Page 6 - TBAS-October-2020

-6- TBAS October 2020 ....................
wait a couple weeks to see if the introduced fish gets sick. If it doesn’t, then
there is a fairly good chance that the quarantined fish are safe for introduction
to your regular tanks.
Angelfish Disease

The following are the diseases that most commonly infect angelfish.
Angelfish Virus: A Potentially deadly disease. It is highly infectious. All
exposed angelfish that are not immune will come down with symptoms within
2-3 days of exposure, usually quicker. If you suspect that a quarantined fish has
this, you should destroy the fish. The risk is too great to keep such a fish around.
There is no medication for this virus. The fish’s immune system must be relied
upon for the cure. Symptoms: Clamped fins, excess slime, listless with nose
pointed up slightly, usually towards the back of the aquarium. It has an approximately
3 week infectious period. This disease is so undesirable, because if an angelfish
survives the virus, it will likely become a carrier for up to six months. This can put
an angelfish breeding operation out of business very quickly. These symptoms
can also be caused by other infectious diseases which may be secondary or tertiary
infections, that are unrelated to the virus. The object is to keep the angelfish comfortable
while giving the immune system time to kick in. Remove any bright lights from the
aquarium and treat with an antibiotic to prevent secondary infections.
Flagellates: Protozoans such as these cause persistent trouble in situations
where angelfish are stressed. Hexamita is a very prevalent one. It is thought to
be present in all angelfish, at least in small numbers, and an outbreak is what
you’re trying to prevent. It appears to explode in numbers if the fish are too
crowded, overfed or being overly stressed by some other situation in the aquarium.
Stressing your angelfish, is what you need to avoid. Symptoms: If the angelfish is
still eating, they will pass a white, chalky feces. Appetite will decrease. No external
symptoms will appear on the angelfish. They are prone to secondary infections
of bacteria and other parasites when in this weakened condition. To cure, relieve
stress and then raise the tank temperature to 95° F for 7-10 days and medicate
with metronidazole, or a medicated food that contains it.
Angelfish Parasites: The ones that cause the biggest problems with angelfish
are a nematode known as Capillaria, and gill flukes. Many others can be present,
but these two are the most common. The only way to positively identify a parasite,
is to have a microscope and the know-how to examine gill samples, skin scraping,
and fecal samples. This is beyond the average aquarist, so I generally recommend
a heat treatment to help the angelfish fend off the parasitic infestation. Try 95° F.
for 7-10 days if you suspect a parasite. If there is no response within that time,
then it is likely something else, or a combination of pathogens.
Capillaria symptoms: The infected angelfish will have no appetite. They
will commonly mouth their fish food and spit it out. The angelfish get progressively
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