Today i got six small rummynose tetras to add to my tank. I came home later on to find this:


i've isolated the rest of the tetra's. this is the first time i've had this sort of problem with my bala, who is about medium sized.

anyway, i've overall been having compatibility problems in my tank, and would like some advice.

i have a few corydoras (i've lost a lot of these lately)
the bala shark
a medium sized featherfin catfish (who i was advised today might be responsible for the cory's)
a golden eeltail catfish
a few neon tetra's (never been attacked by my bala to date)
and a small whiptail catfish
[my tank is 3 foot]

when i find the dead cory's, they are either just a skeleton or seem to be missing their outer layer of skin...

any advice on how to better stock my tank would be appreciated

if it fits in the mouth then
for ex==i have guppys and angels,have a floating trap with seven 2day old guppys,my angels also laid eggs hatched then got to free swimming and all but 1 dissapeared,caught the 1 left and put him in the flaoting trap with 2 day old guppys,,,boom in one second the guppy gulped down the loner fry


lose the bala shark

hi ritamay
im new to this myself, but i also keep one bala shark with neons, and some have gone missing, but they were also in a tank with a siamese fighter so he got the blame, the sf is now in his own and the bala in with the neons and other fish, no more have gone missing, but i was told when i asked about my neons going missing that it maybe the shark as they will eat them if they fit in their mouths..also i found out that the sharks shouldnt be keep as singles, so i am going to put mine back into his 4ft tank (taken out in emergency) and get him 3 friends (bala),maybe if you do similar he wont be frustrated and maybe?? will stop eating them, tho maybe hes likes eating them now! good luck tho, as he will feel ashamed im sure if he ever sees that photo!lol

What's the size of the tank?

Also.. stats would help us to tell you where things could be going wrong?


Oh and ps-

I used to have a Bala shark before i returned after finding out what size tank they need... I used to feed them Frozen foods, including shrimp. I once found my shark looking very much like yours, infact it was a piece of shrimp stuck in its mouth! Do you feed live food and have you counted the fish?>

This post has been edited by rossyboy: Feb 8 2008, 02:43 PM

my tank is three foot.
i feed them bloodworms, sinking pellets and flakes.

ahh i'm not sure about nitrate and what not, but my water is very alkaline, which i've been trying to fix by using rainwater (quite acidy) during my water changes.

i also noticed today that my whiptail has had its tail bitten down to a much shorter length.
i don't think its fin rot.


...should i get rid of the bala shark and featherfin?
i don't really mind too much about the shark, but i love my featherfin and my corys. if they are incompatible than i'll have to swing one way i guesss.