I just can't keep an angelfish alive!

I agree with the above. Don't give up, just purchase angelfish from people on here or from dedicated websites - paying the shipping costs will be well worth it. Angels Plus seems like a winner if you can't find someone on here with the strains you want...but that seems unlikely.

I wonder if the stores near you have trouble keeping their stock alive also. My LFS (before it closed down :() used to have a nice selection of koi angels, they always looked healthy and I never saw any dead ones, even though they were packed (20 quarter sized angels in a 10 gallon tank). I know for sure they got those locally, I ended up buying equipment from the breeder once he retired. They looked more lively and vibrant than the yellow, marble and platinum angels in the tank next to them, which I am pretty sure were imported.

I really don't think you're doing anything wrong, it seems very unlikely to be an acclimation issue either. It would be nice to get an honest opinion from others in your area, if you belonged to an aquarium club it would be one of those things everyone could gripe about together! The stores probably won't shed any light, although I bet anyone who's been in the business a while can attest to the declining quality of many of the old standbys (tiger barbs, guppies, etc.)
 
Given your track record, don't purchase adults. They have a harder time acclimatizing.
Find a local breeder and purchase as many nickle to quarter size fry as they recommend for your tank and water in your area. If you are in or near any decent sized town there is an angle breeder in the area. Feed what ever they recommend. If it's working for them, it will work for you.

Now my usual pitch.
Find, join, and participate in your local or not so local fish club. Go to some of the meetings. Meet others who are from your part of the country. Winter fish auction season is now. If you've never been to a fish auction - go. Have your quarantine tanks ready before you go though. ;-) You'll need them later that day.
 
I agree with the others that it might just be the stock. I never had any luck with angels until I found a pet store that only buys their angels from a local breeder. While some wild-caught fish do perfectly fine, I think angels are one of those fish that are really best from a local breeder.
 
dbosman said:
Given your track record, don't purchase adults. They have a harder time acclimatizing.
Click to expand...

Definitely. My koi pair was in kind of crappy water conditions when I moved it them into my 55g. Fin rot and ich struck them hard but in 5~ days and a lot of effort they were eating and perfectly healthy. Now 4 or so months in they run that tank lol.
 
echoofformless said:
I am definitely leaning in that direction. I just don't know any in the Philadelphia area. I would rather not ship them.
Click to expand...
I swore I would NEVER have fish shipped. I found someone on here that had beautiful Koi and black angels for $2 each... dime size. With shipping they cost about $5 each total. I figured why not. They are the healthiest most beautiful angels I have ever had! ronw007 thank you sooo much. The angels are now the size of the palm of my hand and I got them in July. I have never had angels get that big that fast. Waiting for them to arrive was nerve wracking but all was well
 
I would chaulk this up to stock..
I have been raising angels for awhile(years)..and the same sort of thing happens.. they will be alive and happy voracious feeders and over night floating belly up...
on the flip side some are just fine.

I recently lost 2 angels (young) silvers. same Sx..I also lost one of my keyholes..fine the night before..then dead in the morning.. the other one is fine.
I do suspect tho that there could be something going on.. Angels are prone to hex and other small protozoan parasites..sometimes a course of prazi and metro work.
I know several angel breeders who treat all incoming angels with this as a preventative.
 
I feel your pain. I never thought I'd be able to keep discus, but suck at keeping angels alive. Alas... I have given up on trying to keep angels. Whether its stock or not, I have been unable to solve the mystery, and have moved on to other fish.

Not suggesting you do that... I hope you can indeed, solve the problem, and succeed where so many of us have failed. Good luck!

-Rich
 
Update - the little bugger is still alive and doing just fine. His stripes are a good dark color, he's eating like a pig, swimming all around the place.

I have never in a lifetime of fish keeping seen a fish look like such a goner then make a miraculous and seemingly stable comeback.
 
i suck at keeping angelfish too :(

fish3.jpg
 
a ton will nay say... pond/aquarium salt+slightly higher temp works wonders! i keep discus with angels.. and have a decent track record. sometimes i buy sick fish out of pity and rarely does it bite my a$$. overall thats my go-to approach.. salt+temp almost 90, they can take it.. but must be gradual.. also let up on lighting during the "hazing" and starve em a bit.. but use quality food, with careful attention to amounts (zero excess!) also try peat moss/pellets in a box filter and i strongly advocate sponge filter no-matter how unsightly... GL/HF
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom