sound good at all, once they start breathing heavy they are dying, the white things on his fins are they worms or does it look like stringy cotton.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Doesn't look like stringy cotton at all. looks like little zits, really. Little white balls.

So if he's dying, do I just let him die? Do I help him along? Is he going to take my clown loaches with him? At this point they're all in great condition but I'm concerned...

Bacterial infection and he dosn't sound good at all, once they start breathing heavy they are dying, the white things on his fins are they worms or does it look like stringy cotton.

 

[vancouver]

White balls sound like it could be fungus.. how often do you do water changes?

I have no clue what maracyn treats as I've never used it, but you might try something that treats fungus..

clown loaches can be quite susceptable to diseases, but it's hard to say for sure if they will get it or not.

 

[black angel]

It sounds like ulcer disease which is BACTERIAL in nature and you need BACTERIAL meds and the fungus is secondary.

Sounds like its too late for the poor soul so best to end his misery with clove oil. PUt enough tank water in a bucket to cover the fish and in a zip lock bak or clidded container add 19 drops of clove oil and shake vigorously until the two have mixed, it should go white and then add to the sick fish.

 

[black angel]

Bacterial and fungal problems all come down to poor water quality. Get the water clean and the fish look after themselves.
Do more in the way of water changes and tank maintenance such as gravel vacs and you should notice a difference with the other fish.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Thanks, will do on the water changes.

God it's hard to kill this fish. It's so beautiful. and big. like killing a bird or something.

Maybe I can get someone else to do it for me. This sucks.

Bacterial and fungal problems all come down to poor water quality. Get the water clean and the fish look after themselves.
Do more in the way of water changes and tank maintenance such as gravel vacs and you should notice a difference with the other fish.

 

[black angel]

With it being such a big fish i really think you should see a vet to do whats necessary.

 

[WILDER]

The white balls does it look like a clump of berries.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Yes.

This fish is still eating and very alert. Is there any chance a cure could work and what might that cure be?

The white balls does it look like a clump of berries.

 

[WILDER]

Just to make sure it is this first.
Lymphocystis

http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...mphocystis.html

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Thanks, he definitely has lymphocystis but it's clearly secondary to the ulcers he's had for awhile. There's no cure for it anyway, according to the article you linked. They have to heal themselves.

What about the ulcers? Any thoughts on that? If I could cure that, maybe he'd have a chance against the other?

Thanks again.

Just to make sure it is this first.
Lymphocystis

http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...mphocystis.html

 

[WILDER]

Well once secondary infections start it's hard, you will need a bacterial med for the ulcers, i would issolate the fish as you need to if you think its that virus.

 

[vancouver]

''The low mortality rate some attribute to lymphocystis is mostly due to secondary bacterial or fungal infections. ''

So basically if you keep the water as clean as possible, there is a chance the fish wont get a secondary infection, and could survive.

 

[DivaSkyChick]

Yeah, I saw that but the lymphocystis IS the secondary problem. The angel already had some flesh eating /ulcer causing disease on his mouth and face.

''The low mortality rate some attribute to lymphocystis is mostly due to secondary bacterial or fungal infections. ''

So basically if you keep the water as clean as possible, there is a chance the fish wont get a secondary infection, and could survive.