Damaged Angel

Question
Hey Karen!
Well as you suggested, I used the sponge filters in all the new tanks. Worked great! Thanks for your help on that! :)

I have a Black Veil Angel now, that has not had a great time of it lately. She is a new addition within the last 2 weeks and put in a 45 gallon tank with 2 Kribensis, Congo Tetra, Dwarf Neon Blue Gourami, Flame Gourami, 2 Bala Sharks, 4 other smaller Angels, 3 Mollies, a Cory Cat and 2 Blood Parrots.

All was well for a while, even after I transferred the Gouramis and 2 Angels from my smaller tanks to this one. I noticed one day that the Flame Gourami was nipping at her. I immediately put him back in the other tank. The Blue Gourami began nipping at her, and was also transferred back to the old tank. Tonight I noticed that my Silver Angel (who was a known bully in the other tank) was nipping at her repeatedly as she hovered in a top corner of the tank. Also transferred back to the old tank. I thought this Angel would calm down in a larger tank with other Angels, but apparently not.

This weekend I would like to move the Veil Angel to a 10 gallon tank by herself and allow her to heal. Other than Melafix, some salt and adding a heater to raise the temperature a bit above 80, is there anything else I should do for her?

Or, since all of the bullies are now out of the tank away from her, she has quit hovering in a corner at the top and now swims near the bottom of the tank. Would it be best to leave her in her home and let her heal? Also, would Melafix cloud the water or harm the others and/or the tank cycle?

Sorry to bother you with so much detail and questions, but she was so pretty when I got her and I hate what a bad mix did to her :(

Answer
Hi Richard,
Its great to hear all went well with the new tanks! ;-)

Sorry to hear about the angel. I've found that very often you have to deal with a weak angel or one that is picked on repeatedly. I am not sure why angels do this but its very common. You are doing well so far by seperating her into a 10-gallon and treating with salt and melafix as well as a heater. The only other thing I'd recommend would be to make sure to do water changes frequent as you can on this tank and monitor your nitrate levels and keep them as low as possible.

Give the Veiltail plenty of time to heal and you may have to consider keeping her seperate from the other angels in a community tank of her own. The melafix shouldn't cloud the water. I've never had trouble before although I'm not too certain about it harming the cycling part. Keep in mind many fish can heal just as well with clean water (frequent water changes) and good care as with medications. So Melafix is not always necessary and I've had fish heal just fine without it.

Best wishes and I hope this helps!
Happy holidays,
Karen~