There are no doubt angelfish are one of the most beautiful fish you can keep in your aquarium. But handling this magnificent creature can be tricky sometimes. Usually, angelfish are not so hardy. Thus, these fish might suffer from various problems. While stress is the most common problem in angelfish, it is quite hard to identify it. So, how can you identify stress in angelfish?
The common signs of stress that your angelfish might exhibit are gasping for air, glass surfing, avoiding food, immobility, and excessive hiding. Besides this, persistent health problems, constant bumping into objects or fish, rubbing against the substrates, and changes in their physical attributes also signify that your angels are under stress. Furthermore, flitting around the tank, chasing other fish, and clamped or flared fins are also signs of stress in angelfish.
In my five years of angelfish keeping, I have dealt with this problem several times. After a lot of trial and error, I have finally come up with some tips that might help you to identify stress in angelfish. So, follow me along to know them.
Do Angelfish Stress?
Yes! your beautiful angelfish do stress. Of course, angelfish are hardy. But unfortunately, these fish are not as hardy as you might assume. In fact, these fish are very sensitive to certain things, whether it be their tank conditions, tankmates, and health issues.
Thus, if there are any fluctuations in the environment of your angelfish, these fish are likely to stress. Don’t you think these beautiful creatures are like us? I bet you also feel nervous and stressed out when you enter a new territory or when your surrounding changes all of a sudden. Similarly, your angelfish feel the same way too!
But sadly, humans can voice out and express their stress, but these lovely little creatures cannot. So, it is our job as their caretakers to provide the best environment for them and ensure they are comfortable at all times!
So, how do you know if your angelfish are stressed?
How To Know Angelfish Are In Stress?
If you have angelfish, you will completely agree with me that angelfish are quite difficult to understand. More significantly, if you have just bought angelfish, a lot of their activities seem very confusing.
While I was new, these notorious creatures used to drive me nuts. Usually, I found their activities so common that I oversaw a few crucial signs. It was not until I lost one of my angelfish that I realized how important it is to know when my angels are stressed.
However, to help you not to follow my mistake, I have few signs that your angelfish might show in stress:
Excessive Hiding
Generally, hiding is a natural behavior of angelfish. When these fish want to rest or feel secure, they just hide inside the caves or behind the aquatic plants.
But if your angelfish is hiding excessively, it might be a sign of stress. This happens when the fish feels insecure or threatened by something in their environment. For instance, too much light in the aquarium can make them hide all day long.
Unusual Swimming Patterns
Angelfish are explorers. Usually, these active beast swims all over the tank and reach different places when in the mood. Although angelfish might exhibit various swimming behaviors from time to time, you can tell when their swimming is unusual.
For example, if your angelfish starts swimming erratically or too fast, it might signal that something is wrong. Also, if they keep bumping into the glass walls of the tank or other objects, it could indicate stress.
Unusual Aggression
Angelfish are peaceful fish. In the wild, these fish leaves in a group and won’t fight each other. But sometimes, you might see your angelfish behaving aggressively toward other tank mates or even toward their own reflection. When this happens, it is a sign that the fish is stressed.
Moreover, attacking other fish, fin nipping, and chasing are also common signs of aggression that stress angelfish display.
Loss Of Appetite
Usually, angelfish are voracious eaters. Your little guys can eat tons and will never feel fulfilled. Especially if you give them their favorite food, like live foods, angels will eat endlessly.
However, once in a while, your little buddies might lose their appetite, which is a sign that something is wrong. Although it is ok for your angels to stop eating once or twice, it is not good if this behavior becomes a habit. Moreover, avoiding food for a very long time can also be a sign that your angelfish are stressed.
Flitting On The Tank Floor
Flitting is a common behavior of angelfish. This is when your angels dart around the tank or swim erratically in short bursts. But if this behavior starts to become excessive, it might be a sign that something is wrong.
Furthermore, if your angelfish are flitting all over the place and bumping into things, it is a sign that these fish are stressed.
