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Majestic Angel 7/27/14
Divine intervention ?? Hurt Blue Face Angel
11/26/09 Majestic/Blue Girdled Angelfish/Acclimation 2/17/09 Greetings Crew, <Hello April> what a fantastic treasure trove of information here, thank you all so much. <You're welcome.> I have read Bob's insight/opinions regarding the Majestic Angel's chances of adaptability & survivability in home aquariums in his book, and here, in related articles. Fan-freakin-tastic! I've learned from Bob that if one is properly caught, transported and acclimated, it will thrive. After an honest look at my aquarium environment, I feel I can house one of these beauties. I have a 300 gallon FOWLR set up on a 42" stand with plans to get a few mushrooms. Also in there are: 9" Naso 2 Dwarf Angels, a Bi-Color and a Coral Beauty 2 Butterflies, a Raccoon and a Pearl scale 6 damsels 2 cleaner shrimp 2 sea urchins, a pencil and a tuxedo A local taco shop here has a 100 gallon reef set up, housing a Majestic Angel and a Blue Hippo. The Majestic is 8", been in there for a year now. He is fat but in too small of a home. I tracked down the tank's owner who says he is a certified marine biologist. After requesting to buy his established Majestic, he says he could get me a juvie Majestic at a cheaper price than this 8" one in the taco shop. I told him I wanted his 8" one for the sole reason that it is already established on aquarium foods, and I could skip the worry of malnutrition with a juvie. He's thinking it over. I am running to you real quick to ask if I do get to buy this one, if I should still quarantine it like a new one from the sea? My QT is only a 10 gallon, seems too small and stressful for an 8" Majestic. Or just f/w & Formalin dip it for possible parasites, then add it to my display right away? Thanks to you and the Crew for any and all suggestions! So what say ye? <I'm thinking if this guy is a marine biologist, he must be doing things right. If it were me, I would just make the transfer with proper acclimation. I would ask what he has been feeding the fish and continue feeding him the same. After he becomes acclimated in your system, you may want to slowly change his diet depending on what foods he has been feeding the fish. I'm going to guess the fish has been fed nutritional foods that include sponge and Spirulina algae. This fish is also known as the Blue Girdled Angelfish. James (Salty Dog)> April. Purchasing an Established Majestic Angel/Also...... -- 02/16/09 I neglected to mention that my tank has been up and running for 2 years now'¦ Never a disease or outbreak of parasites so far. Thanks, April. <<Ah!'¦we'll be keeping those fingers and toes crossed'¦[grin]>> ***************************************************** Greetings Crew, what a fantastic treasure trove of information here, thank you all so much. <<We're pleased that you are pleased'¦>> I have read Bob's insight/opinions regarding the Majestic Angel's chances of adaptability and survivability in home aquariums in his book, and here, in related articles. Fan freakin-tastic! <<Indeed'¦ One of the fish stores here in Columbia has had one in a large display for several years now>> I've learned from Bob that if one is properly caught, transported and acclimated, it will thrive. <<Indeed'¦ Getting them to eat New Life Spectrum pellets goes far toward improving/keeping their health, as well>> After an honest look at my aquarium environment, I feel I can house one of these beauties. <<I see'¦>> I have a 300 gallon FOWLR set up on a 42" stand with plans to get a few mushrooms. Also in there are: 9" Naso 2 Dwarf Angels, a Bi-Color and a Coral Beauty 2 Butterflies, a Raccoon and a Pearlscale 6 damsels 2 cleaner shrimp 2 sea urchins, a pencil and a tuxedo <<Sounds very nice>> A local taco shop here has a 100 gallon reef set up, housing a Majestic Angel and a Blue Hippo. <<Mmm'¦much too much fish flesh for such a tank>> The Majestic is 8", <<Yowza>> been in there for a year now. He is fat but in too small of a home. <<Yes>> I tracked down the tank's owner who says he is a certified marine biologist. <<Hmm'¦I guess that was to give credence to his keeping of these two fishes in a much too small display tank?>> After requesting to buy his established Majestic, he says he could get me a juvie Majestic at a cheaper price than this 8" one in the taco shop. <<No doubt>> I told him I wanted his 8" one for the sole reason that it is already established on aquarium foods, and I could skip the worry of malnutrition with a juvie. He's thinking it over. I am running to you real quick to ask if I do get to buy this one, if I should still quarantine it like a new one from the sea? <<If you have the facility for such, yes>> My QT is only a 10 gallon, seems too small and stressful for an 8" Majestic. <<Yes>> Or just f/w & Formalin dip it for possible parasites, then add it to my display right away? <<This would be the better approach here>> Thanks to you and the Crew for any and all suggestions! So what say ye? <<You have my thoughts>> April. <<Good luck'¦let me know how it goes. Eric Russell>>
