Shark/angel Eating Problem?

[callaghan]

So I got 1 ID shark, and one tri colour shark, and 3 angels today, I'm used to just having mollies swordtails etc in my 10 gal

I got my 55 gal about a week and a half ago, put in stability and prime today then put the fish in.
everything is fine, the id shark likes to do laps around this one plant, im assuming thats normal? he does seem very hyper active, and when i first put the ID shark in the tank, he was at the bottom laying upside down for about 5 minutes before he came around.. but hes been rubbing on the glass aloooot
its a 55 gal though and hes about 3 inches, my tank is alot bigger than the one in the stores..

one thing though, i didnt feed them all day and now before im going to bed, i decided to throw a little bit of flake in there
when i did that, none of them seemed interested in it.

im wondering if the 2 sharks are just a fish that let it sink to the bottom, and then feed on it or not.. they are only about 3-4 inches

any help is appreciated
thanks
lee

 

[joshrm115]

Well the problem is easy ID sharks are really cat fish so they only eat from the bottom, and the other shark (witch is really a fish) is a middle dweller same with the angels and until they are 100 percent comfortable with you and there new surroundings
they are not going to the top of the tank to eat. So I would suggest getting some sinking food like blood worms or shrimp pellets. There diets should never stay constant. Thats like just eating hot dogs your hole life it would be ok for a while but you would get sick of them fast right. What about a cycle you said you have only had it for a week is it cycled if not that could play a big part in your fish not eating post some water stats water temp etc ..

 

[callaghan]

water temp is about 76
it was cycling for about a week, then i put in the "stability" product which is used to cycle your tank faster, along with "prime" which is the same kind of idea
it is a 55gal
6 plants
1 tree stump ornament
(still getting more)
gravel, about the size of a pea
a marineland filter penguin 350

tank has
3 angels
1 id shark
1 bala shark

every fish seems relaxed except the id.. hes non stop along the glass, up and down, up and down, doing circles along the glass with his nose
i have a plant against the glass and he will have his nose on the glass the whole time and go under the plant, then above, in circles over and over

the other fish, just seem to be hangin out, getting to know their surroundings but no concerns

 

[joshrm115]

Just so you know that starter bacteria is a wast but your all ready set up and your fish selection is ok. I used to Have a ID and it was the same way they are extremely active day and night, ill bet he will never stop. Angels and balas are a good mix but your only flaw is that you only have 1bala there are a schooling fish/shark and need a group of at least 4. So if you want him to stay happy you have to give him some friends and sense your tank is not really cycled for the first 3 weeks you need to do a 20%water change a day after that make it every other day for another weak and then you can just do a 50% once a week but if you want to keep all your fish alive water changes are key and any one on this site will agree with me. so good luck and keep me posted.

 

[mwood2]

I would highly recommend taking the bala back. The bala shark needs to be kept in groups and needs a 100+ gallon tank. Most sharks at a young age start off fine but as they mature they can cause a bloodbath from what I hear. I would suggest just the 3 angels for the time being. Also there is no replacement for the fishless cycle. The only other way to do it is with a fish and that comes with a high chance to kill them. Did you ever purchase that test kit? That is probably one of the most important purchases of a fish keeper. For now keep and eye on the tank stats. Better yet if you can, take the fish back and do a manual fishless cycle and from there add fish once you have researched them. Its best to research the needs of all your fish before hand. Also never listen to most fish stores about what you can have in tanks since most of what they give you is bull.

 

[shelaghfishface]

i would say the same as above.. take all the fish back and do a fishless cycle, they obviously not happy,if they were then they would be eating, that bala shark will be feeling very lost on his own and i dont think he will be strong enough to cope with the current state of the tank anyway.
£25 ( or there abouts) for the test kits, its over 800 tests and will be the best money you have ever spent, believe me
without this testing kit you`ll never have any idea whats going on in the tank.. tho floating fish are a dead give away.. you really should have got one before fish, without a test, you can do water changes till the cows come hom and still not be sure.

good luck,but remember we can only help if the advice you`re given is acted upon

shelagh xxxx

 

[Tolak]

As above, plus the id sharks are shoaling fish that like to be in groups of five or more. Add to that their potential size, 4 feet, and you have a fish that should not be sold to home aquarists.

Angels like it warmer, 80F minimum, mid 80's is better.

It's amazing how many shops have such poor advice about cycling. Running a tank empty for a week does nothing but run up your electric bill if you don't have an ammonia source.

 

[Spishkey]

API master test kits just £14,99 on ebay uk at the moment, think postage in uk is around the £3 mark

 

[thomasp9021]

yeah ive seen a ID shark just a year old and it was getting on 2 foot also angels are slow moving fish and should not really be kept with any of those fish as it will be out competed for food. thing with those cycle starter liquids is they go out of date just a few weeks after they are made so its likely to have no affect would follow everyone else's suggestion and take them back. and dont re buy the sharks believe me trying to get rid of a large fish is harder than you maight think

good luck mate and just be patient

 

[joshrm115]

Do keep in mind that fish grow to there tank and if you want to keep the sharks go right ahead ID and bala fish and not aggressive fish the and if your saying the bala shark needs a 100g minimum then your crazy. His fish are just baby's and they will be fine if he gets some more. Also ID shark is one of the slowest growing cat fish so you will be fine for a good while the only thing I can agree with is the fish less cycle but you could do a fish in cycle its not that hard on your fish if your constantly checking the water ammo-chlorine-Nitrite etc....... Fish in cycle is what everyone did be for the fish less cycle, and yes the fish less cycle is healthier and better for your fish but if the fish in cycle is done right with water changes you will be ok