View Full Version : Can angels die of depression?
I had three angels in my tank but after one died due to shock, another asserted its dominance over the other remaining angel, it seemed fine enough but in the last two days it stared at the plants and wouldn't eat, we hand-fed it a few times but the others it seemed indifferent and sulky. The other angel had nipped it a few times but it had never damaged its fins, now the final angel is acting cocky and I'm hoping none of my other fish die in this way... :(. Were these symptoms of something bigger, or just a case of fish depression?
toddnbecka
05-18-2007, 3:49 AM
I once had a beautiful half-black veil angel in a 20 gallon community tank. It was about half grown when I added some small tetras. The angel was large enough to eat them, so after seeing several become food I isolated the angel in a net breeder. I figured it would be fine there while the tetra's grew just a little larger. The angel refused to eat after being isolated, (hunger strike?) even after being released again. I was watching it a few days later, and the black color started to disappear from the end of its tail fin. The color loss was fairly rapid, maybe 10-15 seconds to reach the base of the tail, and the fish died when it got there. It just keeled over and sank to the bottom, no longer breathing, as the color continued to fade from its body.
What are your water parameters?
The angel was large enough to eat them, so after seeing several become food I isolated the angel in a net breeder. I figured it would be fine there while the tetra's grew just a little larger. The angel refused to eat after being isolated, (hunger strike?) even after being released again. I was watching it a few days later, and the black color started to disappear from the end of its tail fin. The color loss was fairly rapid, maybe 10-15 seconds to reach the base of the tail, and the fish died when it got there. It just keeled over and sank to the bottom, no longer breathing, as the color continued to fade from its body.
Sounds like your angel was stressed from being kept in a net breeder too long.
Star_Rider
05-18-2007, 8:13 PM
they do react to the loss of a mate..I had one where the mate died and it refused to eat..out of desperation I added what I thought was a female..turns out it was..that angel perked right up.
I have never seen one dies from that but I have seen what one might consider to be depression.
Fungi
05-19-2007, 12:32 AM
Would it be a good idea to get another pair of angels for the tank for the remaining angel, or should I take it back to the LFS to trade in for some more blue rams?
Astramorgaine
05-19-2007, 1:17 AM
I was eyeing some angels at the pet store today, and the employee was saying that they're not a very hardy fish... Is this maybe why it didn't make it? I've not had experience with them myself, but someday would love to have some. They're very beautiful fish, neat to watch!
Rbishop
05-19-2007, 9:35 AM
I prefer to see them as a hardy fish, but do not like a lot of changes in the routine or environment. They are also a bit picky on water quality.
Mgamer20o0
05-19-2007, 9:33 PM
I was eyeing some angels at the pet store today, and the employee was saying that they're not a very hardy fish... Is this maybe why it didn't make it? I've not had experience with them myself, but someday would love to have some. They're very beautiful fish, neat to watch!
at lest around here most angels are of low quality. i bought from a breeder because of it. they seem to be stronger and more adaptive.