HELP! Angel and sudden case of finrot! (pic)

I have a beautiful large angel in a 55 gallon long that I really love. I was shocked to see it in a really bad way this morning. After looking around online, I am certain that it has a bad case of finrot. What is most shocking to me is that this occured VERY quickly (within 24 hours). The angel looks awful and in a very bad way. It appeared very healthy just a day or two ago. It is now spending a lot of time at the top of the tank and appears very weak. I can't believe how quickly this has happened!! I've had this angel for over a year and it has always been very healthy.

There is very noticable 'thinning' of the rear tail, and fraying as well. There is a lot of redness around where the fins join the body. None of the other fish in the tank seem to be having any issues at all. Nothing much has changed either to cause physical stress to the Angel, and it generally gets along well with the tankmates. There are seven small golden barbs and a pleco sharing the tank (it is a planted tank)

I checked some water parameters earlier today, and there was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and about 10 nitrate. I thought the PH was a little on the high side at 7.2-7.4. I perform a large waterchange every weekend and never let it go longer than 7 days without one.

I have increased the tank temperature closer to 80'F. I'm going to go to my LFS in search of some meds for this. I will also do an immediate 50% waterchange tomorrow morning. I am willing to do whatever is necessary to save this Angel. Please help! Any advice?

Gumby131 said:

hmmm, a case of finrot like that, coming so suddenly is word. have you got any smaller, nippy fish in the 55 such as barbs or gumbusia?
EDIT: after reading your post fully, i think it would most likely be the barbs ganging up on him as they like eatting fins. (they ate all the fins off my betta).

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Thank you for the reply.

The Angel and the Golden Barbs have gotten along very well together, and if anything, the angel is slightly agressive towards them, but not frequently (not the other way around). The golden barbs are not nearly as hostile as tiger barbs and the like. After reading up on finrot some more, I am certain that is the condition.

I added salt to the tank and increased the temperature last night, but unfortunately, things got much worse. The angel is just floating to the top now. I was horrified this morning to see my pleco trying to eat away at the rotting fins. :sad: The angel is so weak that it could not get away. I have moved it into a QT tank I quickly setup this morning, and I will let it rest there in peace. I don't expect it to recover.

It went from appearing completely healthy to almost totally dead within 24 hours. Just really saddening to me, I have grown very fond of this fish over the last year.

I have started a large 60-70% waterchange on my 55 just in case, and I'll be monitoring the other fish closely.

Anyone else have any other suggestions?

Well, unfotunately, the angel passed away yesterday in the QT tank. I was happy that at least the other fish did not bother him, and he got to rest there in peace. Luckily it was quick. under 48 hours from the first signs of getting sick, so there was no long-term suffering for him.

All of the other fish still seem to be doing well. I did a 2/3 water change on the 55 just in case.

Thanks for the replies.