Came home from work and my flame Angel was on its side on the bottom of the tank, I thought for sure it was dead but then got up and started swimming around very slowly, he’s lost a lot of his color, looks pale. Has weird white coloring on his sides, 1 side is a lot worse than the other, can’t tell if it’s scratches or what. Here are the best picture I have at the moment.
Flame Angel Issue
- Thread starter Jay1661
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Crabs McJones
I'm so shi-nay
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Moderator Emeritus
Hospitality Award
Reef Tank 365 Boss
Wisco Reefers
My Tank Thread
#reefsquadCame home from work and my flame Angel was on its side on the bottom of the tank, I thought for sure it was dead but then got up and started swimming around very slowly, he’s lost a lot of his color, looks pale. Has weird white coloring on his sides, 1 side is a lot worse than the other, can’t tell if it’s scratches or what. Here are the best picture I have at the moment.
How long has he been in the tank? Anybody in there to pick on him? Was he quarantined be for adding him to the tank? Is he eating?
He has been in the tank exactly 1 week, he was not quarantined (I know, I know). I feed once daily, he was eating perfectly fine 24 hours ago.
Hes the biggest fish in the tank, nobody picks on him. He is stocked with the following
Pair of small clownfish
Diamond goby
Green chromis
Cleaner shrimp
Crabs McJones
I'm so shi-nay
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Moderator Emeritus
Hospitality Award
Reef Tank 365 Boss
Wisco Reefers
My Tank Thread
Is anything else showing any signs of sickness?
Crabs McJones
I'm so shi-nay
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Moderator Emeritus
Hospitality Award
Reef Tank 365 Boss
Wisco Reefers
My Tank Thread
It looks like it had a chunk taken out of it. @Humblefish I'm hoping you can help on this one. Infection? I would QT asap and start with antibioticsDidn’t want to do this but it was the only way I was gonna get a decent picture.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Looks bacterial to me.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-diseases-101.189284/
I would go with bacterial. Treat as stated in thread above.
I would go with bacterial. Treat as stated in thread above.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
It’s bacterial, I agree.
Melafix isn’t going to help, you’ll need an acriflavin dip followed by kanaplex, furan 2, and metroplex in a qt.
They’re also very intolerant of ammonia so you’ll need to be careful with that in a new qt — do water changes to keep ammonia at zero.
Also, that’s a very advanced infection, I’d be very surprised if the fish pulled through but it’s worth a try!
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
No, most likely from compromised immune system. Possible damage from hitting rock or aggression with other tank mates.
Treat as @4FordFamily and @Humblefish said, quickly. Watch ammonia very closely. Keep lighting over QT dim or at ambient room light. Plenty of hiding places.
Hope it makes it.
He did not make it. This is my first loss after 3 months with this tank, hurts a little. Just blows my mind how quickly his health deteriorated. This is a picture from exactly 24 hours ago, no sign of any infection.
Don't beat yourself up too harshly - some of these bacterial infections can go from zero to dead in a horrendous hurry.
I'm sorry for your loss - that was a pretty flame.
~Bruce
I'm sorry for your loss - that was a pretty flame.
~Bruce
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Sorry for your loss. 
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Sorry for your loss, it looks and sounds like a gram negative bacterial infection. There’s nothing you could have done.He did not make it. This is my first loss after 3 months with this tank, hurts a little. Just blows my mind how quickly his health deteriorated. This is a picture from exactly 24 hours ago, no sign of any infection.