Blue Face Angel/Health 1/22/08 Hi all <Hello> I have a question about a Blue Face Angel I bought last week. <Not one of the easiest angels to keep.> The fish had head rot this was remedied by the fish store. Will the colors on his face return and is there anything I can do to help this along? He is in a 110g tank with 2 hermit crabs and a violation <Volitans> lion 10", and 50lbs of coral. Water quality is good within all limits. <I'm thinking this fish has HLLE (head and lateral line erosion. There is really no cure for it other than an excellent diet and pristine water quality. Some have reversed this process with Miracle Mud equipped refugiums. Read here. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.php> Thanks for any help you can give. <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)> New Blue-Face Angel with eating woes and ich 3/1/07 Hi Guys, <Hello.> great site. <Thanks.> I added my "center piece" fish last week. <Cool.> He is a 6 inch adult Blue Face Angel. <Still a little guy.> He is in 125 FOWLR with 100lbs of live <Adequate space for a year or so.> rock. This system is 1 year old. His tank mates include 2) 3inch regal tangs, 1) 3inch purple tang, 1) 3inch coral beauty angel, 1) 4inch changing imperator angel, <Mmm...would not have put both these angels in such a confined space.> 1) long nose Hawkfish, 1) Perc clown 1) purple Firefish and 1) black cap Basslet. <Tis a lot of animals for a tank fo this size.> I also have small cleaner crew that consists of 20 hermits 12 Mexican turbo snails and a two cleaner shrimp. I did not QT the blue face because of his size (I only had a 10g QT Tank). <Yes, that would not have been pretty.> He was eating Mysis at the LFS and had been there 3 weeks. He looked perfect. He hid as expected and did not come out during feedings (3 cubes of Mysis, 1 cube Angel Formula with sponge and a piece of frozen Krill). <I would not begin to worry yet.> I also clip in a sheet of Green Seaweed. On day three I saw him eating the krill from the bottom but other than that I have not observed him eating. <Again too soon to be concerned, and the above behavior is promising.> I have been putting in the food with a baster and leaving right away in the hopes that he is eating when not observed. The sheet is gone every night and the big pieces of krill are gone within an hour. He looked good until day Seven (today) when I noticed he had ick or velvet. <Likely ich if not dead yet, velvet is a quick killer, and if he has so does everyone else.> He is actually out in the open a lot today but he clearly has the effects of the parasites on his body. First, what do you recommend to treat him. I won't to leave him in the tank because of his size. I don't want to use copper because I'd rather leave the inverts and rock in place. <Read here and subsequent links, (also check reefkeeping online mag. for Steven Pro ich/crypt article: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ichartmar.htm.> Second, do you have some better feeding recommendations. <What you are feeding is good, but a larger variety would not hurt, Ocean nutrition makes an angel formula and Selcon wouldn't be a bad vitamin supp.> Thanks in advance and please advise. <Welcome.> Francisco J <Adam J.> Majestic Angel Getting "Thin in the Head" - 01/28/07 Hi Crew, <<Hello Jeff>> Love your site and all the wonderful information!! <<Good to know>> I have a beautiful majestic angel that is getting a little thin just above the eyes. <<Likely a nutritional deficiency>> He seems to be very healthy otherwise and eats well. The aquarium is a 210-gallon FOWLR and (with the exception of a little hair algae), is very healthy. I have been enjoying this hobby since the early 80's and to help finance it I worked part time at the LFS for several years. While working at the store I remember the manager always telling us to avoid fish that were "thin in the head" so now I am getting a little worried. <<Indeed>> I have been feeding this fish with a number of foods including frozen angel formula, Nori, mysis shrimp, plankton, and herbivore pellets. <<A good mix of offerings, but...