Sick Angelfish in main tank

[jdhanover]

My angelfish (Genicanthus melanospilos aka the female Black-Spot Angelfish) has been acting funny (hiding, not eating). Tonight his left eye is popped out. I now figure that this is the reason behind the recent disappearance of the relativelynew flame angel.

So do I:
(a) leave him and pray
(b) cry because it means the whole tank is doomed
(c) try to remove him to a QT and medicate (this may be very difficult - first to catch him and then because my QT is full of base rock that is curing (not sure if it is done yet)
(d) medicate the tank - how and with what?

If not for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all in this hobby.

 

[Jerry W]

What are you water parameters? Has the fish been netted recently? Pop-eye can be attributed to bacterial infections/abrasions/poor water quality. It is treatable but a quarantine tank is best. I would not administer meds in the main tank.

 

[jdhanover]

Water parameters are perfect. Hasn't been netted recently. Ona different board, given the QT not being available, it was suggested to add tetracycline to the food for a few days. Did that last night - she seemed to eat a little which she hasn't been. She looked the same this morning (alive, that is). Not sure what else i can do.

 

[LargeAngels]

First trick is to see if the reason is bacterial or flukes. Skin flukes will cause eye issues also.

Since you mentioned a new flame angel that disappeared I would suspect flukes more than bacterial. Doing a FW dip in a clear container will tell you as they will fall off, but not the eggs, and look like small jelly like things. I like to treat with Prazipro in a QT tank.

 

[jdhanover]

Never heard of flukes. Will try the FW dip. If it is flukes is it a risk to the other fish or is it an angelfish issue?

 

[LargeAngels]

Read what "just dave"writes in this thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=728190

Yes, if the angel has flukes then most likely the rest of the fish are infected or will be. I've ran across these nasty little guys a few times in the last year.