Sorry this is so long. I included all the background info. The next to last paragraph summarizes the immediate problem.
I recently acquired 2 female G. melanospilos angels. They were place into a QT on arrival and the SG was dropped down to 1.010 over about 6 hours. Both were eating well and looked healthy. The tank used a sponge filter and an external canister filter containing only filter material (no carbon). The sponge had been kept in the display sump until the fish were acquired. The fish are in the same tank but separated from one another by egg crate.
They seemed fine for the first 2 weeks. At about that time they developed patchy white areas on their fins and their fins began to look ragged. The white areas were larger than ick and not raised. After some research I suspected a bacterial infection. I checked water parameters. Ammonia was undetectable. pH was ok. I did a 25% water change and I started dosing Maracyn plus (sulfa and trimethoprim antibiotic I believe) by soaking their food. One of the angels continued to do well although the white patches and ragged fins showed little improvement. The other quit eating a few days later.
Since the one fish was no longer getting any antibiotic in food I acquired some erythromycin aquarium tablets and began dosing the tank per directions. After a couple more days the one angel still wasn't eating so I figured I'd better try something else. Thinking that I might be dealing with a fungal infection instead of bacterial, I prepared a formalin bath following the directions from an old aquarium book and I placed the fish into the bath. The treatment time of 15 min was recommedned. The fish became slowlu, progressively more sluggish in the bath. After 8 minutes I decided she just wasn't "looking good" as she was beginning to turn upside down and was becoming less responsive. I then transferred her back to the QT.
I have decided that I obviously kept her in the bath too long. She has remained listless and unable to maintain a normal position since the bath. Shortly after returning her to the QT (a few hours) her belly seemed to be distended. It has remained that way. I suspected she was a goner. That was 3 days ago. Her condition seems exactly the same as just after the bath. I started thinking that, since she is still alive, maybe she is still savable, if I can do something about her swollen belly. I don't know if this is due to a swim bladder problem, fluid in the abdomen (ascites), or some organ enlargement. If it's a swim bladder problem I've heard that the swim bladder can be decompressed with a needle. That is obviously not something I would want to do "blindly".
If anyone has any suggestions I would be greatful. Meanwhile the other angel is showing improvement in her fins. The white patches are largely gone. I am continuing the antibiotics another 2 days for a full course.
Allen
I recently acquired 2 female G. melanospilos angels. They were place into a QT on arrival and the SG was dropped down to 1.010 over about 6 hours. Both were eating well and looked healthy. The tank used a sponge filter and an external canister filter containing only filter material (no carbon). The sponge had been kept in the display sump until the fish were acquired. The fish are in the same tank but separated from one another by egg crate.
They seemed fine for the first 2 weeks. At about that time they developed patchy white areas on their fins and their fins began to look ragged. The white areas were larger than ick and not raised. After some research I suspected a bacterial infection. I checked water parameters. Ammonia was undetectable. pH was ok. I did a 25% water change and I started dosing Maracyn plus (sulfa and trimethoprim antibiotic I believe) by soaking their food. One of the angels continued to do well although the white patches and ragged fins showed little improvement. The other quit eating a few days later.
Since the one fish was no longer getting any antibiotic in food I acquired some erythromycin aquarium tablets and began dosing the tank per directions. After a couple more days the one angel still wasn't eating so I figured I'd better try something else. Thinking that I might be dealing with a fungal infection instead of bacterial, I prepared a formalin bath following the directions from an old aquarium book and I placed the fish into the bath. The treatment time of 15 min was recommedned. The fish became slowlu, progressively more sluggish in the bath. After 8 minutes I decided she just wasn't "looking good" as she was beginning to turn upside down and was becoming less responsive. I then transferred her back to the QT.
I have decided that I obviously kept her in the bath too long. She has remained listless and unable to maintain a normal position since the bath. Shortly after returning her to the QT (a few hours) her belly seemed to be distended. It has remained that way. I suspected she was a goner. That was 3 days ago. Her condition seems exactly the same as just after the bath. I started thinking that, since she is still alive, maybe she is still savable, if I can do something about her swollen belly. I don't know if this is due to a swim bladder problem, fluid in the abdomen (ascites), or some organ enlargement. If it's a swim bladder problem I've heard that the swim bladder can be decompressed with a needle. That is obviously not something I would want to do "blindly".
If anyone has any suggestions I would be greatful. Meanwhile the other angel is showing improvement in her fins. The white patches are largely gone. I am continuing the antibiotics another 2 days for a full course.
Allen