>> He seems to enjoy just about everything I feed him. Can you tell me what causes this problem and offer some suggestions? <<These type maladies can sometimes be secondary to environmental issues (e.g. - poisoning/less than optimum water conditions...you may want to consider adding some Poly-Filter to your filter flow-path) but this is almost assuredly a case of malnutrition. Even though the fish eats well, there is something (vitamins/essential fatty acids) deficient in its diet. I would continue feeding what you have, but I would make the addition of New Life Spectrum pellets soaked in Selcon to its diet. I can't tell you what it is, but there has been anecdotal proof of the Spectrum pellets allowing some advanced aquarists a measure of success with difficult even impossible to feed (nutritionally) specimens such as Zanclus cornutus. I would also get a vitamin supplement (Boyd's Vita-Chem) and alternate this with the Selcon...the vitamins can also be simply added to the system water and will be taken up as the fish "drinks" its environment>> Thanks, Jeff Jones <<Happy to assist, Eric Russell>>
White Feces Thanks for a terrific website ! I have been searching for information to help me diagnose what might be wrong with my Majestic Angel. After 5 months of doing splendidly, he suddenly stopped eating and is not his usual happy self (lethargic) His only other symptom is white 'string-like' feces. I purchased Cephalexin (antibiotic) because it said on the box to use for stringy feces) <... no...> and my plan was to put him in QT but yesterday I tried to give him some live black worms, and he ate some! I hesitate to put him in QT due to the stress and I am not even sure if I have the right medicine. Any advice as to what I might be dealing with and how to treat is greatly appreciated ! Many thanks, Carol <Could be a latent parasitic problem, but much more likely just a transitory "psychological" adjustment... Possibly water quality related (do check, change water, possibly add a bit of live rock, macroalgae...) I would not add antibiotics, other medications... other than vitamins to the fish's foods. I do agree with your position on transferring this fish. I would leave it where it is. Bob Fenner>
- Majestic Angel Questions - Hello Crew! First off, I would like to say that I have been a devoted fan and student of your web site since finding it almost a year ago. Like most all of your readers, I have found your site to always be an invaluable source of information for whatever topic I may be looking for. However, I could not find a definitive answer in the archives for my questions so I decided to write you. I have a 4" Majestic Angel (Euxiphipops Navarchus) that has changed to his adult colors and about 98% in to the adult pattern with the exception of the lighter blue outline near the tail fin that eventually breaks up into more of a dotted line. <Nice.> I acquired this fish from my LFS a week and a half ago. He / she is eating and adjusting quite nicely in my 30 gal. quarantine tank and is destined for my 200 gallon tank in about another 3 - 4 weeks which has been running for close to 9 months now and is stocked with over 200lbs. of Fiji live rock and around 25lbs. of Tonga branch live rock. <I would introduce this fish sooner rather than later if all signs look good. Water quality is a must with these fish to do well.> I have planned from the outset that I wanted to have a FOWLR although a few soft corals that came on the rock have flourished with no predators. The current residents in the 200 gal. tank are: 1 - Christmas ( Ornate ) Wrasse 1 - Coral Beauty 1 - Royal Gramma 1 - Lawnmower Blenny 1 - Azure Damsel 2 - Fire / Blood Shrimp My Navarchus was a resident at one of the LFS for nearly 5 months and was eating from day 1 of arrival. This store usually receives larger size specimens almost weekly and I suppose the 6 - 8" are more attractive to the average person looking for this species thus the reason he stayed so long. I must admit, that over the last couple months, I have had 2 larger Majestics on hold at different stores that perished within two weeks due to not eating, stress, etc. and I was beginning to wonder if this fish would be a good decision to add to my tank. I read on WWM that a good size is usually 3 - 5" specimens, so I decided to go with him seeing that he was eating and didn't have the typical Navarchus characteristic of being the shyest fish in the tank. I am currently offering: Ocean Nutrition Formula 2, Angel Formula, Pygmy Angel Formula, Brine Shrimp Plus, Formula 1 flake, & Life Line Mysis shrimp soaked in Selcon which he gobbles up enthusiastically. Finally, to my questions. The other day I noticed that on one side, he exhibited a lighter area on the scales right behind his gill cover. Upon moving in closer, I observed that the soft tissue making up the outer most edge of the gill cover was in fact gone. I realized the lighter area was just not covered by the gill cover tissue that was missing most likely from damage incurred by bumping into live rock he is housed with. It's only been a few days, but will this part of the gill cover grow back? <Yes, in time.