you saved my life--but need help!!!

[g. mcclean]

:( Last week I was doing my usual evening check of topics and came across the posts regarding salinity testers. Since I was having trouble with my salinity, and being new I presumed it was me and not the tester, I read with great interest all the trouble others had had. I went out and got a new (recommended) tester and lo and behold my salinitywas WAY off. I gradually made adjustments until the level dropped to 1.025. I was VERY HIGH. Now however it appears my Flame angel may have suffered some adverse effects from the high salinity. He appears to have white around the upper portion of his face. The white is not raised or puffy. It does not have a cottony appearance. He(I always attach a gender to my fish) is not exhibiting any changes in behavior. He is eating well. None of the other fish are exhibiting any similar symptoms. His respiration appears normal also. I went through the checklist on a program I bought. He does dart through the rocks and crevises in the aquarium. Could it be just that he rubbed himself in his darting? I also checked my other water parameters. PHis 8.3; ammonia is 0; nitrite is 0; nitrate is 5ppm. Any suggestions would be appreciated.He has been in the aquarium for almost 4 weeks.

[kreblak]

Is he eating, and if he is, what is he eating? Color loss, especially around the face is usually a result of some kind of stress. If your water quality is good, then you should see the red color come back soon, so long as the angel is eating properly. Angels have a need for lots of different things in their diet, especially sponges and algaes. If you aren't already, start using Angel Formula frozen fish cubes from Ocean Nutrition. A friend of mine with a queen angel was having the same problem, except most of the color was fading and turning to white. After two weeks on Angel Formula, the queen got her color back, and now looks amazing!

[OrionGirl]

How quickly did you change the salinity? Sudden shifts can cause problems within the more sensitive skin cells. I'd watch the fish, to make sure the whitening doesn't spread, and that the infected area does not become infected. Any treatment at this time would be jumping the gun--knowing what you're treating should come first.

[g. mcclean]

I lowered the salinity slowly,as I felt any drastic change would be more detrimental than the original situation. He does however seem less faded today. I had also thought of diet and will try to get the recommended food soon. He picks at the "live rock". Do they like greens as the tangs do? Thanks again for your help.

[kreblak]

Oh yes, Angels will go bananas on some dried seaweed left in the tank. They are similar to tangs in their eating habits, but I'm not sure if they are the poop factories that tangs can be. If the color is returning, then that is a good thing. How are your other fish? Are they dulling any in color? If not, then keep watching the Flame, and keep feeding him right. His color ought to come back slowly and surely.