I have two Bala sharks. One that seems to have developed a bright red area at the base of it's dorsal fin. The other one does not have this and I can't recall seeing it before on this one. Is it possible it is an injured area or is there some disease that may cause this? Thanks for any help.
Bala shark with red area on dorsal fin
- Thread starter Steve P
- Start date
Wyld-Fyre
Fish Addict
Could be their own form of stress if water conditions are bad. Have you checked out the readings recently?
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Wyld-Fyre
Fish Addict
Could be a viral or bacterial infection that had used the damaged fin to gain entry.
I've read from a source that a viral infection can be incurable. If it's bacterial then you could treat with a little salt. However I am unsure how the bala would react to the salt (some fishes are more sensitive to it than others), as too the other fishes in the tank.
Unfortunately, the article wasn't that good because it didn't tell me how much you should add. Also, no medications have been listed.
You could try getting the fish into its own tank and treat it with a little salt?
Sorry, this is about as far as I can go.
I've read from a source that a viral infection can be incurable. If it's bacterial then you could treat with a little salt. However I am unsure how the bala would react to the salt (some fishes are more sensitive to it than others), as too the other fishes in the tank.
Unfortunately, the article wasn't that good because it didn't tell me how much you should add. Also, no medications have been listed.
You could try getting the fish into its own tank and treat it with a little salt?
Sorry, this is about as far as I can go.
pnyklr3
Fish Addict
I had this happen to one of my balas. All of the other fish were fine (including 2 other balas) and water tested out good.
Netting was the only way to get a pic of my fish with a webcam
He didn't even put up a fight to be netted. It looked like red streaking (almost like blood in the fins) and my bala had it on almost every fin.
Sad to say that he didn't live very much longer. I hope you have better luck.
Netting was the only way to get a pic of my fish with a webcam
He didn't even put up a fight to be netted. It looked like red streaking (almost like blood in the fins) and my bala had it on almost every fin.Sad to say that he didn't live very much longer. I hope you have better luck.
zephyr
Fish Fanatic
i had that problem too !, but mine was on the tail...
after a day the bala started acting funny and swam around strangely, the next day my bala was dead.....
but the rest of the other fish (4x congo tetras, 2x pictus catfish) in my tank was fine and so was water parameters !
i was clueless of the cause ?
after a day the bala started acting funny and swam around strangely, the next day my bala was dead.....
but the rest of the other fish (4x congo tetras, 2x pictus catfish) in my tank was fine and so was water parameters !
i was clueless of the cause ?
amazingbioloboydp
Fishaholic
quite a mystery, i dont know much about bala's but it sounds like stress to me.
Mr Miagi
Veins are flowing with SW, now going back to FW!
When did you 'acquire this shark? Many balas are artificially coloured and apear to loose this once they grow. These are fast growing fish so the artificial colours dont appear as prominant in these fish as others once they grow.
littlefishie
I Harth Darth
If it's similar to pnyklr3's pictures, septicemia would be my guess.
pnyklr3
Fish Addict
Wow. Well, when I posted my thread and pictures when it was happening to my bala, no one mentioned septicemia. I did test the water, however, and I'm sure everything was fine (except maybe for high nitrates...was having a problem with them at one time).
My question would be: If this is septicemia and was caused by bad water conditions, would more fish have shown symptoms? If not other sapecies (who may be hardier), why not my other balas?
My question would be: If this is septicemia and was caused by bad water conditions, would more fish have shown symptoms? If not other sapecies (who may be hardier), why not my other balas?
Wyld-Fyre
Fish Addict
God! I was well tired last night after replying to the original question. I think Wilder, and now littlefishie, was right in saying that it was Septicemia.
Its caused by a bacterial or viral infection of an injury. The first picture shows this quite clearly, and with the area surrounding the dorsal fin showing more mucus than normal.
So, it may not matter if the water quality is good, the bala may still get infected.
Its caused by a bacterial or viral infection of an injury. The first picture shows this quite clearly, and with the area surrounding the dorsal fin showing more mucus than normal.
So, it may not matter if the water quality is good, the bala may still get infected.
Bacterial Disease
1) Aeromonas hydrophila (Bacterial Hemorrhagic Septicemia)
A) Gram negative motile rods
B) Effects many freshwater species and usually is associated with stress and overcrowding.
C) The clinical signs and lesions are variable.
The most common finding is hemorrhage in skin, fins, oral cavity and muscles with superficial ulceration of the epidermis. Occasionally cavitary ulcers (similar to A. salmonicida) are observed. Exophthalmus and ascites are commonly observed. Splenomegaly and swollen kidneys are common. Histologically, multifocal areas of necrosis in the spleen, liver, kidney and heart with numerous rod shaped bacteria are observed.
D) Diagnosis is rendered by culturing the organism from affected animals: Remember this is a common water saprophyte with a great variation in virulence in serotypes.
E) Disease is transmitted via contaminated water or diseased fish.
1) Aeromonas hydrophila (Bacterial Hemorrhagic Septicemia)
A) Gram negative motile rods
B) Effects many freshwater species and usually is associated with stress and overcrowding.
C) The clinical signs and lesions are variable.
The most common finding is hemorrhage in skin, fins, oral cavity and muscles with superficial ulceration of the epidermis. Occasionally cavitary ulcers (similar to A. salmonicida) are observed. Exophthalmus and ascites are commonly observed. Splenomegaly and swollen kidneys are common. Histologically, multifocal areas of necrosis in the spleen, liver, kidney and heart with numerous rod shaped bacteria are observed.
D) Diagnosis is rendered by culturing the organism from affected animals: Remember this is a common water saprophyte with a great variation in virulence in serotypes.
E) Disease is transmitted via contaminated water or diseased fish.
pnyklr3
Fish Addict
Well, if septicemia is the only reason the fins would be red like that, then I guess that is what my bala had. I saw no lesions or ulcers, but that's not to say that they weren't present. Ahh, well. Overcrowding is definately not an issue for me, because I'm about 1/2 stocked.
How is your bala doing now?
How is your bala doing now?
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