Help! Dwarf Angel in trouble

[jsharp13]

Purchased 2 fish a week ago. A dwarf angel and a Pearlscale Butterfly. They are in a 20 gal quaratine tank. Both were doing well and, with regular water changes, everything was testing very well. Went down this morning, and both fish were swimming fine. Did a water change using 10 gallons from my DT. Went down this afternoon, and still fine. Went down tonight to feed them (about 9 hours after water change), and the dwarf angel was sitting still on the bottom. He is breathing, and when I move him, he moves, but is not very responsive. I did a the basic range of tests, and everything is good (0 nitrate, 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, 7.8 PH). The butterfly is doing fine. I fed them and the butterfly ate like crazy. I ended up picking up the angel and hand feeding him, and he did take a couple of bites out of my hand. When I let him go he went to the top and was biting at some bubbles, but then slowly floated back down to the bottom and laid on his side. I do have a bubbler in the tank, so I don't think it is an oxygen issue.

Any suggestions? He was looking really good up until now! No outward signs of any illness. He has been pretty shy, so I haven't actually seen him eat, but he seemed healthy for the last 2 weeks otherwise.

 

[billdogg]

Sadly, cyanide is still often used to capture them, and it can take a couple weeks to show up. That would be my guess.

 

[jsharp13]

Sadly, he died last night. If it was cyanide, is it any danger to the other fish? Is there a way I can keep from getting another fish that was captured this way? The store did say that he had just come in.

 

[billdogg]

If that was the case, no, it cannot affect other fish (unless they were caught in a similar manner. Keep a close eye on the other fish while it's in QT in case it was disease, and consider Prazipro just in case

 

[jsharp13]

So, an update. the Butterfly died the next day. This is the second set of fish I lost in the quarantine. Maybe there is something toxic in the tank. I have now given up on quarantine and will be buying fish from LiveAquaria divers den from now on and putting them directly in my DT. I know there is a risk, but I also know that my DT is healthy and the fish won't be dying due to environment. LiveAquaria is the only site and/or shop that I trust to do this with. Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[homer1475]

Fish from LA can and often do have parasites also. You might want to rethink not QTing.

 

[scooter31707]

Fish from LA can and often do have parasites also. You might want to rethink not QTing.

The OP did have them in a QT. Anywho, I image it was some type of disease, possible flukes which angels and butterflies are known to come in with. Make me wondering did you introduce something from your DT since they start acting strangely after you used your DT water for a water change.

 

[homer1475]

The OP did have them in a QT. Anywho, I image it was some type of disease, possible flukes which angels and butterflies are known to come in with. Make me wondering did you introduce something from your DT since they start acting strangely after you used your DT water for a water change.

So, an update. the Butterfly died the next day. This is the second set of fish I lost in the quarantine. Maybe there is something toxic in the tank. I have now given up on quarantine and will be buying fish from LiveAquaria divers den from now on and putting them directly in my DT. I know there is a risk, but I also know that my DT is healthy and the fish won't be dying due to environment. LiveAquaria is the only site and/or shop that I trust to do this with. Thank you everyone for your help.

I realize they died in QT, but read the bolded and you'll understand my comment.

 

[hkgar]

NO! Do not stop QT. Sometme Ick will be introduced. DD is good but they do not QT fish long enough. Start your procedure fo new fish with TTM and treat with PraziPro.

What was the SG of the water they were in when you got them? What was the SG of the tank they went into?

It is called death in bags.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959576&highlight=acclimation