> Also, the light blue edging on the tail fin is interrupted in a few tiny spots which may have been from past tank mates nipping at him or just not filled in due to his sub-adult stage. Will this blue lining eventually fill in with time and maturity? <All of the above... could also be a genetic difference... something to enjoy for its uniqueness, if only temporary. Seems a bit large to still be displaying juvenile colors.> Thank you in advance for your time and wisdom. Regards, Joel <Cheers, J -- > Angel In Distress? Hello, I have been struggling with a new majestic angelfish. I added it directly to my main tank (there were only a few damsels and 2 small clown fish in there, so I didn't feel I was risking too much) <I understand your thinking, but try to explain that to the damsels! Seriously, quarantine is good for the new fish, too- so do try this technique in the future.> The fish seemed okay at first, although the fish store guy didn't know what he was doing, and got the fish caught in the net. I first thought it was velvet, but now I'm not sure. I couldn't tell if it had little white dots at first, or just a skin irritation, so I treated with Greenex to be on the safe side. The fish was eating fine for about a week, then after treatment, the skin looked worse, like it had fungus on it and the eyes got cloudy. <This stuff can become pretty nasty on the fish; you have to administer it carefully> I used Melafix, (after removing the Greenex) and the fish looks better, but now it wont eat. <Yikes! Successive medications when you are dealing with a fish that is in peril is not a great idea...Sometimes it's better to hold off on another round of aggressive medication and simply observe for a while.> Two of my damsels died. (skin slime, fin degeneration, like the angel) Two small clownfish went on a hunger strike for a day, but are eating again. What could it be??? <Hard to say if this is a disease, or "collateral damage" from the medication. You may very well have been dealing with a parasitic illness and a secondary infection, but it's hard to tell from here. At this point, if the angel is not declining further, I'd opt for a few water changes, good circulation, and a few days of observation. After a few days, if the fish does not show signs of improvement, or even declines, then do take your best guess at what you are treating after reading up on diseases on the WWM site. Hopefully, the cloudiness will have disappeared at that point, and you can ascertain precisely what you're dealing with. If this is, indeed, a parasitic illness, I'd be inclined to try copper sulphate. Yes, copper can be tough on some fishes, but in my personal experience, the larger angels can handle it if administered and monitored carefully. Hang in there! Regards, Scott F.>
Injured Navarchus Beauty II >Thanks so much for your quick response. >>You're welcome. >Please continue your opinion on the antibiotic treatment. >>There's not much else to say beyond what I outlined previously. I prefer Spectrogram because the applications where it's worked amazingly well (including stopping degradation in starfishes), and it's a good, relatively inexpensive antibiotic. >I picked up some "Aquatronics Paragon" last night in case I need to go that route. Do you know this product? >>Yes, I do, and there is nothing at this time that indicates the need to use something this strong. Please go to the Aquatronics site and read the uses for *both* Spectrogram and Paragon. Paragon *might* be indicated for some parasitic infections, with antibiotics for the usually associated secondary bacterial infections. However, there is nothing in your situation that shows a need for this. Again, I strongly recommend Spectrogram. http://www.aquatronicsonline.com/ >Is there something else you might suggest? >>Not at this time. >I will add the Selcon to his food today. I have been using Vita-Chem with his diet of various frozen foods, Angel formula, flake, pellet and Seaweed Selects daily. I have the patience and time to treat him but I know he wants to be back in the main tank as he can see it and tends to stay on the side of the QT closest to the main. >>I'm sure he does. >He and the Blondie Tang are buddies and even share the same sleeping areas. Thanks again. >>Remember, this appears to be an injury, don't simply treat to treat, wait it out, a few days to a week should be fine, and if he's doing well, carefully place him back in the display. I strongly suggest you do this as early in the day as possible so he avoids bumping himself. Hopefully no one will have established territories