We are new to Fish Channel.  Currently have a Gourami and Angel fish in a 10 gal tank.  One Gourami and Lyre tail molly died.  Molly had fin rot and spots, and the Gourami just slowed down and died.  Things look stable now, but Angle fish suddenly has split down dorsal fin.  What should we do for this?  Water tests good.  thanks

That said, welcome to FishChannel.  I'm sorry you lost some fish, but we'll do what we can to solve the problems.

First off, you're running a ten gallon setup with an angelfish in it.  This is basically all I know about your tank.  So you'll need to provide a bit more info.

Are there any other fish in the tank besides the angel?  If so, what species, size, and how many?

What size is your angelfish?

Do you notice anything else odd about its split fin?

What kind of filter do you have?  How often do you change the filter cartridge?

How often do you do water changes, and how much water is changed with each one?

What are the values of your pH, hardness, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and current temperature (in numbers).  Telling us that the water tests "good" is useless because "good" is a matter of opinion, especially if you get your water tested at a local pet store.  We always need values in numbers.  If you get your water tested for you, ask for the results to be recorded or to watch the tests being performed so you can collect the information yourself.

So reply with those questions answered and the folks at FishChannel will help you any way we can.  Good luck!

I'm going to move this post to the Beginnner's forum -- I'm sure you'll get answers there.

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Again, how big is the angelfish?

You shouldn't be keeping an angelfish in a ten-gallon tank.  Angels should be kept in no less than 30 gallons and preferably 55 or more.  They grow large and predatory.  Move him to a larger tank or do not keep him at all, as he will eventually die in your ten-gallon from poor water quality and the massive amounts of stress induced by stunting. 

The split fin is nothing to worry about.  This can happen from overstrain or agitated swimming.  He will regrow it rather quickly.  Watch along the beginning of the split, where the fin tissue has come apart, and you will soon begin to see it knit together.  Younger fish especially have remarkable powers of regeneration and will even regrow entire ends of fins.  If you've ever seen a fish recover from fin rot, you'll understand what I mean.

Nonetheless, your fish does have an injury which will make it more susceptible to infection.  Your filter change schedule and water change schedule are good, in my opinion.  You also do not need to medicate your tank; medication is dangerous and doesn't need to be done half as often as your pet store will tell you it does.  But until the fin is healed, I'd recommend more frequent water changes.  Up it to 25 twice a week, or do 15 or so three times a week, just to eliminate as many pathogens from the water as possible. 

However, you need to remedy the situation of keeping the angel in the 10g tank.  I mentioned agitated swimming patterns as a contributing factor in the split fin, and the overconfinement of the ten-gallon fish tank is likely factoring into that.  A tank that small should never be used to house angelfish, even as a quarantine measure. 

I take a rather serious tone with posts involving overcrowding, even when the topic is not of an emergency nature.  Please forgive any raised hackles and prickling feelings that my bluntness may cause.

Niki.