Fishkeeping is indeed a huge responsibility. And just like any other pet, you will also get attached to your beautiful angelfish. So it’s only natural that you would be worried when you notice your Angelfish is not looking so good. Especially if your fish are dying suddenly and you can’t figure out why. So, why do you think angelfish might be dying?
Many factors affect the well-being of angelfish. Some reasons your angelfish might be dying are poor water quality, lack of oxygen in the water, overfeeding, and disease. Sometimes even wrong tankmates, overcrowding tanks, or stress can be the reasons behind it.
If you are new to fish keeping, dying fish might be a nightmare for you. So, here in this post, I will discuss my experience with you and what I do to prevent my angelfish from dying.
Before starting, let’s have a quick peek at the lifespan of Angelfish.
How Long Can An Angelfish Live?
Usually, many of us might not know this in the beginning. But there are two types of angelfish. One is freshwater angelfish which belongs to the cichlid family, and the other is marine angelfish, which belongs to the Pomacanthidae family. The lifespan of a freshwater angelfish is about ten years, while a marine angelfish can live up to fifteen years.
Generally, the life expectancy of each species of Angelfish is different. So, it would be best if you researched the lifespan of your specific angelfish species before you get one for yourself.
However, almost all have a common lifespan of around ten to fifteen. For your understanding, here are some species of angelfish and their lifespan:
- Pterophyllum scalare or common angelfish – around ten years
- Pterophyllum altum or tall angelfish – around ten to fifteen years
- Pterophyllum leopoldi or leopard angelfish – around five to ten years
- Queen Arabesque angelfish – around fifteen to twenty years
- Flame Angelfish – around five to seven years
So, the lifespan usually depends on the type of angelfish and the angelfish care. If you do not take good care of your AAngelfish, it might die sooner than its expected lifespan.
But sometimes you might notice your angelfish dying despite your care. Why do you think that happens?
9 Reasons Why Is Angelfish Dying?
Undoubtedly, angelfish are one of the best-looking fish you can get for your freshwater aquarium. So, when you notice them dying, it is a heartbreaking moment. But what is the real reason behind this?
While this is the common question that many aquarium owners ask, the answer is not that simple. There can be several reasons why your angelfish might be dying. And, here I have tried mentioning all of them:
Buying Unhealthy Angelfish
This is a common reason for dying angelfish. Especially if you are a novice aquarium owner, you might be unable to tell the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy fish. As a result, you might end up buying a fish that is already sick.
When buying angelfish, make sure to look for the following signs:
- First, the fish should have bright and clear eyes.
- Second, their body should be free of any spots or blemishes.
- Third, the fins should be intact and not ragged. Finally, the fish should be active and swim around confidently.
If you see any of these signs, it is best to avoid buying that fish.
Keeping Them In Uncleaned Tank
Cleaning the tank before adding the fish is a prerequisite for any aquarium owner. However, many people mistake adding the fish first and then cleaning the tank. Unfortunately, this often leads to the death of the fish.
This is because when you add fish to an uncleaned tank, they are exposed to high levels of ammonia and nitrites. These are toxic for the fish and can lead to their death.
So, make sure to clean the tank before adding your angelfish.
Adding Them To A Community Tank Too Soon
When you first get your angelfish, they are very small. So, it is natural to want to add them to your community tank as soon as possible. However, this is a mistake that you should avoid. When I was new to fishkeeping, I did the same mistake and lost most of my beautiful angels.
Although angelfish are fast growers, they need proper space, time, and food to grow. Keeping these fish in a competitive environment while growing up can halt the growth of your fish. So, it is best to wait until your angelfish are at least three inches in size before adding them to a community tank.
Unhealthy Diet
Many people mistake not providing their angelfish with a healthy and varied diet. As a result, the fish become malnourished and weak, which makes them more susceptible to diseases. Sometimes, you might not even realize you are underfeeding your fish until it is too late.
In addition, many also overfeed them, which can lead to obesity and other health problems. So, it would be best to strike a balance in feeding your angelfish.