such that he has to stand up for his own turf. Marina Sick Blueface I have a blue faced angel that has been sick for about 7 weeks now, I have him in a sick tank, the first symptoms showed up as not eating and staying in one area of the tank. 2-3 days later, one of his eyes started to pop and I immediately took him out and put him in the 10 gallon sick tank. The first week, I used maracyn-2 on him, and then did a water change and added vita-chem vitamins. I have been changing the water every 5-7 days and re-vitamin-izing the water since then, trying to feed him live brine, frozen fresh, "seaweed" and flake foods, he still hasn't eaten any (at least that I've seen). His second eye started puffing about 4 weeks ago, but is about normal now, the other eye is down to about 50% of it's biggest size, but he has been that way for about 2 weeks now. My Q is whether there is anything else that I should be doing to help him out, should I try to re-medicate, or just let nature take it's course and see how he does. He seems pretty strong still considering he hasn't eaten in a long time now, and he doesn't appear stressed, and has no other outward signs of sickness other than the eyes and no eating. Thanks! Gil >> Gil, thank you for writing. It is a shame but the three gorgeous large marine Angels of the Subgenus Euxiphipops (the Navarchus or Majestic, and Six Stripe, in addition to the Blue Face), do so poorly in captivity. Kudos to you for having a sick tank and acting so quickly and intelligently. As the fish has shown considerable improvement, I would continue with your regimen (feeding, water changes), leaving it in the sick tank. As to presenting more antimicrobials to the water itself, I would not. Instead, I would encourage you to either make or buy pre-made anti-biotic and anti-protozoal foods (these are made by some of the big name dry-foods manufacturers like Tetra/Secondnature), and alternate their feeding (with live/frozen at the latter part of the day) for a good three weeks. For more on making your own medicated foods and disease treatment in general, you are welcome to search through my ongoing efforts to place articles, upcoming manuscripts at wetwebmedia.com Good luck. Bob Fenner Thanks for your quick reply! I will continue with that I am doing and try to get him to eat medicated food, I have some from my last order from pet warehouse. FWIW, the other fish in the tank never did show any symptoms and are eating heartily, and are still doing real well, just this one angelfish got sick. I'll let you know how it turns out, as it seems that this is a difficult sickness to cure, I am surprised he has lasted this long without my seeing him eat at all. I'll be checking out your webpage too to see what I can find about treatments. Thanks again for the quick reply! Gil >> I'm not too surprised re the apparent non-infectiousness from the Blue Face. Likely the "problem" is internal (infectious, parasitic, or systemic), and it does sound like you've reacted "in the nick of time", though the remaining eye swelling may take months (or forever) to return to normal. Bob Fenner Cloudy eyes on angel Hmm, I would say this is an all-too-typical "stress syndrome" problem with this problematic species (actually all three species in the subgenus Euxiphipops)... rather than a "bacterial infection" per se... So, what would I do if it were up to me? Whatever that could be done to incrementally improve the fish's environment... varying the food more? More live rock, a new biological cleaner organism... cleaning the skimmer, replacing your activated carbon... This is "just" a high stress species that exhibits this sort of appearance to those who are sharp of eye and quick in action... Most die "mysteriously"... Bob Fenner Thanks for the rapid reply. I've had him for over a year. The only big change would be the addition of an overly active 2" Longnose hawk. He never stops swimming. I need to get a bigger tank (180g) but the rising interest rates are killing my homeowner chances. I'm afraid to have one in an apartment. Right now I am arguably overcrowded in the 75. 