Angel fish swimming odd

Gary · 08-17-2005, 05:53 PM

Hi,
I'm a first time owner of a couple of nice Angel fish that have grown very quickly and are now about 8 months old. I had 3, but one jumped out of the tank a few months ago.

Anyway, one of the 2 seems to swim or hover in an almost horizontal position rather than up and down, as if it is on it's side. I should say that I have them in a 90 gallon tank that has been doing great with a wide variety of fish, including a few different kinds of tetras, like 3 Congo tetras, 8 black skirts, a bleeding heart, etc. I also have a pleco, one rainbow shark, a yo-yo loach, 2 gouramis, and probably a few more I can't think of right now. The fish get along fine and none seem to be bothering the "side swimming" Angel, except the other Angel does seem to pick occasionally at it, but no damage to fins or other noticeable problem. The water temp. is a bit higher than it normally is, but the tank is not in air conditioning, so it is about 82-84 degrees. Is this normal Angel swimming behavior or is there something wrong with it? Thanks for the help.

Stix87 · 08-17-2005, 06:55 PM

ouch lower your temp to 79-80. The temp isnt causing the problem for the angel but off topic that temp is a feww degrees to high, it may make your fish unconfortable also high temps mean less O2. The sideways swimming may mean it has parasites and its close to dieing. When it swims does it seem like its trying to stay upright but its struggling? Research some parasites. Angels are very prone to a certain kind of bacteria that most fish dont carry, this may be the problem.

Gary · 08-17-2005, 08:39 PM

First - how should you lower the water temp a few degrees?
Second - the angel doesn't really seem to struggle and returns upright on and off. I'll look up the parasite issue - is there a general treatment to recommend?

fishfreaks · 08-17-2005, 08:48 PM

do you have a heater? if so you should be able to turn it down. i dont know about normal angel behavior, but i do know it may just be the oxygen. what are your water parameters? if something is off that may be causing the problem

**Baby_Baby** · 08-17-2005, 09:04 PM

check the disease section. u might find a site that'll help u

Gary · 08-17-2005, 10:01 PM

I am due for a water change, but usually the only thing a little high is the nitrates, then I do the water change. The heater is actually unplugged, but it's been so hot in NE Ohio that the water temp. has risen over time and does not cool much at night. I guess I need an air conditioner for my fish! I'll see if the water change improves any behavior and keep an eye out........ any other thoughts??

PatronusBestia · 08-17-2005, 11:46 PM

How often do you clean your tank (do water changes)?
Angels don't like dirty water (nitrates, ammonia, etc). They are very sensitive to it.
Also, you didn't say exactely how many fish you have in that tank. 90 gal is big, but if you put too many fish in it, it will still have a constant high nitrate and ammonia level if you don't clean sufficiantly.
I can't really put my finger on the swimming on it's side. I've been successfully breeding angels since 5 years and never had that happen.
My suggestion is to test your water for nitrates and ammonia and keep it both as low as possible. Don't wait until it gets high and then clean. Drastic fluctuations will be just as harmful. Best to keep up with a regular cleaning schedule and prevent problems rather than treating them.

**TheOldSalt** · 08-18-2005, 01:14 AM

The temp is fine for angels, but a bit warm for the other fish. Running the AC a bit more can help, as can blowing a fan across the open top of the tank ( cover with screen to prevent fish jumping ).

As for the balance issue, if that's the only thing wrong with it, that is, if it seems perfectly normal in every other way, then there's nothing you can do; it's an inner ear problem, or as close to one as a fish can get. I'm in a big hurry at the moment, but look up the word "otolith" to see what I mean.

Stix87 · 08-18-2005, 11:29 AM

if u want to lower the temp turn on your AC and another thing u may try, i do this to keep my dogs water dish cool. Get a bowl or small cooking pot and freeze water, thaw the outside of the pot and the disc of ice will pop out, put the ice in the tank and it'll cool it down, Make sure the water is dechol 1st.

Gary · 08-18-2005, 04:36 PM

I do about 30 gallon water change every 3 or 4 weeks and they seem to respond well. I did a change today and the angel has not been swimming oddly, but the new problem is that the 2 angels are "going after" one another and going into a kind of "liplock" and really picking at each other back and forth. It's not like one is "winning", but the side swimmer is breathing a little more heavy - when they break away, whichever swims away, the other chases. They don't look happy at all with one another and they have always been fine together. Any suggestions for the new problem? I have always heard 2 is not a good number, but my third jumped out as mentioned in my first post.

Jonno · 08-19-2005, 07:26 AM

Maybe you might have two males and they are defending there Territory and its stressing the other angel out so its swimming on its side.

