Paracentropyge multifasciata - Multi-Barred Angel

[GSchiemer]

I think you've taken the right approach and attitude with this. You should be commended for keeping the fish alive this long. It's quite an accomplishment. I don't know anyone that's kept it longer. Having said that, the fish does show signs of pinching in the dorsal musculature, which, as I've said, is a sign of starvation. It can sometimes be reversed, but it's difficult even in hardy fish. Continued luck!

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

I was going to say basically the same thing. If one is going to post about keeping such a species, he's done it in exactly the right way. Nothing irks me more than a thread about a supposed success story (usually a few months) with a delicate or problematic species which distorts the reality of purchasing such a fish.

Having said that, and I don't want to be negative, but I think the fish is doomed long term. I can count one hand the number of angels I've seen that have recovered fully from this condition. Although the condition isn't really advanced yet, I think if it's not reversed ASAP the prospects of the animal are poor.

Good luck again Tarasco.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

Just adding my two cents along with Greg and Jim...

I agree that this thread is useful. Hopefully it helps someone who is already dead set on getting this fish, rather than inspiring someone to get one who hadn't thought of it before.

I really don't see the condition you guys are talking about though. Is it the head on picture that shows it?

Help an "angel newbie" out, would ya?

 

[Mouse]

nice fish

 

[Anonymous]

Good job on keeping this guy alive. I'm impressed. Even without the negative comments, I don't think I'd want to care for one. So, this thread was a preventative measure for me.
~wings~

 

[GSchiemer]

Just adding my two cents along with Greg and Jim...

I really don't see the condition you guys are talking about though. Is it the head on picture that shows it?

Help an "angel newbie" out, would ya?

Matt,

It's the area above and behind the eyes but below the dorsal fin. After long-term starvation or lack of proper nutrition, fish develop a "pinched" look in this dorsal musculature region. It's more obvious on certain fish than others. For example, it's very pronounced on butteryflyfish, especially when observed "head-on." I'm sure you've seen copper-banded butterflys that look as if someone took two fingers and "pinched" them above the head. It's important to look for this in all fish before purchasing them at the store because they rarely recover once they reach this point. Having said that, I have brought back a Powder-blue Tang and Fiji Rabbitfish from this state, but they were the exceptions to the rule.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

Greg,

How does one go about trying to get the fish to recover from this? Different foods? More but smaller feedings? Or, is it totally dependent on the fish itself?

Peace,

Chip

 

[GSchiemer]

Greg,

How does one go about trying to get the fish to recover from this? Different foods? More but smaller feedings? Or, is it totally dependent on the fish itself?

Peace,

Chip

Food, food and more food. With regard to tangs and rabbitfish, and even some angelfish, it means bulk feedings of seaweed. I like Seaweed Selects from Ocean Nutrition, especially the red macroalgae. I roll it tightly and present it in a suction-cup clip.

Greg

 

[Tarasco]

I can say that while the fish isn't fat by any means and I can see what Greg and Jim are pointing out, the weight lost since purchase has returned, albeit slowly. So I'm hoping that I can keep it alive, especially considering all the effort I've put into it. Part of the problem is that I have an aggressive feeder (hippo tang) that just goes nuts around feeding time, zooming all over the place and scaring the crap out of anything that gets in its way. I'm actually upgrading at the end of the year specifically for the hippo, and keeping my 90 for peaceful fish and (hopefully) this angel. Then I think there won't be nearly as much competition at dinner.

I'll try the seaweed selects again. The fish weren't interested in it in the beginning, but maybe things have changed. I'll let you all know.

 

[Tarasco]

Well I realized that I hadn't posted anything about what happened with this fish when I got a PM asking for info. Unfortunately I lost him along with all my other fish when I moved to San Diego in January. I'm still pretty angry about it, cuz if I had planned a little better, I think that I could have avoided it. Basically a slew of factors, including weather, transportation and cycling issues, contributed to the demise of my fish. I think that I got a little overconfident since my previous move with the tank went flawlessly.

Anyways, I put so much time into this fish, and it was doing so well before hand, that losing it was really tough. I gave up on keeping LPS, but there hadn't been any weight loss, and it was actually getting plumper. I kept this fish for a little over a year, and hope that this thread had some decent info for people. Thanks for following along.

 

[GSchiemer]

Sorry to hear about the loss of the fish, especially under those circumstances. It's quite an accomplishment that you kept it over a year.

Greg

 

[Tarasco]

Thanks Greg, I appreciate it.