4" hispidus puffer, 4" green bird (male), 3" melanurus wrasse, 4" BF angel (adult), 2.5" maroon clown, 2" royal Gramma & the Longnose. I'm only running an internal wet-dry. My carbon bag definitely needs replacing and I will do so today. My U.S. Aquarium skimmer has its problems. It just stops skimming at times. The pump sometimes gets jammed. The ozonizer is running through it at a fairly low level. I feed a rotating assortment of formulas 1 and 2, angel formula, brine, Mysis, plankton, prime reef (cubes and flakes), bloodworms and seaweed. Unfortunately, the puffer eats 90% of the seaweed (amazing!) until he is stuffed and sick like a human. I think that the angel needs more greens, but not sure how to get it to him. Do you think that it would be worthwhile to add an external filter to the tank. Maybe an Eheim 2217 which I can get cheap ($50) from a closing dealer? I'd prefer to save my $$ for the big one when it comes. >> Ahh, well am I answered, and I understand... Yes to the added stress from crowding, lots of waste treatment, and too-busy Cirrhitid... And definitely yes to the bargain, earlier model Eheim... you can use or sell this canister filter for this sum many years hence... Bob Fenner Blueface Bob, Had a quick question about the blue face, the film has spread to both eyes, he is not eating, and there does appear to be embedded white stuff in the sides of the fish, his fins look real ragged, like fin rot, while he is in a tank with much larger fish, I don't think they pick on him. As a last ditch effort, I dipped him in dip-away, hoping that this might help. All other fish (up till now seem unaffected), but I believe my copper level is very low (per our previous discussion), I STILL don't have the test, are there any other suggestions you have? <Maybe to pull the fish, treat it in a separate, hospital tank... run it through a Nitrofuran bath (25mg per gallon), ten minutes in dilute seawater (about 1.010) on the way there> One other thing, I definitely want to put a plenum in this tank (160), but it would be almost impossible to remove all the fish as they are rather large. Do you see anything bad about slowly adding the new substrate, or will it be too much for the fish? Thanks, Tom >> <No problem with adding the new substrate in the established system... even systematically pushing existing gravel over to place plates/plenum... A mess, and take your time... lower that water level... Bob Fenner Trouble Your Majesty? Hi guys, Recently acquired a small Majestic Angel. Once I got the fish home from the LFS, I noticed that he had some ich. No problem, placed him in a quarantine tank, and decided to wait it out. After feeding him some vitamin enriched Mysis shrimp, and dried seaweed for a few weeks I noticed that the ich was not getting any better. So I decided to treat lightly with some Malachite Green medication. That did the trick. So with the little bugger on the road to recovery and eating very well, it was this morning that I noticed that his eyes are a little cloudy and one of them was covered with some kind of bubble/blister. I'm almost positive that both eyes were cloudy, but he wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get a good look at the eyeball with no blister. So it may very well be just the one eye, that is afflicted. Also it looked as if the blister on his bad eye might have ruptured. I've never really seen or heard of this before, so I'm not really sure what to do. Any ideas what this malady might be? My water quality is very good, at least according to Ammonia (zero), Nitrite very nearly zero)/Nitrate(10 ppm) testing. <Since the Angel no longer has Ich, I would go ahead and perform a water change and add some carbon first. He may have some sort of reaction to the medication. Also, the is the first thing I do if a fish is sick at all. It ensures the best water quality possible and stimulates their immunity. After the change is completed, add 1 Tablespoon per 5 gallons of Epson salt. This will help relieve fluid buildup behind the eye. If you do not see a response in 5 days, write back.> Thanks in advance, Michael <You are welcome. -Steven Pro> Touchy Majestic Angel I come to you in need of assistance. Any advice that you have to offer would be greatly appreciated. I have recently inherited, from a friend, a Majestic Angelfish (Euxiphipops Navarchus). I promptly placed him in a 30 gallon refuge tank where he seemed to be doing quite well. He ate a combination of Mysis shrimp and Angel Formula frozen food. In fact he ate this at least 2 times per day. He was in the tank from Tuesday March 5 to March 11. It was then that I decided to transfer him to my 75 gallon main tank. Currently he is the only fish in the tank. And he absolutely refuses to take any food. He is roughly 3.5 inches long, and looks like he just obtained his adult coloration. He is very healthy looking. He is filled out, and does not look emaciated at all; also the fins are very clear, as are the eyes. Water conditions in both tanks are very good: zero ammonia, nearly zero nitrites, ten parts per million nitrates, specific gravity is constant at 1.021. The PH is slightly on the low side being around 7.0-7.1. <I sincerely hope this is a typo and you really mean 8.0-8.1. Otherwise, I am surprised he is alive at all.