White Growth On Angel Fish

[msclark1964]

Overnight my angel fish has developed a white cottony growth on her gill. She is acting fine and eating. She is in a new 55 gallon tank with 1 other angel, 2 parrot cichlids, 2 syndontis cats, 1 pleco, and 1 rainbow shark. All fish are fairly small.

Stats: Tank was set up last Friday. Ammonia -= 0 ppm, Nitrites = .25 ppm, Nitrates = 20 ppm. I have also attached some photos. Anybody have ideas on what might be wrong? Thanks!

 

[nanoMama86]

Ok, she has a fungal infection, but that is the least of your problems. You my friend, have a water quality emergency . Nitrites should read ZERO. You need to do a LARGE 75% water change ASAP. She is probably showing the fungus because of the bad water. You are going to have to go buy some fungus cure for your tank and be doing at least 50% water changes per day to control your water quality until you get your filter cycled. The rainbow shark, btw, is NOT compatible with angels.


Welcome to the world of fish-in cycling my friend! I bet your lfs did not tell you about needing to cycle BEFORE you add fish, did they?

 

[msclark1964]

Did a large water change last night and treated for fungus. Nitrites were back to 0 ppm but she was dead this morning. She was only in the tank 2 days and the ammonia and nitrites stayed at 0 ppm until overnight when the growth appeared. I do know about cycling tanks without the fish and I have done both fishless and fish-in cycling. What I didn't realize, I guess, is how sensitive angels are to the process. We are doing a fish-in cycle in the tank but also have filter, gravel, etc. from another established tank. Nitrites were 0 ppm this morning but she was still dead. There is another angel in the tank that is not having any problems and the rainbow shark gets along fine with the angels so far. Will move him if we have problems but he is still fairly small. Thanks for the advice.

 

[nanoMama86]

Angels are extremely sensitive to poor water conditions. Sorry you lost her.