You can feed them with the following:
- Omega one pellets
- Ocean Nutrition Instant Baby Brine Shrimp 0.7-Ounces (20 Grams) Jar
- Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms, 0.96 oz
Improper Water Conditions
Another common reason for angelfish death is improper water conditions. This includes everything from the temperature and pH of the water to the level of toxins present in it.
If the water in your aquarium is not clean and well-maintained, it can cause many health problems for your fish, including infection, disease, and death.
So, ensure that you keep the water in your aquarium clean and free of toxins.
Frequent Water Changes
While water changes are important for the health of your aquarium, you should not do them too often. This is because each time you change the water, you also remove some beneficial bacteria that help keep your fish healthy.
As a result, your fish can become stressed and more susceptible to diseases. So, ensure that you only change the water in your aquarium when necessary.
Overcrowding The Tank
Angelfish are active fish that loves to move around. So, if you overcrowd the tank, they will not have enough space to swim and explore. This can lead to a lot of stress and eventually death.
Moreover, angelfish are shoaling fish, meaning they like to live in groups. So, if you do not provide them with enough space, they will not be able to form a proper school, which can also lead to stress and death.
Inappropriate Tankmates
If you want a healthy and happy angelfish, you need to be very cautious about the tankmate you choose for them. This is because they are very sensitive to environmental changes and can easily get stressed out.
Too big tankmates like oscar fish can bully and intimidate them, while too small tankmates like neon tetras can end up as their dinner. So, make sure that you choose the right tankmate for your angelfish.
Diseases
Of course, diseases are one of the most common reasons behind angelfish death. Several diseases, such as bacterial infections, parasites, and fungi, can affect these fish.
You can prevent many diseases by maintaining proper water conditions and providing a healthy diet. However, some of them are incurable and can lead to the death of your fish.
So, these are some of the most common reasons behind angelfish death. If you notice your fish dying, you must find out why and take corrective measures accordingly. This will help you keep your fish healthy and happy for a long time.
I guess now you know the reasons why your angelfish might be dying. So, after knowing the causes, you would also want to know the preventive measures. Right?
How Can I Deal With Dying Angelfish?
Death is natural! Since angelfish have a very short lifespan, they will die before us. The truth is, there’s no easy answer when it comes to dealing with a dying angelfish. However, you can do a few things to try and ease your fish’s transition and help them live a comfortable life until their time comes.
However, a few of the ways that can help you to stop early death and give a quality life for your angelfish are:
Separate Sick Angelfish
The illness of angelfish is most contagious, so removing any sick fish from the main tank as soon as possible is important. This will help stop the spread of disease and give the sick fish a better chance at recovery.
In addition, keeping ill angelfish in a hospital tank allows you to monitor them better and treat them more effectively.
Increase Water Quality
If you suddenly notice your angelfish dying, the first thing you must do is monitor water quality. This is because a sudden change in water quality can be fatal for fish.
Ammonia and nitrites should always be at zero, and nitrates should be below 20ppm. If your levels are high, you’ll need to do a partial water change as soon as possible. You can also use a water conditioner to help remove any toxins from the water.
Monitor Water Temperature
Water that is too cold or too hot can also be fatal for angelfish. The ideal temperature range for angelfish is 76-82 degrees Fahrenheit. If your water is outside this range, you’ll need to adjust it as soon as possible. You can use an aquarium heater to raise the temperature or an air conditioner to lower it.
Give Them a Balanced Diet
A healthy diet is essential for all fish, but it’s especially important for angelfish. They are very sensitive to changes in water quality and will develop health problems if they don’t have a balanced diet.
You should give them high-quality flake or pellet food designed for angelfish. You can also supplement their diet with live foods, such as brine shrimp or bloodworms.
It would be best if you also fed them small meals several times a day instead of one large meal. This will help to keep their tank clean and reduce the risk of health problems.
Clean The Tank Before Adding The Fish
It would be best if you always cleaned the tank before adding new fish to your tank. This is because new fish can bring diseases that can quickly spread to other fish.
You should also quarantine new fish for at least two weeks before adding them to the main tank. This will help to ensure that they are healthy and won’t introduce any diseases to your other fish.
