Sick Angelfish - Possible Virus?

Hi all, I've got a poorly angel and I'm hoping you can help

I'll start with some basic info for you -

Tank is a Rio180 (3ft), heavily planted.
ammo 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 30-40
pH 7.4-7.6
temp 26c

Stock
2 adult angels (pair)
2 bolivian rams
2 juvi bn plecs
10 juvi sterbai corys
25ish espei rasbora

He's been "off" for over a week and his only symptoms are a very reduced level of activity (sometimes hiding), looking very washed out and constantly shedding his slime coat. It's hanging off in strings. Today his balance seems a bit off.

He's still eating and his poop is normal, not stringy or white. His mate is fine (and very ready to spawn) and all other fish in the tank seem healthy.

Unfortunately the only thing I have been able to find that sounds like this is angelfish virus which is a very scary thought indeed!

Hi Alm0stAwesome

How long have you had the fish?
Assuming you've had them a while, have you added any new fish recently?
Did the symptoms develop suddenly (eg overnight) or gradually over a period of days?
How is his mate reacting to him?

It's not at all certain that there is such a thing as "Angelfish virus", certainly about 25 - 30 years ago there were major problems with fish coming out of the far east and various names were applied to the problem, "discus plague" "angelfish virus" "Singapore angelfish and Discus disease aka SAD", "Angelfish Aids", etc. etc. I stand to be corrected, but I don't thing any definitive cause was ever identified, but protozoan & bacterial causes were implicated rather than virus.

If you've had the fish a while and not added any new fish recently, I would suspect a physical rather than disease cause, the most likely being that the female has been attacking him. Sometimes with pairs one turns on the other for no obvious reason. If you can isolate him in a separate aquarium, or by puting a glass divider in the main tank. If in the main tank, carry out a couple of 20% water changes over the next day or so. I would treat with myxazin, esha 2000 or melafix.

Hi! Sorry for the delay in responding - I've had some trouble getting on the site.

I've only had them about three weeks and they are the most recent additions.
The symptoms appeared gradually over a period of days.
His mate was harassing him quite a bit, wanting to spawn but she has stopped now and is just staying with him most of the time. In fact she is sloughing her slime coat a bit now as well.

It is certainly a relief to hear that this "angelfish virus" is unlikely to be the cause. I'm a member on another fish-keeping site as well and someone has suggested it may be chilodonella because of the lethargy and shedding of slime coat. This made me take a closer look, as, though he isn't gasping at the surface he does have an unusually small amount of gill movement, virtually none actually. So yesterday I treat the tank with Waterlife Sterazin. It treats gill and body flukes as well as internal parasites so I though it would be worth a shot.

He is still eating thankfully, though not with much gusto. I may be seeing what I want to see but he may be a little more active today and seems to be keeping his colour a bit more. Fingers crossed!

Please let me know what you think of this diagnoses and treatment - thanks!

Oh! I took a video of him the other day to show his gill movement and stringy slime coat.

The bits on him are just from my water - I bought some rubbish filter wool that doesn't stop the fine particles lol, suffice it to say the good stuff has been ordered!

The way he "spooked" at the end of that video makes me wonder if he's not simply nervous and the mucus is coming off where he banged himself.
To be honest, I don't see anything in the video to be too worried about. I'd do a few partial water changes, in case something has found it's way into the tank that isn't showing up on the test kits, and since you've started it, I'd finish the course of sterazin, and just keep a close eye on them.