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My angel is missing one of its gill covers. Its spits out food and then tries it agian and im wundering whats going on. I just bought it and presumed it was part of the coloration. Then i relized the other side had one. I think it came like this is there any way i can help this guy. THanks fish1 o yay ill post of pic of it as a guideline

Fish are sometimes born with just one gill cover or with both missing. It is a flaw. However, in very clean aquariums, they can live a good long life. It may not look pretty, but he can survive.

Spitting out food could signal a few things: He doesn't like it, or he is not well. If he is new in his surroundings, then it may take time for him to adjust. One way to see if he'll eat, is to buy something like frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp (not baby brine shrimp). I like the Hikari brand because they put it through a 3-stage sterilization process. I take one cube and thaw it in a cup for about 20 minutes. Then I take a toothpick (for just one fish), and swirl a few in front of him. If I have more fish, I'll drop more in. They do sink and bottom feeders usually like them. however, I find the cubes too big for all of my fish. You can cut them in half, or smack the cube with a hammer to thaw only a small piece. Don't thaw and use from the fridge or refreeze. This can make them sick.

If you can't find frozen try Hikari Freeze Dried products.

Let us know if he still won't eat. What you have to watch for is spitting food back up after several minutes (like vomiting), and pale, stringy feces. If you see this, then he may have internal parasites.

Does he look ill in any other way? How about his behavior? How is the environment (parameters)? What size tank is it and how many fish (and what kind) are with him?



Last edited by Cory_Di at 27-Nov-2004 15:06

Well he is new and i bought him that way sad to here is wont hell as hes a nice kio and i didnt buy him. I've tried bloodworms and he spits them out to then eats them again spits em out ect ect. I have a bad feeling he will die fairly soon but i will try to keep him alive as long as i can thanks for your help cory_di

You didn't mention what else was in the tank with him?

Angels like to school. If he has no other angels it could have something to do with it. If the tank isn't big enough, or has a type of fish that isn't compatible, it can make them strange.

Did you check the base of his fins for blood pin points?

Keep talking here and lets see if we can find something.


Last edited by Cory_Di at 27-Nov-2004 22:45

angles do fine in 1 or more.

anywho, angles dont school - unless 2 are paired off.

I have a danio that has 1 gill cover missing, and he's doing great.