Angel lying on it's side?

[necigrad]

So I went to do a WC on my 24G tonight, and didn't see my angel. After looking for a few minutes I found him, flat on the substrate mixed in with some plants. I THINK he was trapped, though I can't see how. While the pump flow is above where he was, it blows away, so it would have had to go all the way around the tank to get there and trap him. I doubt that happened. Thinking he was dead, I went to fish him out with the net. Once I tapped him with it he flinched, I prodded him out, and he went on his way. I've seen him swim at odd angles before, even sideways to fit through a hole in decor, but never actually lie on the ground motionless. He seems all right now, and we'll see what happens when I feed in 6 hours or so, but should I be concerned at all?

[Coler]

Keep an eye as you've been doing. Hopefully nothing to worry about.

Maybe look at your planting scheme/other decor etc. if you think there's a risk he could end up trapped.

[Cathy G]

Is your water quality up to snuff - nitrates less than 20 most of the time? The only time I've seen an angel swimming at an angle was in the beginning of my introduction to the hobby when my tank wasn't cycled properly. It could be there is some pathogen or buildup of something which is messing him up.

I'd step up some water changes and see if that helps. He could have just weaseled himself into a place and got stuck. But the stress of that experience could also bring on disease so again, more water changes would be good.

I've seen one of my rainbows wedged between floating riccia and the glass, they do get stuck at times.

Cathy

[necigrad]

This is my first angel, so I have no comparison on odd behavior. He was initially in a tank to QT, and then I moved him in this one. I've had him for over a month now, and while he's never swam upright 100% of the time, this is the first time he actually was on the substrate. My impression is that he sometimes lets himself be tipped a bit by the current, but that there was nothing wrong. There may still be nothing wrong, but finding a fish lying on it's side taking a nap like a human (and no, the tank isn't in the bedroom) was a bit disturbing. Let's just see what happens I guess, as this tank is cycled and never has a high nitrate count, nor does it now.

[Blueiz]

Nothing really to add here, except this seems to be a common occurance lately. A lot of ppl have had this prob. I ave lost 3, and maybe fixing to loose a fourth to this same thing. All of them were fine, then they went down. Not outward sign of disease or anything like that....

Blue

[jm1212]

keep wathing him. it isnt natural behavior for angels to lay on their sides on the substrate. they often will swim at angles when they are fighting or investiating something new.

[mcox3]

i lost one yesterday aswell...

[necigrad]

It's looking fine right now, came right up to greet the food before it was out of the can. I may just have an odd angel. This one really seems to like to snoop. I've been having a hair (or maybe thread) algae problem (filly getting under control), and I've been catching him rooting through it checking it out. The algae has been there longer the the two weeks he's been in the tank so he should be used to it by now.

[Star_Rider]

i have a wild angel that does this..freak...it will place it's face in a ball of moss and go to sleep.
it also sleeps so sound that occassionally it gets pulled to the intake of my filter..

I thought it was dead twice.

it isn't a normal behavior but it does happen..if it acts normal outside of that..don't worry.