Loss Of Color
Angelfish are known for their bright and vibrant colors. In the wild, these fish use their coloration to communicate and camouflage.
But when these fish are stressed, they might start to lose their color. In some cases, the colors might become faded or dull. Moreover, you might also see dark spots on their body, which is a sign of stress.
Lethargy And Flashing
Angelfish are quite active fish. These fish love to explore and play with their tank mates. However, when they are stressed, they might become lethargic and stop swimming around.
Moreover, you might also see your angelfish flashing or rubbing your body against the objects in the tank. This behavior is a sign that the fish is trying to get rid of something bothering them.
Staying At The Bottom Of The Tank
Angelfish are known to be good swimmers. Usually, these fish swim in the middle or top of the tank. But when your angels are stressed, you will notice them just laying on the tank doing nothing.
Generally, stress makes your angelfish very suspicious, so these little guys become scared of swimming in the open. So, since the bottom of the tank is the safest place, your angelfish just stays there most of the time.
Glass Surfing
One of the most common stress behaviors of angelfish is glass surfing. When your little buddies are stressed, these fish will start to swim back and forth in the tank incessantly.
Moreover, you might also see them swimming erratically or banging their body against the glass walls of the aquarium. This behavior is a sign that something is bothering your angelfish, and they are trying to escape from it.
Gasping For Air
Angelfish are known to be good swimmers. But when these fish are stressed, you will notice them floating at the water’s surface, gasping for air. A stressed fish becomes more buoyant because of the increased production of stress hormones in its body.
This behavior is a sign that your angelfish are not getting enough oxygen, and they are trying to get it from the surface of the water.
Persistent Health Issues
As mentioned, angelfish are quite sensitive creatures. So, stress will make these fish more susceptible to diseases. If your angelfish are constantly getting sick, it is a sign that something is wrong. Moreover, if your angels are not responding to treatments, it is a sign that your buddies are stressed.
Despite your constant care, there are times when your angelfish get stressed. However, by knowing the common stress behaviors of these fish, you can easily identify when something is wrong. And once you know that your angelfish are stressed, you can take the necessary steps to reduce their stress and keep them healthy.
So, what are the stressors of angelfish?
What Causes Stress In Angelfish?
Once you notice signs of stress in angelfish, you would be very worried and want to know its root cause and how to treat it. Generally, your little babies might stress out because of the following reasons:
An Uncomfortable Environment
Your angelfish could be stressed because of the water conditions in its tank. The water might not have the right temperature or be too dirty or salty for your fish. All these changes will make your angelfish very unhappy and stressed.
Lack Of Food
Since angelfish are omnivores, aquarists mostly tend to overfeed or underfeed them. This is because they are not sure how much food an angelfish needs. However, both overfeeding and underfeeding will cause stress in angelfish.
Furthermore, sometimes despite enough food, the meal you give your angelfish might not be nutritious enough and this will also lead to stress.
Anxiety Caused By Tank Mates
Your angelfish might be stressed because of the tank mates it lives with. If there are aggressive fish in the tank, these fish might bully your angelfish and make it very anxious. Usually, sharing a space with bigger fish like Oscars, Jack Dempsey, or green terror usually will stress angelfish.
Too Much Competition
Another reason for stress could be too much competition. If too many fish are in a tank, your angelfish might start fighting for food or space. Although your angels are small, these fish needs a lot of space to explore, move around, play, and hide.
So, overcrowding the tank is a big no-no and will cause stress to your angelfish.
Inadequate Tank Size
The size of your tank also matters when it comes to stress. If the tank is too small, your angelfish will feel cramped and uncomfortable. This will lead to a lot of stress which might even kill your angelfish.
Lack Of Hiding Places
Angelfish need a lot of hiding places in their tank. This is because they are very shy by nature and get easily stressed when they feel exposed. So, if there are no hiding places in the tank, your angelfish will always be stressed.
