Queen Angel bullying, TWA period     11/5/18
Good morning Bob (and team),
Yesterday I brought a 3 inch French Angel out of quarantine, where it had been for 3 weeks, and put it in my main display (200 gallon FOWLR).
Immediately my 5 inch Queen Angel began bullying it, and the French has a decent amount of fin damage this morning as a result.
<To be expected, anticipated. The size difference, size (small for the wild)... better to have had either the species or size reversed in order of introduction>
I knew I had to put a stop to it immediately, so I removed the Queen Angel (boy was that fun to take out most of the rock in a 200 gallon aquarium)
<I'll bet! Hopefully two nets, make that four, with another/friend to help>
and drip acclimated it back to my 29 gallon QT system. Both the Queen and the French seem to be doing OK at this point.
My question is, how long do you think I should keep the Queen Angel in QT?
I want the French to recover from its injuries, eat well, and establish some territory in the new tank before putting the Queen back in. I'm just not sure how long that typically takes. 3-4 weeks perhaps?
<Yes to about this time frame>
Given the size constraints I know the Queen can't stay in my QT tank for a long time.
Thanks,
Dan
<Do weekly or more often water changes, additions in the 29 w/ water from the 200... this will help introduce (chemically) the two Angels. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Re: Queen Angel bullying     11/6/18
Thanks Bob. Will do as you suggest.
The French is swimming much more freely and ate well this morning, now that its tormentor is in a different system. But he definitely got beaten up during the 16 hours they were both in the same aquarium. Hopefully no secondary infections, etc as a result.
<Yes>
Ideally both angels will get along well upon reintroduction. In the meantime, I'll use water from the main display to do the weekly QT water changes, as you recommended.
Appreciate your help.
<Glad to help. DO float the Queen... in a very large plastic colander in the 200 for a few hours ahead of release. BobF>

Re: Queen Angel bullying    11/28/18
Hi Bob,
<Hey Danny>
I have an update and an additional question.
I re-introduced the 5 inch Queen Angel into my tank today, having drip acclimated it for an hour and floated it in a plastic colander for 3 hours.
I notice that its mouth is red (see attached pics)
<I see this>
and that it's been breathing hard for the last few days (I'm sure it's stressed out by the move, but it was breathing hard a few days ago in QT as well).
Any idea what the red mouth signifies? Is there a treatment for it?
<Damage... from netting, handling... the colander? Perhaps infection (bacterial likely)... I'd hold off on adding med.s to the system itself.
WOULD add some vitamins, HUFAs (commercial prep... Seachem Vitality; Selco products...) to the food, likely to the water as well; and be patient at this point>
Thanks.
<Should heal on its own in days, a couple weeks. As long as the fish is eating I'd be content. Bob Fenner>