New Flame Angel died in QT

[Curt2199]

I picked up this flame angel nearly a week ago and put him in my QT tank with a few other fish that I'd been treating with Prazi Pro. I didn't see him eating much and yesterday found him stuck to the HOB filter and quickly removed him. He progressed to eventually loosing control of his movements. I did a freshwater dip and he appeared to momentarily recover but then got worse until he died this morning. I had initially thought of ich but it came on very fast (within 24 hours) and I did not see any cysts on it and none of the other fish in the QT have had ich recently. I treated with cupramine and the QT has been ich-free.

The visual symptoms were very shredded fins (that appeared to get worse quickly) and rapid breathing.

 

[albano]

Not sure if it's collection location/supplier related... But a lot of people seem to have survival problems with FAs

 

[HumbleFish]

The visual symptoms were very shredded fins (that appeared to get worse quickly) and rapid breathing.

Could have been "fin rot", a symptom of a bacterial infection.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Was there copper in the tank when you added the Flame? They are very sensitive to copper. Remember that the clock starts from day one in the QT every time you add a fish. I avoid this situation; my fish go through a strict QT regimen and adding a fish before the QT is empty disrupts the whole process. You could easily, and may have, re-infected the fish you treated in the QT. Also, a QT should be a quiet place without competition, bullies, or any general mayhem. Adding fish to an existing QT takes all these benefits away.

 

[Curt2199]

There was very low cupramine (0.01-0.02?) and a dose of PraziPro as I dose all newcomers with it. I knew they were sensitive to higher copper levels but I figured that low was nothing to worry about. Plus I'd assume copper sensitivity wouldn't show up as fins becoming ragged. I think it was definitely parasitic or bacterial.

I'd gotten a few other fish a couple weeks earlier and had a chance to pickup this flame angel for cheap and it was really nice so I took the chance. I figured since I already had a very low dose of cupramine and prazi in the QT then that would take care of anything the flame came in with without infecting the other fish.

 

[ReeferBill]

Sorry about your loss,was the flame eating ? It could have been cyanide poisoning...

 

[ca1ore]

Not sure if it's collection location/supplier related... But a lot of people seem to have survival problems with FAs

I have had all sorts of problems with Flames in the last year. Bought one new from a LFS and it died much as the OP describes; still no idea why. Tried a second, with similar results. Then, had an opportunity to buy one out of an established tank, and it has been fine.

I'm with you: collection or transportation related!

 

[MrTuskfish]

I think that a lot of the problems with Flames acclimating is due to their origin. Many come from Indonesia and I avoid fish from Indonesia and the Philippines. Not only is cyanide still used in some areas of these countries, they have countless remote islands, making policing collection laws impossible. Rough handling, time in transfer, etc. are all problems too. LA has some Flames from Christmas Island now and I'll bet they do very well.

Just a semi-rant. I think many of us are making mistakes if we don't know where our fish originate. Many LFSs don't know fish origins, but their wholesalers should. Just another of the many reasons I've bought all my livestock online since it became feasible. Many folks are surprised to learn that online fish are actually bagged and moved LESS often than LFS fish.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Not sure if it's collection location/supplier related.

I agree, I missed this when I posted above.

 

[ca1ore]

Many folks are surprised to learn that online fish are actually bagged and moved LESS often than LFS fish.

When I tell folks that I get some of my livestock online and shipped directly to my house they express surprise - until I point out that otherwise they are getting shipped to the LFS, and then transported chez moi! So, an extra leg!