Lack Of Oxygen
Since angelfish live in water, you might assume that these fish do not need oxygen. But you are wrong. Just like us, these fish need oxygen to breathe. If the tank does not have enough oxygen, your angelfish will start gasping for air, and this will cause a lot of stress.
Health Issues
While this is tricky! Stress can cause health problems and can also occur due to health issues. When your angelfish is sick, your fish will be irritated and anxious. As there will be a lot of things going on inside their body during health problems, this will lead to stress.
The most common diseases that can cause stress in angelfish are:
- fin rot
- ich
- swim bladder disease
- bacterial infections
Moreover, injuries and parasites can also lead to stress. Thus, if you notice any of these diseases in your angelfish, you should immediately take action.
So, these were some of the reasons which could cause stress in your angelfish. Observe your angelfish and tank properly and find out the root cause of stress. Once you know that, try to eliminate it as soon as possible to save your angelfish.
How To Eliminate Stress In Angelfish?
Many different types of stress can affect angelfish, and it is important to identify the signs of stress to help your fish recover. Usually, here are some ways that I like to use:
Check Water Conditions
First and foremost, you should check the water conditions in your tank. Ammonia and nitrite levels that are too high can cause stress in fish. Also, ensure that the water temperature is within the ideal range for angelfish, i.e., between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add Hiding Places In The Tank
Then, introduce more hiding places and plants in the tank. For this, you can add more live plants, driftwood, substrates, or rocks. This will give the fish a place to retreat when they feel stressed.
Remove Stressors From Tank
You should also remove stressors from the tank, like aggressive fish, too much light, or sharp decorations. Similarly, you should try to reduce the noise and light in the tank. Angelfish are sensitive to sudden changes in light and sound, so it is important to keep the tank as quiet and dark as possible.
Good Diet
Besides this, you must emphasize more on their diet more by providing high-quality food and supplements. And a final way to help reduce stress in angelfish is to increase the frequency of water changes. I like to do a partial water change of about 15-20% weekly. You can even install a filter to help with the water quality and increase the size of your tank.
Following these tips, you can eliminate stress in your angelfish and keep them healthy and happy.
Food:
- Omega one pellets
- Ocean Nutrition Instant Baby Brine Shrimp 0.7-Ounces (20 Grams) Jar
- Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms, 0.96 oz
- Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze Dried Daphnia for Pets, 0.42-Ounce
- Hikari Tubifex Worms Fish Food (0.7 oz.) [Set of 2]
Some FAQs
What Should I Feed My Angelfish?
Angelfish are omnivores, and in the wild, their diet consists of small insects, crustaceans, zooplankton, and plant matter. In the aquarium, a good quality flake food or pellet designed for carnivores should form the basis of their diet, supplemented with live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, or bloodworms.
How Often Should I Feed My Angelfish?
Angelfish should be fed once or twice a day, depending on the size of the meal and the number of fish in the aquarium. It is better to feed small meals more often than one large meal, as this will help to keep the water quality high and reduce the risk of digestive problems.
What Are The Best Tankmates Of Angelfish?
Angelfish are best kept with other peaceful fish that do not have similar coloration or body shape. Good tankmates include tetras, gouramis, mollies, and Rainbowfish.
Can Stress Lead To Angelfish Death?
Stress is one of the leading causes of death in Angelfish and can be caused by several factors, including poor water quality, aggression from tankmates, or a lack of hiding places. If your Angelfish are showing signs of stress, it is important to correct the problem as soon as possible.
Wrapping up
Stress is a common issue for fish in captivity, and it can seriously affect their health. If not properly managed, stress can lead to disease and even death. For this reason, it is important to learn how to identify the signs of stress in your fish and take steps to reduce them.
Hopefully, the tips in this article can help your Angelfish stay healthy and stress-free.
Do you have any tips for reducing stress in Angelfish? Share them in the comments below!
Thank you for reading! Until next time, take care of your fish and have fun!
