Iridescent Shark Issues...

[ginormousman]

I am new to iridescent sharks. I have a 20g tank and just got 2 about 3in long. One is fine, it swims around a lot, normally towards the top, and is getting used to me mulling around so it is not too scarred. The other one has been laying on the bottom and does not move at all. Is there something wrong with the water? Should I do something? Or is this totally normal for one to be energetic and one to be dull and sleeping on the bottom all the time.

Thanks
Matt

 

[raptorrex]

I am new to iridescent sharks. I have a 20g tank and just got 2 about 3in long. One is fine, it swims around a lot, normally towards the top, and is getting used to me mulling around so it is not too scarred. The other one has been laying on the bottom and does not move at all. Is there something wrong with the water? Should I do something? Or is this totally normal for one to be energetic and one to be dull and sleeping on the bottom all the time.

Thanks
Matt

you are joking right???

id sharks, a google search says, can grow up to more than 1 meter, and are schooling fish needing to be kept in 5's or more. humm 20gallons for 2???

 

[ginormousman]

Dont worry man, they wont grow more than about 12-18 (after a looong time)inches, im not worried about that. I just wanna know if my fish is ok, since it hasnt really moved from the bottom. I know they get scared and lay on the bottom or hide, but he doesnt move really at all.

 

[t1tanrush]

Probably not enough room for him and he feels stressed not having the needed number to school with..

 

[rockerBOO]

I am not sure if you cycled at all or what not. If not, it could be they are getting poisoned form the water.

If not it could be getting stressed from not having enough room. Or not enough hiding places. Also they tend to turn into nocturnal animals. So maybe it is sleeping.

Besides all this. These sharks will get to 3-4 feet normally, probally within 2-3 years I would think, so though you think you have enough space now, it can easily get to 6-8 inches pretty quickly, and soon you will not have enough room. I have not seen any of these not get larger than at least a foot before they had to get rid of them.

 

[andywg]

Dont worry man, they wont grow more than about 12-18

Some fishermen disagree with you on their final size:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=11418

 

[raptorrex]

Dont worry man, they wont grow more than about 12-18

Some fishermen disagree with you on their final size:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=11418

kinda makes me point. and it could all have been avoided by a google search. 20 seconds!

 

[catxx]

id sharks aka pangasius (sp?) have a few different species, but the ones you find in the shop can easily push 2ft long.
they need a super long tank because they're so skittish, about 7ft long or more is best! i've seen one of these in a 5ft tank (temporarily) that was 1ft long, it would crash into the sides and panic if you looked at it..

it sounds like your tank isn't cycled properly, what are your water parameters?

 

[ginormousman]

Its a 7 month tank, 0.5 ammonia and pH of 7.3. temp 79F. Ive read that they grow according to their tank, and if the tank is small, they are small. correct?

 

[beesnees]

sounds like hes being poisoned you shouldn't have ammonia in the water. yes he will grow to the tank size kind of, he will suffer major problems internaly tho due to his growth being stunted. dont want to sound mean either get a bigger tank to re-home or take back to the LFS its pretty crule on the fish

 

[OohFeeshy]

Its a 7 month tank, 0.5 ammonia and pH of 7.3. temp 79F. Ive read that they grow according to their tank, and if the tank is small, they are small. correct?

Yeah- 20g tank, 30" (I think) long, 30" long pangasius. 'Snug' is the right word, methinks.

 

[raptorrex]

Its a 7 month tank, 0.5 ammonia and pH of 7.3. temp 79F. Ive read that they grow according to their tank, and if the tank is small, they are small. correct?

c'mon man you cant really believe that, can you? you may well stunt the growth of the fish, but it will not stop growing. if that worked you could catch a baby great white and keep it in a 2 foot tank and it would never grow!!! sounds silly when you say it like that! but that's what you are saying.

 

[ginormousman]

also, the tip of his nose is white, is it from bumping into the glass? will he get sick?

 

[Triggerobsessed]

Your best bet is to take them back to the store, and let your tank cycle longer. After you've cycled you can put some smaller fish in your tank. If you really love these fish though, take your current ones back and buy a much bigger tank. Cycle it, then you'll be ready to keep this type of fish.

 

[Creature Seeker]

It's an old wives tale that they grow to the size of their tank.

They grow very big very quickly.

They also play dead when scared which may be the reason why one of yours is acting strange.

...