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Last night my Angelfish started to have a panic attack, kept trying to leap out of the water and seemed very distressed. I put some stresscoat in the tank to calm her down a bit and this morning she's calmed down but she has got some scars on her from the ordeal and still doesn't seem quite right.
She's 8 years old, 20cm tall. She's in a 22gal, well planted with RP, 2 1/2' tank, running at 26 centigrade.
Tank params are:
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 10ppm
PH 8
Stocking:
2 Kuhli Loaches, 2 Hillstream Loaches, 1 Angelfish, 1 Saimese Fighting Fish, 1 Peppered Cory, 1 Clown Pleco, 8 Silvertip Tetra and 3 Platy's!

Has the angel fish always lived in water with a pH of 8? A high pH was my first thought. But if it's been living in it for 8 years, it's unlikely.

I had an Angel fish several years ago that started to act spastic and jump out of the water. The reason was sandstone rock I'd had in the tank for years. The tap water is really soft and was dissolving the rock, therefore raising the pH and GH of the water.

The PH has always been around 8, the only thing that has changed recently is that I've added a Clown Pleco and some Java moss to some existing driftwood. That was about 2 weeks ago though.
I haven't checked the GH of the water for a long time, will do tomorrow to see if that is way out.

PurestDJ,

I am not an Angel specialist, actually I know very little about them. But here are some thoughts:

I read that angel fish life to around 10 years and yours is reaching that age soon, so maybe it could be old age. An earlier end of her life than 10 years could also be brought on by having less than optimal ph values and living in solitude as she is your only angel. Also, she could suffer silently because she is in a tank that essentially is too small for her.

Just thinking up some possible reasons,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I agree, its probably old age. That is a long time for a fish to live.

You sure do have alot of fish in that 22g tank. Angels really need a tank atleast 18 inches tall...not sure how tall 22g's are. But, if its been in there for 8 years, then the tank size probably hasn't affected it.

I suggest getting rid of the kuhlis and adding more cories. I know you are asking about your angel, but really you're overstocked and some of your fish (cories and kuhlis) need bigger groups.
Just something to think about....

*Kristin*

Thanks for all the ideas.
Every time I post my stocking people tell me to get more cory's, but once again, the little (4 years old) guy is very happy on his own! He's become good buddies with the Khuli's and they hang out lots
As for my Angelfish, the tank is 16" tall so maybe a bit short for her but she gets about okay and I was getting the feeling the tank is quite full. I have 2 airstones in there (one long 8" and one round one) which helps increase the surface area and the rest of the fish are all very healthy...but I won't be adding any more for a long while.
I fear that it is age affecting my old dear, she's going a bit nuts.
I may try and find someone with a larger tank who can take her for her last years, but I fear the move might be too much for her?