What happened to my angelfish

[Garyf7257]

The last two days my angelfish has been acting strange. She would hang out in one spot and she would swim vertically. She wasn't even eating. She had frayed fins so I figured I'd do a freshwater dip for 5 mins and did not see any flukes. When I put her in QT she was able to swim with her back tail but not with her side fins she so she doing flips almost. When she was about to die she floated at the top gasping for air. Previous deaths with fish I've noticed they die at the bottom of the tank but she floated on the top. She had no visible signs of ich or velvet. I'm stumped as to what she died from. This is what she looked like the night before she died. Any suggestions?
Water conditions are 0 and PH is 8.2

 

[melypr1985]

As was pointed out in your other thread about this angel, it appears that there was something in the gills preventing the angel from getting enough oxygen. Probably velvet or brook. Both of these diseases cause issues with the gills getting clogged with parasites and fluid from the fish's immune system trying to fight the parasites. They essentially suffocate. They are able to be present and not show any outward, physical symptoms on occasion. This depends on the strain you are dealing with. There is also a possibility of an internal infection of some kind. It's impossible to say for sure at this point though. I'm sorry we can't help further.

 

[aykwm]

+1 for parasite in gills. The parasite usually infects the gills first as its so thin it is easier for the parasite to live there. When parasite start becoming visible on the body it is usually heavily infested.
The frayed fin indicate bacterial infection, most likely secondary infection caused by primary parasite infection. The FW dip should have helped you gain some time to start treatment, but since it died so fast its likely fast acting disease like velvet, which can kill within hours.

Did you notice any other symptoms? Like fast breathing, sensitivity to light, etc..

Im so sorry for your loss and best of luck with the other fish

 

[Garyf7257]

Thanks for your response. The only noticeable symptom was fast breathing and she seemed confused and in a daze. Towards the end she had pink gills and side of body was turning pink. She was not able to control movement with her pectoral fins, just her caudal fin. She was floating at the top near the end breathing heavily and passed away shortly after.

 

[aykwm]

Probably ammonia burns/oxygen depletion. Did you check the ammonia levels. (ammonia test kits won't work if its medicated tank, you need seachem ammonia alert badge)

 

[Bluecbs]

...could it be cyanide?....was it eating normally but still have pinched gut..

 

[Humblefish]

...could it be cyanide?....was it eating normally but still have pinched gut..

Fish that die from cyanide poisoning often just drop dead without showing any symptoms beforehand. You have to perform a postmortem necropsy to look for clues i.e. test internal organs for traces of cyanide. Oftentimes the liver will contain the highest amount or look the most damaged, because it attempts to detoxify cyanide found in the fish's bloodstream.