Gary · 08-19-2005, 08:08 AM

will one eventually "win" and kill the other? Should I get a couple of others so they have some company?

Jonno · 08-19-2005, 08:32 AM

either take one out or introduce some more till they pair up but the pair might be worse trying to defend there area!

**TheOldSalt** · 08-19-2005, 01:40 PM

STOP!

Angelfish are cichlids like any other, and when they kiss like that, it's because they are sizing up each other's suitability as a mate. The liplock combat is part of their courtship. It's brutal, but it's their way. If you don't disturb them, and keep up the water changes, they might spawn soon.

Cichlid Man · 08-19-2005, 01:49 PM

The Old salt is right. Is the angel fish feeding? If it is then that is a good sign. Some balence salts may help.

Gary · 08-19-2005, 04:01 PM

both angels have always eaten like pigs! They seem pretty good right now and the balance of the one seems much better, although the one WITHOUT the balance problem is getting a little "nicked up". They go after one another pretty good. I'll keep an eye on both - what are balance salts?

GumboJones · 03-06-2006, 10:45 AM

I am having the same trouble with my Angel Fish. He seems to be swimming on his side a bit and generally not having any sence of orientation. He even soemtimes flips and swimms upside down.

Georgia Peach · 03-06-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GumboJones

I am having the same trouble with my Angel Fish. He seems to be swimming on his side a bit and generally not having any sence of orientation. He even soemtimes flips and swimms upside down.

what you described in your post sounds like swim bladder disease

1of2 · 04-15-2006, 09:50 PM

Old Salt knows what he is talking about. The water change probably triggered the unusual behavior. Mine love to spawn after a water change. If I were you I would do the water changes every 2 weeks instead of every 3 to 4 weeks. If the water change seemed to help, it might keep your Angel from swimming on its side again. I do mine every week.

08-17-2005, 05:53 PM	#1
Gary Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 46 Posts: 25	Angel fish swimming odd Hi, I'm a first time owner of a couple of nice Angel fish that have grown very quickly and are now about 8 months old. I had 3, but one jumped out of the tank a few months ago. Anyway, one of the 2 seems to swim or hover in an almost horizontal position rather than up and down, as if it is on it's side. I should say that I have them in a 90 gallon tank that has been doing great with a wide variety of fish, including a few different kinds of tetras, like 3 Congo tetras, 8 black skirts, a bleeding heart, etc. I also have a pleco, one rainbow shark, a yo-yo loach, 2 gouramis, and probably a few more I can't think of right now. The fish get along fine and none seem to be bothering the "side swimming" Angel, except the other Angel does seem to pick occasionally at it, but no damage to fins or other noticeable problem. The water temp. is a bit higher than it normally is, but the tank is not in air conditioning, so it is about 82-84 degrees. Is this normal Angel swimming behavior or is there something wrong with it? Thanks for the help. Last edited by Gary; 08-17-2005 at 05:58 PM.

08-17-2005, 08:48 PM	#4
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,272	do you have a heater? if so you should be able to turn it down. i dont know about normal angel behavior, but i do know it may just be the oxygen. what are your water parameters? if something is off that may be causing the problem __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

08-17-2005, 09:04 PM	#5
Baby_Baby Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,823 Blog Entries: 1	check the disease section. u might find a site that'll help u __________________ "By avoiding the very thing you despise the most, by trying to be "different" by striving to be so "unique", you've become the sole and center of all that you held so high on the pedestal of disgusting mortality deemed society."

08-17-2005, 11:46 PM	#7
PatronusBestia Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 31	How often do you clean your tank (do water changes)? Angels don't like dirty water (nitrates, ammonia, etc). They are very sensitive to it. Also, you didn't say exactely how many fish you have in that tank. 90 gal is big, but if you put too many fish in it, it will still have a constant high nitrate and ammonia level if you don't clean sufficiantly. I can't really put my finger on the swimming on it's side. I've been successfully breeding angels since 5 years and never had that happen. My suggestion is to test your water for nitrates and ammonia and keep it both as low as possible. Don't wait until it gets high and then clean. Drastic fluctuations will be just as harmful. Best to keep up with a regular cleaning schedule and prevent problems rather than treating them. __________________ 125gal: 3 angels, 2 parrots, 1 bgk, 1 pleco, 3 cories 55gal: 3 creamsicle mollies, 1 scat 55gal: 2 angels, 1 pakistanie loach, 1 pleco 40gal: 2 koi, 1 shibunkin, 1 pleco 29gal: feeder guppies 29gal: 2 angels, 1 redtail sternella pleco, 1 bumblebee cat,1 butterfly pleco 20gal: 1 blue crawfish, feeder guppies, 1 killie 10gal: ghostshrimp

