Bicolor angelfish losing its color

[Garyf7257]

so I got a new bicolor angelfish about 2 weeks ago and he's been in QT since then. He's been eating fine and haven't seen any issues. The last two days I watch him go under a rock and come up with dust from the rock. The bottom of the tank is bare but it does have dust from the rock that's in there. So he's dirty. Today I noticed he's losing his color and he's been staying close to one of the PVC pipes I have in there and he's not swimming much. I'm concerned. He's only a baby and o don't want to see anything happen. I'll try to get a photo later but just curious as to what to do.

 

[aykwm]

Can you post a picture. Usually fish become pale when they are sleeping to conserve energy and probably as camouflage too, but in some cases it might be due to other factors such as stress. Do you notice other symptoms? Are you using medications? Also are you checking the parameters of the tank?

Best of luck

 

[GHsaltie]

Loss of color has me concerned about bacterial infection or velvet, I have seen it manifest itself as pale patches on angels before. If you can get a picture that would be very helpful. Have you treated it with anything or just observation?

 

[Garyf7257]

I just have him in QT for observation. Haven't treated with any medications bc he didn't have anything when he came in. He was eating just fine and was active. Just recently I noticed the dust on him and I watched him go under a rock and come up with dust so I figured it could just be dirt on him. I just did a FW dip and saw nothing so I can rule out flukes. But he still has this dust on him that covering the blue part of his body. Now he's staying by the heating just swimming by the heater under the filter. I'm concerned.

 

[Garyf7257]

I know copper can be stressful on angels so I'm concerned about doing copper. I also dosed his tank with ruby rally and will start adding metroplex and focus to his food.

 

[Garyf7257]

Here's a photo

 

[GHsaltie]

I can't see anything in the picture however

Now he's staying by the heating just swimming by the heater under the filter.

This has me worried about velvet. Is he swimming into the flow or just in general under the filter? Dwarf angels do well in chelated copper such as mardels coppersafe. I would suggest that you get some coppersafe and the corresponding kit, API, and start copper treatment as soon as possible.

 

[Maritimer]

+1

Listen to her. Very sharp woman.

~Bruce

 

[aykwm]

+2, the dust you are seeing might not be actual dust, instead it might be velvet which will make the fish have a dusty feel. Look closely at the "dust" particles, if they are whitish gold then copper treatment is the best option.