Tail falling off angel

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Peanutsweet

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Feb 20, 2006
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I have an angel fish that's tail looks like it is falling off?!

It first appeared to have been nipped badly, but it was only in a tank with some cardinal tetras. It is about the size of a quarter.

I added 2 other angels a day later. I have watched them pretty closely and haven't noticed anything picking on it.

By day three it looked like all the 'meat' of the tail was GONE and he just had a bunch of bones hanging there.

The next day half of the bones were gone, so he doesnt have hardly any tail at all.

The wierd part is the other fish look fine.
And he is eating and swimming as if nothing has happened.
:huh:
The temp is 80 and I added some aquarium salt.
There doesnt appear to be any fuzzy looking stuff or ick.

Any ideas on what it is,
and if his tail will grow back?
 
I dunno?

Wouldnt fin rot be very catching? I would think the other fish will end up with it if that is the case.

Does this affect cardinals?
Does anyone know how long it takes for a fish to show symptoms once exposed?
The other two angels have only been in the tank for 4 days now.
I hope I dont have a disaster!
 
Okay did some research on the tail rot thing, and yes that sounds like it.

Question now is do I just treat the fish that is sick, or do I treat the whole tank? I'm afraid if I move it to the Q tank it could stress?

The other fish dont have any symptoms at all.

It looks now like it has moved up IN to its tail. Like into its body. :(
I dont really know if I should euthanize it? It is still swimming and eating.

what to do????
 
Treatment

At the expense of being repetitive, stress is the major cause of fin rot. This could be due to a fish disease such as parasites, or overcrowding, low oxygen levels, bullying, poor water quality etc. The most important first step is to resolve any stressors. If caught early, this may be sufficient.

In more advanced cases it may be necessary to trim the affected fin and remove the necrotic tissue. This has to be done when the fish is sedated. It is important to use sterile scissors and treat the clean edge with an antiseptic such as povodine-iodine. This procedure does carry with it a risk of secondary infection and it is important that the fish is returned to optimum conditions and its progress closely monitored for the next week or so.

If the fin rot has advanced the full length of the fin and is threatening the body, this procedure would need to be accompanied by a course of suitable antibiotics.

Does the tissue grow back? In minor cases where only the fin tissue is affected it probably will, but in more advanced cases, particularly if the fin rays (bones) are affected, the chances of re-growth are slim.

-Courtesy of http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/finrot.htm
 
Water conditions are good, and crowding is not a problem.
I just bought the fish 4 days ago, so stress from moving, new environment and tank mates ect could have did it.
Temp is 80 so I dont think that has hurt anything.

It is actually in the meat of its tail now and the bones of its tail are gone.
I think it will either die or need to be euthanized.

I am just trying to figure out now if I should treat the tank with something, so the other fish dont get it?
 
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