Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => The Emergency Room => Topic started by: Lellynelly on August 09, 2017, 07:02:12 PM

Title: sick Angel
Post by: Lellynelly on August 09, 2017, 07:02:12 PM
Hi all. I noticed on Monday that my angel fish has a marble sized lump on its belly - equal both sides. I had been away for a week and left my husband to feed the fish so I don't know how any days it had been there. i don't know if it male or female.
I have transferred it to a separate tank on its own and added aquarium salt to the water. Someone on another forum said if it is eggbound then to let it fast for a few days. My question is, Can I leave it unfed for a week (We are going on holiday the day after tomorrow) and if it is constipated not eggbound then will fasting harm it?
Title: Re: sick Angel
Post by: Sue on August 09, 2017, 07:13:49 PM
Yes you can leave it unfed for a week. Maybe feed it daphnia - only a bit - before you go away as that can help "unblock" constipated fish.

Are you sure the angelfish is female? It is very difficult to sex them unless you can see their breeding tubes, and they are only usually visible during spawning.

And to answer your question on the other forum, angelfish don't get pregnant like livebearers. The female lays her eggs on a solid surface then the male fertilises them. Without a male, eggs are usually either laid and remain unfertilised (and then get eaten) or the female fish reabsorbs them. It has even been known for 2 female angelfish to pair up and lay eggs.

Title: Re: sick Angel
Post by: Lellynelly on August 10, 2017, 01:05:27 PM
Thanks Sue. like I said I have no idea whether it is male or female. Ok I will give some daphnia before I go then leave it. At least if it is really sick and dies then it's in a tank by itself so won't contaminate anything else. Fingers crossed its just constipation and will sort itself out.
Title: Re: sick Angel
Post by: Lellynelly on August 10, 2017, 01:10:58 PM
and thanks for answering the question re: eggs. I did feel a bit silly asking it. :)
Title: Re: sick Angel
Post by: Lellynelly on August 19, 2017, 07:33:38 PM
just got back from our week away (when I left it to fast) and the fish is still alive, but is just as bloated and struggling to swim properly. Is there a way of humanely destroying? as I'm sure it's not happy :(
Title: Re: sick Angel
Post by: Sue on August 19, 2017, 07:50:27 PM
I'm sorry to hear that.


If you are sure the fish is suffering, you need a bottle of clove oil from a pharmacy (it comes in a tiny bottle about 2 inches tall and is an old remedy for toothache - my local pharmacy keeps it in the section for tooth problems behind the counter). You will also need a tub of some sort big enough to hold the fish, and a bottle/jar with a lid. And a pair of rubber gloves is a good idea as clove oil smells.
Put the fish in the tub with enough tank water to keep it covered. Put 20 to 25 drops clove oil in the bottle/jar, add a bit of water and shake well till the oil is thoroughly mixed in. Pour the oil/water mix into the tub a bit at a time, taking a few minutes to put it all in. Clove oil is a fish anaesthetic which kills when overdosed. You need to leave the fish in the tub for a couple of hours to make sure it is really dead not just unconscious.