> This is due to the fact that I have to buy bottled water to do water changes. My well water is far too mineral rich, and has a nasty habit of killing even the heartiest of fish. <Bottled water is not always a good choice. Reverse osmosis or deionized would be much better. Mineral rich water should be fine, but avoid using any water that has a significant amount of dissolved organics or metals.> I am reluctant to use chemicals to bring the PH up any more, for fear of their overall effect upon the tank. <A good quality buffer solution is fine to use. I like Seachem Reef Builder and Marine Buffer and Aquarium Systems SeaBuffer.> It is here that I pose to you my question. Is there any way to coax this little bugger to eat? <Live brine shrimp are a good appetite stimulant, but poor nutritionally. Get your fish to eat then wean back on to frozen Mysis shrimp by mixing them together.> I am willing to try just about anything within reason. And maybe even a few things that are outside the voice of reason. He is an absolute stunner of a fish, and I would hate to loose him as a result of malnutrition. I realize that it has only been a few days, and the shock of being transferred to the new tank may have thrown off his appetite; <This is probably the reason behind his personality change.> however, it has been my experience that once a fish starts down the bad road, it seldom makes a full recovery. <I do not think he has started down the bad road just yet.> I am at wits end, and am desperately seeking sound counsel. A friend in need, Michael Mariani <Good luck, Steven Pro> Intestinal problem on blue face angelfish Dear Bob, How are you? I've been a reader of your web page and had went through all the topics inside. They are very knowledgeable. In Feb this year, I have set up a 60 gallon tank for marine fish only. It now has three angelfish. One 7" blue face, one 4" blue ring and a small 2" bi-color. <wow... this tank is tragically small for even one of the larger two angels. The will most assuredly die prematurely here if they do not get into a larger tank soon. The adult size of the three angels collectively is over 24" in total inches of fish!!! You need a 200gall+ tank my friend for the long run> I feed my fishes three times a day, <very good and necessary for angels> one in the afternoon and two times in the evening. The 7" blue fish is aggressive and go to the feeding spot for food every time. No matter how much he eats, his stomach (area along the pectoral fin/pelvic fin area) still shrinks seriously inward. His stomach looks like hasn't eat anything for weeks. But the dorsal area remains fat. <good... fishes store their fat down the base of the dorsal... a sign of good health. The stomach means little> Do you think this blue face has a intestinal parasites? I try to find some worms or eggs from his waste but with no luck. <stringy white feces is an indication if seen> What do you think that cause the shrinking in stomach? <perhaps a lack of bulk filler (algae). Try feeding Nori (dried seaweed) for loner grazing periods> If you also think it is s intestinal parasites, can you recommend a good medication for me? <Metronidazole if necessary. Else Piperazine or Levamisol.> Your advise is appreciated. Thanks, Alexcych <best regards, Anthony> Navarchus Angel I e-mailed you about possible care for a Navarchus angel taken in as a adoption project for an unprepared friend (kinda). Your help was excellent and you even added in that there was a good chance that a healthy curious specimen was good (which he is), but I was still not over the hump. Good advice because the hump hit. The little guy got the white spot one morning and by the end of the day the spots are quickly taking over (still curious and picking at my rock and algae clip). <yes, not at all uncommon> I thought about the quarantine tank but wasn't sure if the fragile of a angel would handle the move or even the copper very well, maybe more of a hindrance to his health. But I am needing help ASAP. <Quarantine is ALWAYS recommended and does not have to have anything to do with copper. Isolation, subdued lighting, easy catching for freshwater dips, medication that doesn't get absorbed into display gravel, etc. Many benefits. QT ASAP... my advice is FW dips daily for almost a week. Actually... 8 straight days may effect a cure without needing any meds. Do medicate from go or by day three if stabilization or improvement is not obvious. I recommend Formalin for copper sensitive fishes. Do read FAQs very well on proper FW dip protocol. For this species... 5 minute minimum, and perhaps 10 minute max. And yes... it won't look happy in the dip... but rest assured that a proper dip won't be any worse than any other treatment option. It is actually shorter and better (less stress in big picture). A fish that dies in a properly conducted FW dip was not going to make it anyway> I was told about a product called Melafix. Good/Bad? <just plain ugly...a homeopathic so-called medicant that is marginally effective at best and more of a preventative (a real stretch) than a cure for infections that have set in> I have already discontinued carbon and with your final say possibly the skimming to medicate in the tank because I have other fish that are in there that would make it imposable to render the tank fallow without losing some live stock. What do you say? <cannot medicate the display under any circumstance IMO> Upon notice of the spots I did tests to find my tanks PH had dropped to close to 7.5 while I was gone (my tank had been being cared for by a friend while on vacation, and I took in the Navarchus when I returned home). <7.5!!! By day?!?!?!?! That means it was close to 7.0 by right when the tank respired!!! If even remotely accurate readings you are lucky not to come home to a graveyard> The friend was suppose to be running these tests which obviously he didn't. Could this low of a PH have been the culprit for bringing on the parasite? <Ahh...yes> All other states are perfect: Little to none Ammonia, 0ppm Nitrite, 0ppm Nitrate, copper zero also. <raise pH very slowly... .1 daily Small amounts of baking soda will be fine> I keep my tank around 80 degrees at night to possibly 81 during the day (I wish it could be lower but I live in Kansas and 110 degree days are the norm and a high electric bill is hard to deal with but I manage. <the temps are fine... even warm is Ok if stable like yours. more than 3 degrees swing between night and day is an invitation for Ich. Just make sure that you always have very good aeration> What could the culprit be? John<as above... FW dips and perhaps formalin my friend. Best regards, Anthony> White mark on Majestic Angel? I recently got a beautiful Majestic Angel (adult--4" long). I kept it in my Q tank for 2 weeks and watched it very carefully for any signs of problems/disease. I put the fish in my tank and all was well until 2 days after. The fish has some whitish markings near its left eye. I thought it was ich at first, but no other tell-tale signs of ich are present. The closer I look, the less like ich or velvet it appears. It looks like discoloration. The fish is eating well and is the dominant animal in my tank (150g--scooter blenny, yellow tang, two false percula, yellow leather coral, blue carpet anemone and a ghost moray) I've been feeding Tetra Anti-parasite mixed with Tetra Anti-Bacteria food for a week. Is this something I should worry about? Water conditions are optimal, UV sterilizer, the fish is eating great, it isn't bullied, it has lots of live rock caves to hide in. I can't figure out what's going on. Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you. Vicki <I think you are on-track Vicki. It's not unusual to run into something or suffer some slight damage while transferring into display, getting accustomed to new surroundings, inhabitants, stress, etc. I would keep an eye on it, it should get better shortly. He might have met your anemone or bumped into a piece of rock. If not the food will take care of it. No worries! Craig> -Spot on Majestic - Guys <Evening... JasonC here...> I have had my Majestic Angel in a QT tank for about 10 days and he has developed a white spot on the underside of his belly. It appears larger than Ich but is not cottony looking. I did a freshwater dip but there has been no change. I have attached a picture. <I'm not exactly sure - the picture you sent through was oddly solarized, as if perhaps not enough colors in the picture, but I can make out a white spot...> can you help me identify it and recommend a cure Thanks Joe <Joe, I would just go ahead and place this fish in the main tank - likely the spot will remedy itself, but if you've dipped the fish and it's still with you, go ahead and place it. Will be better off by far in the larger tank. Cheers, J -- > - Majestic Angel Question - Hi crew of WWM, <Hello, JasonC here...> I only have one question today concerning my majestic (blue girdle) angel. Lately I've notice that it's eyes are hazy, cloudy looking. Is this it's natural look? <No.> Or is there possibly something wrong with it? <A possibility, yes.> What could of happened? Water problem? <A possibility.> Over feeding? <Another possibility.> Stress? <Yet another possibility.> Disease? <Or perhaps all of the above.> If you can help me out, I would appreciate it very much. Thank you. <Well, you didn't reveal much about what you do to care for this fish, or how long you've had it. More information from you might help me better answer your question. Cheers, J -- >
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