08-19-2005, 01:49 PM	#15
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,093	The Old salt is right. Is the angel fish feeding? If it is then that is a good sign. Some balence salts may help. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

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08-17-2005, 06:55 PM	#2
Stix87 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampa Fl Age: 21 Posts: 110	ouch lower your temp to 79-80. The temp isnt causing the problem for the angel but off topic that temp is a feww degrees to high, it may make your fish unconfortable also high temps mean less O2. The sideways swimming may mean it has parasites and its close to dieing. When it swims does it seem like its trying to stay upright but its struggling? Research some parasites. Angels are very prone to a certain kind of bacteria that most fish dont carry, this may be the problem.

08-17-2005, 08:39 PM	#3
Gary Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 46 Posts: 25	First - how should you lower the water temp a few degrees? Second - the angel doesn't really seem to struggle and returns upright on and off. I'll look up the parasite issue - is there a general treatment to recommend?

08-17-2005, 10:01 PM	#6
Gary Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 46 Posts: 25	I am due for a water change, but usually the only thing a little high is the nitrates, then I do the water change. The heater is actually unplugged, but it's been so hot in NE Ohio that the water temp. has risen over time and does not cool much at night. I guess I need an air conditioner for my fish! I'll see if the water change improves any behavior and keep an eye out........ any other thoughts??

08-18-2005, 01:14 AM	#8
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,534	The temp is fine for angels, but a bit warm for the other fish. Running the AC a bit more can help, as can blowing a fan across the open top of the tank ( cover with screen to prevent fish jumping ). As for the balance issue, if that's the only thing wrong with it, that is, if it seems perfectly normal in every other way, then there's nothing you can do; it's an inner ear problem, or as close to one as a fish can get. I'm in a big hurry at the moment, but look up the word "otolith" to see what I mean.

08-18-2005, 11:29 AM	#9
Stix87 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampa Fl Age: 21 Posts: 110	if u want to lower the temp turn on your AC and another thing u may try, i do this to keep my dogs water dish cool. Get a bowl or small cooking pot and freeze water, thaw the outside of the pot and the disc of ice will pop out, put the ice in the tank and it'll cool it down, Make sure the water is dechol 1st.

08-18-2005, 04:36 PM	#10
Gary Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 46 Posts: 25	I do about 30 gallon water change every 3 or 4 weeks and they seem to respond well. I did a change today and the angel has not been swimming oddly, but the new problem is that the 2 angels are "going after" one another and going into a kind of "liplock" and really picking at each other back and forth. It's not like one is "winning", but the side swimmer is breathing a little more heavy - when they break away, whichever swims away, the other chases. They don't look happy at all with one another and they have always been fine together. Any suggestions for the new problem? I have always heard 2 is not a good number, but my third jumped out as mentioned in my first post.

08-19-2005, 07:26 AM	#11
Jonno Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Devon, UK Age: 20 Posts: 511	Maybe you might have two males and they are defending there Territory and its stressing the other angel out so its swimming on its side.

08-19-2005, 08:08 AM	#12
Gary Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 46 Posts: 25	will one eventually "win" and kill the other? Should I get a couple of others so they have some company?

08-19-2005, 08:32 AM	#13
Jonno Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Devon, UK Age: 20 Posts: 511	either take one out or introduce some more till they pair up but the pair might be worse trying to defend there area!

08-19-2005, 01:40 PM	#14
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,534	STOP! Angelfish are cichlids like any other, and when they kiss like that, it's because they are sizing up each other's suitability as a mate. The liplock combat is part of their courtship. It's brutal, but it's their way. If you don't disturb them, and keep up the water changes, they might spawn soon.

08-19-2005, 04:01 PM	#16
Gary Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 46 Posts: 25	both angels have always eaten like pigs! They seem pretty good right now and the balance of the one seems much better, although the one WITHOUT the balance problem is getting a little "nicked up". They go after one another pretty good. I'll keep an eye on both - what are balance salts?

03-06-2006, 10:45 AM	#17
GumboJones Shrimp-O Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 24 Posts: 118	I am having the same trouble with my Angel Fish. He seems to be swimming on his side a bit and generally not having any sence of orientation. He even soemtimes flips and swimms upside down.

04-15-2006, 09:50 PM	#19
1of2 Fishy Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 47 Posts: 12	Old Salt knows what he is talking about. The water change probably triggered the unusual behavior. Mine love to spawn after a water change. If I were you I would do the water changes every 2 weeks instead of every 3 to 4 weeks. If the water change seemed to help, it might keep your Angel from swimming on its side again. I do mine every week.

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