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Angels and water current

3K views 15 replies 6 participants last post by  LisaC144 
#1 ·
So I have a striped Angelfish whose stripes fade in and out. He's got beautiful black stripes but most times they are non-existent. I'm not sure if this is normal with this type of Angel, but my guess would be no. I've tried to pinpoint when exactly his stripes fade and I THINK it happens when I have my bubbler on. It creates a current in the water from all the bubbles that I think he dislikes. My problem is, I can't have live plants in my tank right now to create oxygen because I have Silver Dollars that will eat the plants. Does anyone have suggestions on what to do? How much oxygen is needed in the tank for the fish to be safe? Should I just try a smaller bubbler in the corner to create oxygen but maybe less surface movement?? I have 2 other Angels in the tank that it doesn't seem to bother, but I guess I wouldn't be able to fully telll because one is a black lace and another is pure white. The striped Angel eats, swims, and interacts perfectly normal though. It's the fading stripes that just has me baffled. I'm not even sure if it's 100% the bubbles or not. Any suggestions at all?
 
#3 ·
I don'tt hnik that's it. I can literally see him fading in and out in front of my eyes. He can sit in the same spot and just fade. When I apporach the tank he gets a deep black, like trying to impress me with his colors (I am his source of food). It's definitely something he is doing himself, and not just the way the light is hitting him.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I might be tempted to test water and see that parameters are in order= zero for ammonia and nitrites and nitrates no higher than 20ppm.
I have kept angelfish in moderate current with no ill effects, I doubt the "bubbler" is cause for concern. Sometimes dominant fish will display darker coloration, and sometimes subdominant fish ,will fade in color in the presence of dominant fish .Fish also display best colors for pre spawning and spawning activity. Fish also change coloration when stressed due to aggressive tankmates or too much activity by other tank mates. If all water parameters are in order, then I would look for other source of possible stress . Perhaps silver dollars are a little too active for this particular Angelfish or as mentioned earlier. If it is a relatively new fish it just needs to become more comfortable in new surroundings. If water is in order,and fish is eating ,no stringy white or clear poo.,, Then I would not be too concerned. Do check the fins of the fish to see that other fish are not shredding them.
 
#5 ·
it is very normal for angels to fade there black bars in ant out with there mood and enviriorment, some color strains can fade some not. the silver dollars I would think they are not a good idea with angels for 2 reasons 1 they are so dang fast and when it comes time to feed they may not get all they need cuz the lightning fast sd taking it all. 2. they are vety aggresive at times to longer finned fish and can tear the crap out of them, but if you are not seeing this I wouldnt worry but keep a close eye
 
#6 ·
Water parameters are good. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and about 15-20 nitrates. I guess I can work on getting nitrates a bit lower, but it's not over the top. I've had this Angelfish for about 2 1/2 weeks and he actually acts fine behinds the changing of color. I have not been able to observe his poo though. Never caught him in the act ;-) The Silver Dollars I've had since they were very small, and actually they are even more docile than the Angels right now. They only hang out with each other and don't bother any other fish. The Angel in question has perfect fins, no one is attacking him or going after him that I can ever notice. The Silver Dollars are fast, no question about that. However when feeding, I also use sinking granules so the Angels can get food and also for my bottom feeders. None of the Angels have any problem getting right in the with the Silver Dollars though. I observe very carefully at feeding time. I also spread the food throughout the tank so the fish can spread out to eat.
 
#7 ·
Well guys I guess I have broken all the rules... LOL

my 75 gallon community tank had 3 big angels , 1 silver dollar, and 1 poncu ( Big )

My angels are very eager to eat when I raise the lid .... the silver dollar usually does

not come out till the feeding is almost over.. ( He has his own hiding place )

The current in this tank is moderate.. I have 2 hang on Marinland 1 being a 350 and the

other is 400.

MY ANGELS have thrived.... and are sill getting bigger....

But I put them in the tank all together... as a group.... I have bought 3 other ANGELS...

but they have had no luck.. each one has died or come up missing Yeah TOTALLY missing.

I purchased 2 WONDERFUL LOOKING solid BLACK LACE ANGELS... OMG I was so happy

looking at those guys... everytime I got the chance... ( never seen any harm to them )

and then one died.. ( so disapointed ) then the other one a day later..... floating...

since then I tryed a new MARBLE Angel.... again.... no luck... THIS ONE is just GONE...

MIA....... all I can say is the ones that are in my tank grew up together and are very

hardy and doing very well.......

thought I would just share my issues with you all....

Ron
 
#8 ·
Teammuir1, your silver dollar might hide until feeding is almost over because they are schooling fish and feel sarer in groups. 1 lonely silver dollar will not be a happy silver dollar. Any chance you can get him a couple buddies? You'll see a huge difference in him if he had some friends and he'll be much happier as well.
 
#9 ·
You are probable correct on the buddy issue....I might just do that... I would have rather had

more angels though.. ( lol ) I am not sure as to why my other ones didnt make it.

But a couple more SD might be the key to his hiding.

thanks so much for pointing that out to me...


Ron
 
#10 ·
I understand that you would rather have more Angels, but you have to think of what all your fish prefer. SD's are schooling fish. It definitely is the reason your SD spends so much time hiding. I've read several posts on SD's where once people added more, their solo SD came to life ;-)
 
#11 ·
Lisa,
I have a Half-Black angel who has a couple stripes and they fade in and out depending on her "mood". I think your angel is perfectly normal. As long as it is eating and acting normal and there is no sign of clamped fins or hiding then it's probably nothing to worry about.
 
#12 ·
Thanks Jeaninel. That makes me feel better. I did a pwc last night and observed him for quite some time afterwards. He acts perfectly normal. Swims well, interacts, eats. Everything is normal except his stripes. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything I could be doing better or differently if he was unhappy. He's so beautiful with his stripes, I just wish he'd show them more.
 
#13 ·
Silver Dollars

I brought home a couple more Silver Dollars for my loney one.... lol
today those guys are hanging out together and schooling together...
they really are enjoying themselves....
THANKS ALOT for your advise LISA......
 
#15 ·
ALREADY HAVE.. those guys are hanging out like there SOUL BROTHERS... lol
its cool.. I swear. I might even go get 2 more.. how cool would that be
to have 5 Silver dollars.... schooling together.....
I JUST MIGHT..... :-D
 
#16 ·
Mine do the same thing. I love watching them swim back and forth together. They're inseperable. I'd be careful about adding 2 more. I saw you have a 75g tank with now 3 Silver Dollars and 3 Angels. Remember that Silver Dollars get to be 6"-8" each and Angels about 6" each. That's 6 large mid-swimming fish in one tank. It doesn't look like much now because they are small, but wit ha healthy environment, they will grow. It could work with extra water changes, but it's something to think about.
 
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