Sick flame angel, reading 05/20/08
Hi everyone I've been given your contact details by a member of another forum at everyone is at a total loss as to what's wrong with my flame angel.  My tank has been running for 7 months. It's a 125 litre 3 foot tank. Tank mates are two tank bred clowns, one pyjama wrasse, one royal gramma, one flame angel. I have 17kg LR. Ammonia, nitrite bothe zero. nitrate is 5ppm. SG is 1.025, pH 8.2, temp 26C.  Exactly two months ago today I got a flame angel who was fine until approx 3weeks (25/4/08) ago when all of a sudden he sopped eating,
<... not quarantined>
started hiding and when he made a brief appearance at feeding time he came out of hiding appearing grey around the gills with smaller eyes (giving a sort of piercing look appearance). He looked at food, let it go past then returned to hiding. This went on for a week then suddenly on 1/5/08 he was back to perfect again-eating like pacman, swimming everywhere.
<... do you have a notion of where this fish/specimen was collected?>
He's been fine until 15/5/08 when the exact same thing happening. He's still like that now. I hope he gets better again like last time but wondered what could it be and can I help?
<... what could be? Apparently this individual had problems from the time prior to your acquisition... might well have not been fed, ammonia et al. burned...>
I can find nothing on forums, in books etc so I'm totally lost now. On another note his swimming is slow and cumbersome when he does come out.
There's no bullying, he just seems sick. It coincides with nothing I can think of, nothing was added at around these times and water parameters have remained constant since he was introduced.
Thanks for any help
Pete
<... Please read here: Mmm, can't bring up the Indices on WWM... see my article there on Centropyge loricula, the subFAQs files therein. Bob Fenner>

Flame Angel swimming in circles -05/09/08
Dear WWM Crew,
First of all I would like to thank you for your continuous support.
<Sorry for the delay... when Bob's away, everything gets a little backed up.>
I have a 90G reef system, where I have different types of corals, two anemones, 2 perculas, 1 Yellow Tang and 1 Flame Angelfish. This last one has been swimming in circles for the last two days, his lips are turning white and has been rejecting food these last days. I would appreciate if you can help
me find out what the problem is and what are your suggestions in terms of medication? Do I need to remove him from the MT to a QT for medication? If antibiotics are needed, what kind and dose?
<How long have you had the fish? If it's a recent addition, it may have been injured/poisoned/sick when you got it. If you've had it for some time now, this it's a little more mysterious. Bacteria infections can appear white or milky in an infected area. Swim bladder problem might cause the strange swimming. Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/AqBizSubWebIndex/fishdisho.htm
Thank you and best regards,
<Sorry I can't diagnosis the problem more specifically. Even without knowing what the cause is, when a fish is sick, it never hurts to being extra diligent with water quality maintenance (UV sterilization and/or diatom filtration might also help just in case of parasites).>
Oscar
<Good luck,
Sara M.>

Cenropyge behavior in small tank   3/1/07
Hey guys,
<Hello Kevin.>
  I added a Flame Angel to my 30 gallon reef tank which also contains a Percula Clown and a Royal Gramma.
<On the small side for a Centropyge.>
I introduced him on Sat and he hid in the rocks all day.
<Nothing out of the norm. at this point.>
  He started to come out of the caves, slowly and progressively.
<Good.>
  He has not actually eaten any food yet, though has been picking at the rocks
<I would not be concerned yet, interest in his/her environment is good though.>
and taking in the shrimp and then spitting it back out.
<Again I would not worry yet, and don't offer the same foods go with a variety.>
He has appeared relaxed and has interacted peacefully with the other fish.
<So far so good then.>
Today I came home and he is swimming frenetically around the tank, picking at all of the live rock, and also the other fish.
<By frenetically do you mean he was pro-actively investigations...becoming comfortable with his new niche or "frenetically" in a flighty, "scared" overactive nature? As for picking at the other fish, this is not uncommon w/ Centropyges in guarding their immediate territory and this tank is rather small.>
This sudden change of behavior has me very concerned.  What do you think?
<I think I would be concerned for the other tankmates in this confined area.>
Kevin
<**AJ**>

Flame Angelfish Eye Damage - 10/15/06
Hey Crew,
<Hey.>
I just ordered four flame angelfish for a research project, and within a week in the quarantine tanks three have developed a puffy, slightly cloudy right eye. Common literature says that if one eye is damaged the injury is likely mechanical in nature, although I find it to be one heck of a coincidence if three fish developed the same ailment. <My thinking as well.> Any ideas on what the cause could be? Could this be bacterial in nature? <Could be.> If so, could you suggest a treatment (Maracyn?)? Thank you for your time.
Kevin J.
<Well... I am curious, are these "new" tanks or well established? If not established, with working biological filters, then these fish are proverbial canaries in a coal mine for your water quality and the eye swelling is a likely indicator of other non-desirables like ammonia and nitrite. Would pay to check the water and change if necessary.
Cheers, J -- >

Flame Angel beh. - 5/2/2006
Hello,
<<Hello Jeremy.>>
Great site!  I am *planning* my next tank; leaning toward a 50g breeder, with 29 gal refuge. I really like the Flame Angel, and would like a mated pair of black/white clownfish too. The other fish I would like is a Mandarin Dragonet.
<<This tank is much too small for a dragonet.>>
The only other fish to have in the tank will be a Yellow Clown Goby, which is the only fish in my current setup.
In your guide on Flame Angels you say that anemones will become fodder for the Angel; is this a hard and fast rule?
<<Is not my guide, but certainly fish differ in personalities.  It is quite a risk, though.>>
I would love to have my clowns host in an anemone, but only if everything will thrive.
Also, would the clowns, angel, and mandarin have aggression issues?
<<I would not add the mandarin.  The clowns and angel will likely be fine.>>
Thank you!!!
Jeremy
<<Glad to help.  Lisa.>>

