Angelfish Diseases

Diseases & Treating Sick Freshwater Angelfish

Even the most experienced angelfish breeders have to deal with angelfish diseases. Sometimes keeping the water at optimal conditions and doing regular tank maintenance isn't enough to prevent an angelfish from getting sick. Regular maintenance is however a good way to reduce the chance of any fish getting sick. Preventing diseases is always better than trying to cure diseases. The common freshwater angelfish diseases can be divided into 2 categories, bacterial and parasitic diseases.

Common Bacterial Diseases:

Cotton Wool Disease - Usually caused by low temperature, poor water quality or crowding. It can be seen as an expanding translucent layer on the skin of the fish that eats away at the skin. The edges often are bloody. The fish should be discarded if the disease is in advanced stages. If the disease is in its early stages it can be treated by using either 4 teaspoons marine salt to a gallon of aquarium water and potassium chromate or potassium permanganate.

Dropsy, Popeye, Bleeding or Red Streaks on Skin - These are signs of an internal bacterial infection related to Vibrios. At the early stages of this infection the fish can be treated with a few commercial medications like Maracyn-Two or Erythromycin.

Fish T.B. - This disease usually shows up as loss of color and swelling of the body. The fish may also have blood streaks and blood spots anywhere on the body. This infection is usually a result of poor water quality which lowers the immune system of the angelfish. There are no treatments for this infectious bacterial disease and the infected fish should be removed at first signs of it to prevent spreading to tank mates.

Common Parasitic Diseases:

Hexamita - Angelfish can pick up this infection when under stress from poor water conditions, shipping or other diseases. The infected fish will stop eating, hide and act listless. It will also have whitish colored feces. The best treatments for Hexamita are drugs with metronidazole.

Ich or White Spot Disease - Chilling and stress are common causes of outbreaks of white spot disease or Ich. The disease appears as tiny white spots on the skin of the host fish. The angelfish may also rub against tank wall and decorations. There are several commercial remedies available to treat Ich. Look for ones that contain formalin, malachite green or copper sulfate.

Velvet Disease - It can be hard to detect on the infected fish but it appears as a dusty golden film on the skin and eyes of the angelfish. The infected fish may also rub against the walls and decorations in the tank. Copper sulfate or formalin are both effective treatments for velvet disease.