Flame Angel Swimming wildly in (diagonal) circles?

[UCaggie]

Ever since I moved my tank and set it up at a new place (2 weeks ago) my flame angel has often been swimming in chaotic circles through all the holes in the rock over and over nonstop. He will also swim along the surface angled almost sideways to the surface back and forth at high speeds.

It is almost stressful to watch (also I'm afraid he will go carpet surfing) and I have no idea of an explanation for diagonal surface swimming. Other than that everything else in the tank seems fine and he's not fighting with anyone.

Is this fine and just an idea of fish fun / exercise?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

What size tank and how many other fish and type are they?

 

[cbm369]

Since you moved your tank to it's new location, have you done a thorough check of all the parameters?

Disturbing the sand bed / rocks can release things back into the water column and cause a spike in some of the parameters.

Sounds like he is distressed, make sure water quality is good. Maybe go lights off for a day or two and see if that helps him calm down.

good luck.

 

[scooter31707]

Is he eating? I agree, check your parameters and also is there any other fish that is showing any type of aggression against it?

 

[snorvich]

Ever since I moved my tank and set it up at a new place (2 weeks ago) my flame angel has often been swimming in chaotic circles through all the holes in the rock over and over nonstop. He will also swim along the surface angled almost sideways to the surface back and forth at high speeds.

It is almost stressful to watch (also I'm afraid he will go carpet surfing) and I have no idea of an explanation for diagonal surface swimming. Other than that everything else in the tank seems fine and he's not fighting with anyone.

Is this fine and just an idea of fish fun / exercise?

Tank size? Other fish?

 

[scooter31707]

also could be the new and a new reflection (himself)

 

[humaguy]

probably stress related...what changed?

 

[ThRoewer]

It's likely psychological. I observed that with almost all dwarf angels I kept single, but never when I kept them in pairs or groups. It is a form of "cage-syndrome" and he is doing that because he is alone.
If possible I would add another flame angel.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I had a flameback angel that was fine but all of a sudden started to swim in circles around a powerhead. He was traded to a fish store after several days of doing it.

 

[humaguy]

def do not add another angel until the cause is narrowed down...
what changed with the tank? how did you move it? did you pull out everything? you may have upset the biological filter and it is stressing out the fish...