Freakin out a Little Bit......

[KellyFrancis]

So my flame angel....Attacked by a damsel on April 20th. The angel seemed to recover as soon as I took the damsel out of the tank. The wounded scales on its side healed almost overnight. The dorsal spines, on the other hand, remain a point of concern. Here are a series of photos showing the decline:

April 23- You can hardly tell there was any damage done to the spine



April 29- Starts to get worse....



May 1- And worse....



May 2- And now today - the nice yellow is gone and the stripes are fading. The spines don't seem to be any worse though...



There has never been a decline in its activity, it constantly flits in and out of the rock, eats like a horse. It doesn't seem to show any outward signs of being bothered. For what its worth, I noticed that it had a huge poop trail yesterday and now today, its just a clump, like it can't get it to fall off. I don't know if that's helpful or not...That's everything I've got...Parameters are fine, I test for calcium, Ph, Phosphate, Nirtrate, and nitrite. The nitrate's at 20 ppm, but other than that, the params are fine.

Any ideas what's going on? How do I help the little guy?

 

[sbuse]

medicatite it like i was saying to you on the phone.

 

[KellyFrancis]

I'm gonna start with a water change...I'll let you know how that goes...

 

[BigCountry]

x2 just keep up with your water changes and it should heal up.

i was gonna suggest dropping it in your sump/fuge (if you have one) to let it isolate and heal up, or a QT. but it would be a nightmare trying to get that thing out of the tank I bet....i would have to remove every piece of live rock to get my flame angel out....fastest squirmish fish I have no doubt...lol!

 

[KellyFrancis]

That's what I was afraid of. After I removed the rock, I chased the damsel that started this mess around an empty tank for 20 minutes! I had no intention of doing that again!

I went to the LFS (the good one) and the guy there suggested that but I was afraid of the stress (on both of us) to get it out. So he sent me home with garlic guard and melafix. Hopefully He'll be ok...I also have all the lights off and the curtains closed in the room with the fish. Now the only concern is the heat. We don't have the AC in the window yet (trailer home) and my room's the hottest in the house....I'm just praying he'll make it. The tank was 81 when I got home today. I'm looking into cooling fans, any suggestions?

 

[KellyFrancis]

One more thing, its still moving and picking at things but not doing it in the open...I've seen a flash of it only a couple of times since I got home...Wouldn't touch the pellets with the garlic guard though. Neither would the cardinal...stupid stubborn fish...

 

[we4wieners]

I would defintely use the above medications. Also, consider soaking your food in garlic extract. I have yet to read anything on it, but personally I have seen it seem to heal a few of my guys. Good luck.

 

[KellyFrancis]

I would defintely use the above medications. Also, consider soaking your food in garlic extract. I have yet to read anything on it, but personally I have seen it seem to heal a few of my guys. Good luck.

Good to hear more and more recommendations for the stuff, thank you!

I did soak the food in garlic, that's what the garlic guard is I guess...I don't know...Nearly knocked me out its so strong but two of four fish wouldn't twitch a fin at it...Everybody says its like crack to these guys...

 

[we4wieners]

Good to hear more and more recommendations for the stuff, thank you!

I did soak the food in garlic, that's what the garlic guard is I guess...I don't know...Nearly knocked me out its so strong but two of four fish wouldn't twitch a fin at it...Everybody says its like crack to these guys...

from what I hear people say it increases the fish's appetite. Not sure how true it is though.

 

[KellyFrancis]

Well I'll keep you posted on my progress then, lol...I feel like I've hit a wall trying to pellet-break the angel and cardinal...