Veil Angelfish Behaving Oddly

Question
QUESTION: Hello Ron.  I would very much appreciate any advice you can offer about our problem, which I've outlined below.

CONCERN
A small (quarter-sized) veil angelfish that is completely pale gold in color with no markings and whose sex is undetermined.  The fish is three days new to the tank environment.  It's behavior has been what's best described as shy, but we've also observed bursts of healthy-looking activity lasting twenty or thirty minutes at a time.  This morning when we turned the tank light on the angel was doing what looked like a flounder impression.  It did occasionally right itself, but only for a brief period before going back to its side.  I dropped some TetraMin into the tank for the morning feeding, but the angel either wasn't interested or was just too disoriented to eat.  It nibbled just a bit and then swam sideways underneath the coral to hide.  At that point, I could only leave for work and hope to find it alive this afternoon.

AQUARIUM ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION
My husband and I recently established a new fifty-gallon freshwater tank.  The tank and filter were set up and allowed to cycle until we were certain the water quailty was good and we'd maintained a consistent 78 degree temperature for about a week.  The pH remained constant at 7.0 with no nitrites/amonia registering on the in-tank monitor during that time.   

FISH INVENTORY
First occupants were added all at once:  four male blonde tux guppies, four red minor serpae tetra (sex undetermined), two female black mollies and one male black molly.  We were surprised with molly fry after only 24 hours in the tank and managed to rescue four fry before they were consumed like their less-lucky siblings.  The four remaining fry are currently floating in a plastic (flow-thru type) breeding tank at the top of the fifty-gallon tank and will remain there until they are larger than the mouths of the smallest fish in the main tank.  I'm really hoping that at least two of them are female, since everything I'm reading indicates that molly fry are an excellent source of nutrition for omnivores.

After observing the above for about five days and seeing no signs of disease or distress we decided to go ahead and add two angelfish as planned.  We purchased two small veil angelfish, the pale gold one about which I'm concerned and a companion of the same variety that is black in color with light gray uneven striations over about 25% of its body.

Last night we added four more male blonde tux guppies to the mix because they are such fun and playful fish to watch.  The guppies acclimated famously and were quick to begin exploring the tank energetically.  I should mention that the color of the new guppies is slightly more pale than that of those who've been in the tank for several days, but I've watched the color of the original guppies (and tetras) improve and brighten since they were introduced to the tank and expect the same with the newcomers.

In summary, all other companion fish seem to be hale and hearty.  The pale gold veil angelfish is the only one that is behaving oddly.

DIET
TetraMin Crisps for adult fish (2x daily as directed for three minute feedings)

Wardley Premium Small Fry liquid (three drops, 2x daily) and Hikari First Bites powder for molly fry (1x daily)

Four days ago I introduced several freeze dried brine as a supplement for the first time, which were a real hit with the live bearers but unpopular with the tetra.  On Saturday I introduced a small amount of Julian Sprung's Sea Veggies purple seaweed for the angelfish.  It too was a hit (with all the fish), but it's messy and highly unlikely our fish will be seeing any more of it.

I realize I may have left out something important in spite of writing a mini dissertation for you and will gladly answer any questions you may have.  Thanks for taking the time to read this and to respond with any suggestions you feel may be useful.

Regards,
Tamra

ANSWER: Hi Tamra,
  The tank sounds like a great place to be a fish.  I wonder if the angelfish wasn't entirely healthy when you got him... Is that possible?

  As a sidenote, angelfish look pretty but they can be a little tough on small defenseless fish like guppies.  Personally I wouldn't put angelfish in a tank that I wanted guppies to remain in.  

 One other thing: is the tank in a room that is completely dark before you turn the fish light on?  If so, that is not a good idea.  Put a night light in the room.   Fish go into very deep sleep if it is totally dark and if you then turn the lights on, it can really be a shock to them.  I have had the good fortune to spend some time watching fish (not angelfish, but other cichlids) sleep at night in the wild and it is really bizarre to see them lying on the bottom of the river and in cracks and crevices totally asleep.  They sometimes lie on their sides and even on top of each other.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the response Ron.  We've had some unpleasant developments since I initially shared our problem with you.  The golden veil angelfish didn't even make it through the day Monday and had to be eulogized over the bathroom toilet - poor thing.  Yesterday brought yet another quick (and hopefully painless) angelfish death as the black veil followed its companion to a watery grave after exhibiting exactly the same odd behavior.  How is it that all sick fish inevitably choose the most inaccessible part of your tank in which to die?  Each of the angelfish chose the very same spot - one that requires COMPLETE removal of the tank lid and light for access :-)  After just giving this question a bit more thought I realized they probably just don't want to be picked on when they are helpless....   

To make matters worse, the black molly female (our fry-mom) developed white spots all over her body sometime between the time I left for work and returned home last night.  I'm ashamed to say that I netted and flushed her in an immediate panic.  I probably should have tried medicating her first, but I've heard so many horror stories about ick that I just freaked out.  I may very well need to medicate the whole tank anyway.  Luckily the temp is already 78 degrees, so I should be able to raise it a degree a day for the next couple of days without introducing the poor fish to any more stress than necessary to kill off the bacteria.

I'm inclined to agree with your opinion about the incompatibility of angelfish and guppies.  My husband suggested the possiblity of raising cichlids when we first began establishing this tank - a suggestion I vetoed right away (when I was about nine years old we put an oscar in our family aquarium..... I'm sure you can imagine the carnage that ensued).  Anyhoo, the angelfish were a compromise in lieu of cichlids and I'm secretly hoping that he doesn't suggest replacing them with more angelfish.  Isn't the purpose of an aquarium usually to inspire feelings like peacefulness and benevolence?  The aggressive fish just don't do that for me.....  Now those guppies.... they're something else to watch :-)  And the tetra swim about in a tight little school that you can't take your eyes off of....

It's interesting that you mentioned the light levels.  There's plenty of low ambient lighting around the tank thanks to a couple of small buffet lamps that stay on all night.  It's nice to know that in addition to keeping me from stumbling on my way to the coffee pot that they're good for the fish too.  I've been watching them for awhile after I turn their aquarium light off at night.  They all move toward the front of the tank as soon as I turn it off and put on a nice little show there that I don't otherwise get to see.  I'd love to be able to see them sleeping, but they're all hidden nicely in the tank and I can't find them in the mornings!

Thanks again for the response.  I guess the bottom line is "be very careful what you put in your tank".  Both angelfish came from a different vendor than the remainder of the fish and I have to assume they were not healthy -  we won't be selecting any future fish from their inventory.  Bathroom eulogies and treating the tank for ick just aren't on my list of "things I never want to stop doing".  Thanks again for making yourself available to answer questions for those of us who are still treating our fish more like guinea pigs :-)

Answer
Hi Tamra,
  Just for clarification, ick isn't a bacteria it is a parasite. The white "dots" are actually cysts (sort of like eggs) that sit on the fish's skin.  When one fish in a tank has ick, they all have ick because the parasites are in the water in high enough density that every fish will have them.  They might affect different fish differently.
Bottomline: treat the tank for Ich.  I use Rid-Ich.  It works well.


  Also, as far as not getting cichlids, you've passed that point: angelfish are cichlids!  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>