Having some issues with Empror angel fish

NemoEnthusiast · Jul 24, 2023

Hi fellow hobbyists,

Last Saturday, I welcomed this beautiful juvenile Emperor Angelfish into my tank. However, I've noticed that it hasn't been eating and seems to be spending most of its time in one corner. I'm attaching some photos for reference, hoping that someone with expertise in this area could offer some guidance.

I'm seeking your expert opinions and experiences to help me understand if there might be an issue with the fish or if this behavior is normal for a juvenile Emperor Angelfish. Any advice or insights you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your guidance...

blaxsun · Jul 24, 2023

I gather he's not freely roaming in the tank yet?

NemoEnthusiast · Jul 25, 2023

blaxsun said:
I gather he's not freely roaming in the tank yet?

No he's freely roaming. I just put him in the breeding box yesterday to observe it

blaxsun · Jul 25, 2023

Have you tried feeding him any seaweed? Mine really likes ripping it off rocks (I rubberband a quarter sheet to a small rock).

NemoEnthusiast · Jul 25, 2023

blaxsun said:
Have you tried feeding him any seaweed? Mine really likes ripping it off rocks (I rubberband a quarter sheet to a small rock).

No I didn't tried that. But I will give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion. By visual inspection do you think the small white spots on the fish are ich or its normal?

blaxsun · Jul 25, 2023

nasirafzal said:
No I didn't tried that. But I will give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion. By visual inspection do you think the small white spots on the fish are ich or its normal?

It doesn't look like ich, but it's hard to really make out in the image (it looks like more part of his swirl pattern to me). TLDF SeaVeggies green is what my emperor prefers.

NemoEnthusiast · Jul 25, 2023

blaxsun said:
It doesn't look like ich, but it's hard to really make out in the image (it looks like more part of his swirl pattern to me). TLDF SeaVeggies green is what my emperor prefers.

Got it, Thank you so much for the detailed information.

Wen · Jul 25, 2023

if the fish isn’t being bullied let it out of the breeder box.
A stress reducing natural environment is important when getting a new fish to eat. Low light, live sand, live rock.

Try various foods, I’d highly recommend human grade clams.
Buy at grocery/Costco, and keep in freezer. To use them, place frozen clam in cup of tank water, it will open as it thaws. Leave meat in shell, using scissors cut thin ribbons of meat, leaving meat attached to shell. Drop into aquarium. Of course, use your judgment related to aquarium size and number of creatures you are feeding. Remove uneaten foods.

NemoEnthusiast · Jul 25, 2023

Wen said:
if the fish isn’t being bullied let it out of the breeder box.
A stress reducing natural environment is important when getting a new fish to eat. Low light, live sand, live rock.

Try various foods, I’d highly recommend human grade clams.
Buy at grocery/Costco, and keep in freezer. To use them, place frozen clam in cup of tank water, it will open as it thaws. Leave meat in shell, using scissors cut thin ribbons of meat, leaving meat attached to shell. Drop into aquarium. Of course, use your judgment related to aquarium size and number of creatures you are feeding. Remove uneaten foods.

No it's not being bullied at all. I just put it in to observe if it has any internal parasites because of which it might not be eating. But there is nothing. It's belly seems to be ok. I will let it out and try different food. I hope I can make it eat. Thank you so much for your kind suggestion. Really appreciated