Regularly Test The Water
Angelfish is not the hardiest fish. Even though they can adjust well to some fluctuations, if you want a healthy life for your fish, you need to maintain a stable water condition. Moreover, by stable, I do not mean maintaining a tank with water parameters that do not go well with these fish.
Always maintain the water conditions with a temperature of 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit, pH 6-8, and hardness of 54 to 145 ppm. And remember that there must be any nitrites or ammonia in the tank since it is very hazardous for your fish.
You should test the water in your tank at least once a week. For this, you can use an aquarium test kit to test ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates levels. This will help you identify any water quality problems and ensure that it stays within the ideal range for angelfish.
Maintain A Qualitative Tank
Since angelfish are fast-growing fish, you need to keep them in a bigger tank that can provide them space to grow and explore. With a bigger tank comes greater responsibility. Like you must use a bigger filter, change the water regularly (not too frequently, though) and monitor the water parameters.
In addition to this, you must add live plants to your tank. Live plants will help to oxygenate the water and provide a natural food source for your fish. These plants will also help to keep the water quality high and prevent algae from growing.
Also, choose the substrate carefully, as some substrates can release toxins into the water. I recommend using gravel or sand.
Choose Proper Tankmates
One of the most important things you can do to keep your angelfish healthy is to choose proper tankmates. Angelfish are very sensitive to changes in water quality and can easily become stressed.
Angels should only be kept with other peaceful fish that are similar in size. Good choices for tankmates include other peaceful cichlids, such as kribensis or discus fish, mollies, platies, and swordtails. You should also avoid keeping them with aggressive fish, such as barbs or Oscars. These fish can easily bully and stress Angelfish, leading to health problems.
All these things will help you keep your angelfish healthy and prevent them from dying. However, even if you do everything right, there is always a chance that your fish will get sick or die. Fish are delicate creatures, and sometimes they don’t make it, no matter what we do. If this happens, don’t get too discouraged.
What To Do If Your Angelfish Keep Dying?
If you’re noticing that your angelfish keep dying, it’s important to take a step back and figure out what might be causing this. There are a few common reasons why angelfish die in captivity, and by addressing these factors, you can hopefully avoid any future fish fatalities.
- Few of the tips that you can follow when you notice your angelfish keep dying are:
- Keep your angelfish in a tank of at least 55 gallons, and make sure the water is clean and well-filtered.
- Use antioxidants and products like Methylene blue to help protect your fish from fungus and other infections.
- Add live plants to the tank, as angelfish thrive in environments with plenty of vegetation.
- Avoid keeping angelfish with other aggressive fish species. Bigger fish like oscar can eat or bully your angels and thus increase stress.
- Feed your angelfish a varied diet of live, frozen, and flake foods.
- Please keep them in a tank with water parameters similar to their natural habitat. Like water temperature of around 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, pH of around neutral (pH of around seven), and a hardness of around dKH of 12 to 18.
- Increase the temperature of the water gradually if you need to make any changes. A slightly high temperature can help them to fight against diseases.
You can help your angelfish thrive in captivity with a little care and attention!
How To Know That Your Angelfish Is Dying?
Several signs indicate your Angelfish is not doing well and may be dying. If you notice the following, it’s time to take action.
- Your Angelfish is lethargic and not swimming around as much as usual.
- Loss of appetite is another sign that something is wrong.
- If your Angelfish starts swimming erratically or upside down, this is also a cause for concern.
- Angelfish may also hide more than usual during illness.
- The fins may appear frayed or damaged, and the color of the fish may change.
If you notice any of these signs, taking action immediately is important. The sooner you can get your angelfish to a vet or aquarium specialist, the better.
Conclusion
Concluding up, if you’re wondering, “why is my angelfish dying?” there could be several reasons. Many factors can lead to fish fatalities, from poor water conditions to aggressive tankmates. By taking the time to understand what might be causing the problem, you can hopefully avoid any future deaths.
And if all else fails, don’t hesitate to consult with a professional. Professional help will help you identify any problems and give you the best chance of success in keeping your angelfish healthy and alive.
Thanks for reading!
Do you have any tips for keeping angelfish alive and healthy? Let us know in the comments below!
