Bala Shark Ill?

[JohnBoyMinster]

Hi All

i have three Bala Shark and the smallest one has this morning seemed to wake up with a red dot about the size of a 5 pence piece on his insides, directly under his dorsal fin, where i imagine his stomach would be.. he also has a touch of red on his fins... he is swimming round fine and seems pretty lively... should i be worried??

Thanks

John

 

[Jenste]

three balas?
what size tank do you have them in? They need a massive system. They become very territorial and aggressive - if your tank is too small then they will bicker and fight until only one of them is left alive to claim the territory as all theirs



what is the full size of the tank - gallons and dimensions, and what is the full stocking list?

 

[JohnBoyMinster]

three balas?
what size tank do you have them in? They need a massive system. They become very territorial and aggressive - if your tank is too small then they will bicker and fight until only one of them is left alive to claim the territory as all theirs



what is the full size of the tank - gallons and dimensions, and what is the full stocking list?

With all due respect i didnt ask for advice on my set up, all of my fish are getting on fine, one bala just has this problem...

 

[Jenste]

well with all due respect, if your setup is unsuitable you are probably seeing results from the sharks maturing and marks from fighting.

I didn't ask about your tank for nothing. it is a very relevant question regarding a factor that could be effecting your sharks.

In a post you made in april....you said you have a 13 gallon tank - - this is not the one the sharks are in, is it?

 

[M.R Otter]

Are the bala sharks alone in that tank? What are the tank's water chemistry? Jenste is right... Bala sharks grow large, and they will get territorial and will harras each other to death. They might be peaceful while young but they will gradually get more aggressive as time goes by.

 

[JohnBoyMinster]

Are the bala sharks alone in that tank? What are the tank's water chemistry? Jenste is right... Bala sharks grow large, and they will get territorial and will harras each other to death. They might be peaceful while young but they will gradually get more aggressive as time goes by.

The sharks are no more than an inch and a half long and as the post i made in april stated, they are only in here until i get a larger tank later in the year, i know they grow large etc etc etc and they will be in a bigger tank as soon as they need it.

Anyway, the fish do not harrass each other at all, they group fine and are very placid. If the water chemistry was out would just one fish be affected?

 

[JohnBoyMinster]

Oh and yes, 13 gallon tank with three 1 and a half inch Bala's in.

 

[Jenste]

only trying to help - but your tank is your problem. its great that you are going to get a bigger tank later on....but the fish are growing now, and you are seeing the side effects of their naturally maturing territorial tendencies and aggression. the fish grow on a schedule planned by their innate nature, not when the tank they NEED arrives.

I would say it is safe to assume that the limited space is causing problems with the fish's natural desire to stake out a territory. Confrontations are probably happening - I doubt you can stay in front of your tank 24/7 to watch them (even though many of us wish we could lol)...they are probably starting to have small squabbles, probably most happening at night.


i understand your desire to keep these beautiful fish, but it may be more fair to their health and happiness to take them to an LFS and just get fish that can thrive in the tank you currently have

 

[shelaghfishface]

these fish are quite prone to septicemia.. sadly theres not a lot you can do about it, they do need very large tanks as they dont arf move!!
a photo would be helpful if you could get your hands on one
shelagh xxx

 

[SlyPolak]

Yea, that's what it sounds like to me with the red markings on body and fins.(septicemia) A pic would help ten fold though

 

[JohnBoyMinster]

i've looked up septicemia and yes, that's what my fish has hopefully he will pull through.

Thanks for the other advice - all taken on board, new tank will be on the way on payday i think.

 

[SlyPolak]

If youre in the US, get Maracyn 1 and 2 , full dose of each for 10 - 14 days with 50% water changes daily. Directions on box are trash, just follow directions on box for 1st day. Then do atleast a 50% water change daily before putting in that days dose.
Thats exactly what I did for my opalines when they got septicemia and they pulled through 100%
And yes they get big but please try to get a bigger tank... I hate stores selling them while theyre 1 1/2 inch telling you they are ok for a small tank while eventually they get BIG--- anything to make $$$ i guess.

Good Luck

 

[JohnBoyMinster]

Hi all (again)

Just bought a 90 Gallon Tank on eBay - picking it up next weekend - will pop some pictures on here when it's in to keep you all happy!!!!

Stocking list will be;

3 X Bala Shark
2 X Kissers
4 X Neon Tetra
1 X Pleco

 

[Jenste]

sounds much better - - except that the neons will become snacks even while the sharks are young. you may just want to skip the tiny tetras


PICS PICS PICS

 

[M.R Otter]

Neon tetras will be a nice meal for the ball sharks..... If you want some tetras in the tank then I suggest black tetras or red eyed tetras.