Flameback angel acting strange

[iratoha]

Hi, today I saw my flameback resting on the sand. It never did it before. But it doing it for maybe 10 seconds and then take off like nothing happened. Also I know that it swims weird. But we bought it like this almost one year ago and I found out that it’s not how they usually swim only couple months later, watching other videos, so I thought he has some type of defects, it didn’t look like it affected his quality of life. I don’t see any spots or other abnormal stuff on it. Here is video. Thank you.

 

[CoralB]

No that doesn’t look .

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi, today I saw my flameback resting on the sand. It never did it before. But it doing it for maybe 10 seconds and then take off like nothing happened. Also I know that it swims weird. But we bought it like this almost one year ago and I found out that it’s not how they usually swim only couple months later, watching other videos, so I thought he has some type of defects, it didn’t look like it affected his quality of life. I don’t see any spots or other abnormal stuff on it. Here is video. Thank you.

This fish erratic swim pattern can be from a previous injury and does not appear to be a buoyancy issue. This can be an internal or bacterial issue but hard to say with this being a year in time and can be spinal or internal as mentioned. I doubt if any meds at this time would help correct it.
If eating, what foods are you offering it?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, today I saw my flameback resting on the sand. It never did it before. But it doing it for maybe 10 seconds and then take off like nothing happened. Also I know that it swims weird. But we bought it like this almost one year ago and I found out that it’s not how they usually swim only couple months later, watching other videos, so I thought he has some type of defects, it didn’t look like it affected his quality of life. I don’t see any spots or other abnormal stuff on it. Here is video. Thank you.

Your angel is negatively buoyant. See how it is swimming in a head up posture? That shows that its swim bladder is underinflated. It is struggling to stay up in the water column. This looks like a chronic issue, as the fish is also a bit thin. What happens is that a fish that needs to swim constantly to maintain position in the water uses a huge amount of calories.

I'm sorry, but there is no treatment for this other than feed it as much as you can to try and offset the calorie defficit.

 

[iratoha]

This fish erratic swim pattern can be from a previous injury and does not appear to be a buoyancy issue. This can be an internal or bacterial issue but hard to say with this being a year in time and can be spinal or internal as mentioned. I doubt if any meds at this time would help correct it.
If eating, what foods are you offering it?

I’m more concerned about it laying on the sand. I didn’t see it do it before. Spirulina brine shrimp mostly, mega marine and mussel.

 

[iratoha]

Your angel is negatively buoyant. See how it is swimming in a head up posture? That shows that its swim bladder is underinflated. It is struggling to stay up in the water column. This looks like a chronic issue, as the fish is also a bit thin. What happens is that a fish that needs to swim constantly to maintain position in the water uses a huge amount of calories.

I'm sorry, but there is no treatment for this other than feed it as much as you can to try and offset the calorie defficit.

But why it started to lay on send? Is it safe for him? I’m feeding them spirulinabrine shrimp and megamarine (pink long things, they like it).

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m more concerned about it laying on the sand. I didn’t see it do it before. Spirulina brine shrimp mostly, mega marine and mussel.

Nothing you can do for that as its weakening from issue and while it wont help with this, add LRS fish frenzy and chopped krill to the diet

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

But why it started to lay on send? Is it safe for him? I’m feeding them spirulinabrine shrimp and megamarine (pink long things, they like it).

It takes a lot of energy for this fish to swim in mid water, so when it gets tired, it’s going to sink to the bottom - it is just getting worn out.

That does leave the fish open to being attacked by crabs or some other creature - depends on what you have in the tank.

This is a serious defect in the fish - I wish there was some treatment for it, but there just isn’t……