Found My Blue Angelfish dead

Tek56 · 07/22/2009, 05:40 AM

I found my blue angelfish dead this morning, the angel was still young just loosing its strips. She was fine Monday, swimming around eating… The only thing I really noticed was the angel looked liked sand was on the body. Yesterday the angel didn’t eat and last I saw blue was when it swam behind a rock. Same place I found the angel this morning. I added some new rock this weekend but really that’s it.

Should I do a major water change? Is there anything that I need to do the water now? All I have in the tank is a snowflake eel and about 50lbs of rock, 60lbs of sand some hermits and snails.. 110gal tank.

hermitage · 07/22/2009, 06:58 AM

What are your water params? What have you been feeding your fish? Water changes? Stray voaltage? Ich? So many variables here that may have contributed to your fishes death. Sorry to hear. I hate losing fish.

Sometimes this happens too depending on how it was captured, transported..things that are outside of your control. Try to learn from this, and do everything you can to prevent it from happening again (epscially research everythign before you buy). Thats all you can do.

I dont think a water change is necessary unless your params are off.

Tek56 · 07/22/2009, 07:05 AM

The angel looked like it had sand on its body, really small white like specs.... Is that ick? how does one get it?

Gwynhidwy · 07/22/2009, 07:30 AM

Yes, it could be ich. The parasite that causes ich, Cryptocaryon irritans, can be brought into an aquarium through any new additions, new fish, new coral, new live rock, new live sand, etc. This parasite lives a life cycle with different stages; this allows it to be brought into aquariums through numerous means. An infected fish is the most likely source. It would be worth your while to learn more about the diseases that affect your aquarium inhabitants as many of them are treatable and most of them can be stopped in quarantine to keep them from getting in to your DT.

*If* you have ich in your DT you will have to remove *ALL* fish for a period of eight weeks and treat any fish that were in your DT, ie your eel, for ich. I know that eels are fairly resistant to disease, but they can host Cryptocaryon and need to be treated if you want to eliminate the parasite.

If you only saw the 'sand' after the fish had died it could be simply sand. I agree with the other poster, more information about your water parameters and feeding would help. How long did you have the angel?

Tek56 · 07/22/2009, 07:54 AM

I was feeding my blue frozen brine and my eel frozen prone.. I have had my blue for about two months.. I have only been adding new rock in the past months.. So if it was ick then i should treat my eel, but I have to take it out of the tank for 8 weeks?

hermitage · 07/22/2009, 08:24 AM

Nutrition is so important when raising fish. Just feeding brine for 2 months isn't enough. This fish needs more. Research their diets and feed accordingly. As for ich...I've tried taking all fish out and treating (which worked but lost a few fish during hospitalization), more recently I've tried offering varied diets, consitent tank params...my fish are doing great. Given your situation with just the eel... I would move him to a hospital tank and treat for 6 weeks...then quarantine all new additions for 3 weeks.

hermitage · 07/22/2009, 08:25 AM

Do some research on treating ich...hospitalizing fish, and quarantine tanks.

Tek56 · 07/22/2009, 08:32 AM

Ok thanks for the info.. I will check it out

07/22/2009, 05:40 AM	#1
Tek56 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 14	Found My Blue Angelfish dead I found my blue angelfish dead this morning, the angel was still young just loosing its strips. She was fine Monday, swimming around eating… The only thing I really noticed was the angel looked liked sand was on the body. Yesterday the angel didn’t eat and last I saw blue was when it swam behind a rock. Same place I found the angel this morning. I added some new rock this weekend but really that’s it. Should I do a major water change? Is there anything that I need to do the water now? All I have in the tank is a snowflake eel and about 50lbs of rock, 60lbs of sand some hermits and snails.. 110gal tank.

07/22/2009, 07:30 AM	#4
Gwynhidwy Meat Popsicle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,511	Yes, it could be ich. The parasite that causes ich, Cryptocaryon irritans, can be brought into an aquarium through any new additions, new fish, new coral, new live rock, new live sand, etc. This parasite lives a life cycle with different stages; this allows it to be brought into aquariums through numerous means. An infected fish is the most likely source. It would be worth your while to learn more about the diseases that affect your aquarium inhabitants as many of them are treatable and most of them can be stopped in quarantine to keep them from getting in to your DT. If you have ich in your DT you will have to remove ALL fish for a period of eight weeks and treat any fish that were in your DT, ie your eel, for ich. I know that eels are fairly resistant to disease, but they can host Cryptocaryon and need to be treated if you want to eliminate the parasite. If you only saw the 'sand' after the fish had died it could be simply sand. I agree with the other poster, more information about your water parameters and feeding would help. How long did you have the angel? __________________ -- He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. -- Aeschylus

07/22/2009, 06:58 AM	#2
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	What are your water params? What have you been feeding your fish? Water changes? Stray voaltage? Ich? So many variables here that may have contributed to your fishes death. Sorry to hear. I hate losing fish. Sometimes this happens too depending on how it was captured, transported..things that are outside of your control. Try to learn from this, and do everything you can to prevent it from happening again (epscially research everythign before you buy). Thats all you can do. I dont think a water change is necessary unless your params are off.

07/22/2009, 07:05 AM	#3
Tek56 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 14	The angel looked like it had sand on its body, really small white like specs.... Is that ick? how does one get it?

07/22/2009, 07:54 AM	#5
Tek56 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 14	I was feeding my blue frozen brine and my eel frozen prone.. I have had my blue for about two months.. I have only been adding new rock in the past months.. So if it was ick then i should treat my eel, but I have to take it out of the tank for 8 weeks?

07/22/2009, 08:24 AM	#6
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	Nutrition is so important when raising fish. Just feeding brine for 2 months isn't enough. This fish needs more. Research their diets and feed accordingly. As for ich...I've tried taking all fish out and treating (which worked but lost a few fish during hospitalization), more recently I've tried offering varied diets, consitent tank params...my fish are doing great. Given your situation with just the eel... I would move him to a hospital tank and treat for 6 weeks...then quarantine all new additions for 3 weeks.

07/22/2009, 08:25 AM	#7
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	Do some research on treating ich...hospitalizing fish, and quarantine tanks.

07/22/2009, 08:32 AM	#8
Tek56 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 14	Ok thanks for the info.. I will check it out