Flame Angel Hiding   03/07/06
Hello,
<G'morning>
My flame angelfish is either hiding in the live rock, or dying somewhere in the live rock, and I can't figure out why.
<Mmm, is generally quite a shy species... and doesn't like being in crowded quarters or with aggressive tankmates...>
I purchased him at my LFS as a juvenile the end of January. He spent six weeks in a quarantine tank disease
free, and appeared to do fine. I drip acclimated him for 3 hours before placing him in my 46 gal FOWLR tank. He started eating right away and was
constantly grazing on the LR throughout the tank. He did fine for a week, but on Wednesday morning I noticed he was no where to be found.
<As stated, not uncommon behavior>
The tank is occupied by three green Chromis, a royal Gramma, and a blood shrimp.
<These should be fine together... but your system is too small...>
I did notice that when I added the angel he immediately drew out the blood shrimp.
<For a requested "cleaning job" likely>
The shrimp hides in the back of the tank under a rock. I can not spot the angel anywhere from the front or the sides of the tank, so I'm
left to believe he's somewhere under a rock in the rear of the tank. Is it possible that he's stressed and hiding, or is his fate not so good?
<I'd monitor ammonia... try feeding some small, meaty foods in the early morning, later toward lights out time... and not panic. This fish will show... one way or t'other. Bob Fenner>
Your help is sincerely appreciated!
Art

- Angel & Hermit Interaction -
Hello and thank you in advance,
I have had a Flame Angel about a week now, and he has acted quite odd toward the hermit crab I have. The Flame Angel frequently swims up to the crab and presents his side to the crab. It does not appear to be hostile, it really seems to be as an offering. The Flame will nearly lie down on the substrate in front of the hermit crab. It almost appears as if the Flame expects a cleaning or something... but as far as I have read up on this I don't see any reference to this behavior in Angels and other species. Any ideas? 
<Not really... does sound like the fish is looking for a cleaning, but honestly it's pretty much impossible to know the true motivations of fish.> 
Should I be concerned? 
<No more than any other day... always want to observe your tank's occupants, make sure all are in good health, etc.> 
The crab hasn't yet, but I worry he'll grab the Angel one day for lunch. 
<That's a big thing to take down for a hermit crab... doubt this will happen.> 
The Angel seems fine otherwise. 
<Good.>
Thanks again, Lance
<Cheers, J -- > 

Flame Angel
Hi, I have had a Flame Angel for about a month in a 30 gallon fish-only tank. 
When I got it readily accepted Pygmy Angel Formula. Now I noticed he doesn't 
swim around as much. And when he swims he leans toward his right side. Can 
you help me? He has no bullies in his tank. Thanks
>>
Hmm, it may well be that the "bully" in the tank is the Flame Angel (Centropyge loricula) itself... A thirty is too small a system for this species... 
Do you have much live rock? This would help to make the system more acceptable and psychologically fit... otherwise, if you can't move the animal to larger quarters, all you can do is wait and hope it adjusts to being in your thirty.
Bob Fenner

New tank
Hi Bob. 
<Anthony Calfo in your service>
Great page! I moved my 120 reef tank in November to our new house. No losses. The problem is that the behavior of my Flame Angel and Royal Gramma has completely changed. The Angel keeps scaling the walls of the aquarium. Up and down and all around right next to the glass. 
<often caused by a reflection (mirror effect) on the glass from the new aquarium lights and/or room lights... or just as often from weak water flow in the tank (upgrade the tank but not the pumps?)>
The Gramma lays on the sand a lot. Did I give my fish brain damage? 
<no idea here... not even a wise crack <smile>>
Thanks!
<always welcome, Anthony>

Freaky Flame Angel?
I've had this flame angel now for the past 3 months and about a week ago this fish seems transfixed on one side of the tank for some reason. Swimming fast around the tank, eating when food is presented as normal but he continues to return to the same spot. He swims up and down back and forth on the left side pane of glass? It is driving me nuts that this fish does not
behave as he normally did in the tank? What gives? I darkened the side of the
tank thinking the light somehow was showing his reflection and he all of a sudden noticed himself. This however has not deterred him from this behavior. Has anyone ever heard of this behavior and what does it all mean?
<Well, it's really a matter of speculation...Let's face it- fish in captivity simply act differently than they would in nature. Some erratic activity can be a result of water chemistry issues, such as ammonia, low pH, etc., or even a toxin of some sort. Most likely, the behaviour is some sort of reaction to an environmental stimulus. Do check water chemistry just to make sure that nothing is out of whack here>
As I said he acts normally at feeding time but continues this fixation to that side of the tank. Any suggestions on what this is and should I need to be concerned for some reason? I want this to stop as it ticks me off to see this fishes natural behavior change all of a sudden with no apparent reason why he is behaving this way. Please if anyone knows what's going on and how to stop this it would be greatly appreciated. Regards,                                                       Craig
<Well, Craig, as I indicated above, it may be an environmental issue, so do check that out and correct as necessary. Review basic husbandry issues, population/compatibility, lighting, etc. Look beyond the obvious. There is a good chance that this behavior will go away in time, as long as it is not environmentally caused. Keep an eye on things here. Good Luck! Scott F><<Likely reacting to its own reflection... RMF>>