Once there were three.....

[Fastpitch]

I have now killed my third dwarf angel in quarantine.

The first made it through quarantine but never ate a thing. I think it died of starvation.

The second may have died of velvet, but I also was treating with copper, prazi and metro at the same time, so maybe I overmedicated. Hard to say. He never ate anything either.

With the third I decided to just treat with a slow ramp of copper. He just died 5 days after I brought him home. Never ate a bite.

My water quality is good. I have good airation. I feed nori and lrs.

I really like these fish but am starting to lose faith. Anyone have any suggestions on how I can get this difficult fish through quarantine and eating?

 

[HotRocks]

I have now killed my third dwarf angel in quarantine.

The first made it through quarantine but never ate a thing. I think it died of starvation.

The second may have died of velvet, but I also was treating with copper, prazi and metro at the same time, so maybe I overmedicated. Hard to say. He never ate anything either.

With the third I decided to just treat with a slow ramp of copper. He just died 5 days after I brought him home. Never ate a bite.

My water quality is good. I have good airation. I feed nori and lrs.

I really like these fish but am starting to lose faith. Anyone have any suggestions on how I can get this difficult fish through quarantine and eating?

Sometimes they can be very difficult to get eating. Have you ever offered any live foods, blackworms, brine, mussel? Have you ever tried frozen clams on a half shell?

 

[KSReef]

How long has the tank been running? Start looking at it again from the beginning. Check your water parameters again, PH, nitrite etc.
Personally I would back off on the medication dose too but I don't really ever use it.

 

[Fastpitch]

Sometimes they can be very difficult to get eating. Have you ever offered any live foods, blackworms, brine, mussel? Have you ever tried frozen clams on a half shell?

I would love to, but have no idea where to find live food in the Chicago area. No LFS i know of carries it. Isnt frozen clams basically the same as LRS food? Rrrgh.

 

[Fastpitch]

How long has the tank been running? Start looking at it again from the beginning. Check your water parameters again, PH, nitrite etc.
Personally I would back off on the medication dose too but I don't really ever use it.

I have had this QT running for months. Water parameters are perfect. I think my issue is eating, the sensitivity of these fish to medications and the disease they almost certainly come with. A perfect storm with a code I have not been able to crack.

 

[KSReef]

They are delicate fish. I have had multiple Rock Beauty's and Bi-colored angels and they never last as long as any of the other fish I have had. But I currently have a Flame angle that is doing great and been around for a few years.

 

[Fastpitch]

They are delicate fish. I have had multiple Rock Beauty's and Bi-colored angels and they never last as long as any of the other fish I have had. But I currently have a Flame angle that is doing great and been around for a few years.

Maybe I am in over my head. Maybe I try a Flame

 

[cracker]

Don't give up Fast Pitch ,I'm trying to get butterfly's thru Observation/ Treatment . New finicky fish need to be fed as naturally as possible. try smashing the Lrs into the rock or a clam rubberbanded to a rock. The fish will recognize it. Be sure it's settled in & eating before any meds.

 

[KSReef]

I would try a different fish or two first. Get an easier to care for fish though the same parameters as you are trying with the Angels. What other fish do you have?

 

[Fastpitch]

I would try a different fish or two first. Get an easier to care for fish though the same parameters as you are trying with the Angels. What other fish do you have?

Chromis, clowns, damsel, firefish, blue tang, diamond goby. All quarantined.

Kinda figured myself an expert by now. But then these dwarf bastages changed all that.o_O

 

[Fastpitch]

Don't give up Fast Pitch ,I'm trying to get butterfly's thru Observation/ Treatment . New finicky fish need to be fed as naturally as possible. try smashing the Lrs into the rock or a clam rubberbanded to a rock. The fish will recognize it. Be sure it's settled in & eating before any meds.

if i try again, i might go that route. no meds until eating......

but that comes with a lot of risk too.

 

[sfin52]

I've got a coral bueaty for almost for years. Try making up your own blend. Fresh as possible. Live clams, oysters, shrimp fish eggs and nori and a white fish.

They also make an angel frozen food. May give that a try as well .

I've only had problems with bicolor angel. Touchy those are

 

[KSReef]

If you still really want one ask your LFS get you one and have him hold for until you are comfortable with how it is eating, looking etc.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I bought my potters angel via mail-order, and he didn’t eat a thing through QT. He was the first dwarf angel I’d bought sight-unseen, the others I’ve had were observed eating in the LFS and continued when I brought them home.

Anyway, I thought on multiple occasions he wouldn’t make it. By some dumb luck he survived copper and two rounds of prazi-pro and went into the DT. Once he was there, he started picking at the rocks. Eventually, he started to eat with the other fish. Now he eats everything in sight and is like the ornery chihuahua of the tank lol

If I were to do it all again, I’d wait and find one eating at my LFS again. Much less anxiety that way. They can be difficult to acclimate to tank-life but once you get past that, they are pretty hardy. Getting one eating is 90% of the battle IMO

When I have a picky fish in QT, I try to give them a more natural environment without meds for a bit of time to see if they will start accepting foods. I’ll pull some rock from my sump, keep just natural ambient light...no artificial lighting, and feed small amounts of anything I can think of until something sticks. For some reason, I’ve seemed to have better luck with flake foods for angels. Frequent 5g water changes to keep the water from getting disgusting. Hopefully, they will start eating and then I can replace the rock with PVC and start any prophylactic treatments.

Obviously, if they start to show signs of disease you have to do what you have to do and hope for the best. Sick fish often won’t eat regardless :( In that case you just have to hope they can survive long enough to feel well enough to eat.

I know how you feel, I’ve been having the same problem getting a copper-band through QT. I’ve killed 3 to date...including my most recent attempt.

 

[Pbh-reef]

Try hatching baby brine shrimp - not as nutrious as clam or worms but they seem to entice fish to eat and are easy and cheap

 

[Fastpitch]

I know how you feel, I’ve been having the same problem getting a copper-band through QT. I’ve killed 3 to date...including my most recent attempt.

Sorry for your kills:(. But in a twisted way glad I am not alone. ;Blackeye