Silver Shark Problem

[SPO-00L]

Hi All,

Last week i purchased a silver shark. Its about 10 - 11 inches long. however i seem to notice that it rubs its face up against the side of the glass. when i inspected him this morning, he has actually removed skin from doing this..

Any idea's on how to prevent this? All ammonia / nitrate / nitrite levels are good. water temp is 29 - 30 constantly. ph is 7.4. Tank size is 4x2x2.

Cheers, Trent

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
Can you post your water readings.
is the fish producing excess mucas, or more slime coat.
Any discolouring on the fish, like a yellow or gold dust on the fish.
Check the gills to see if there pale with excess mucas, or red and inflamed.

Your temp high.

 

[SPO-00L]

80 Gallons (362 litres)
13 Fish total
- 2 x clown loaches (3-4" long)
- 6 x tetra's
- 3 x Rainbow sharks (3 - 4 " long)
- 1 x small yellow dwarf gorami
- 1 x massive silver shark

there doesnt seem to be any discolouration as such. Gills seem to look fine. i hand fed him before and there was no excess slime coat

I will get the master test kit out later on and give you the hardness levels etc if need be. I just went to the LFS and she told me it was more than likely that it was only because he is in a new tank etc. And only to worry if it starts developing a moss on the wound

 

[andywg]

I would worry that it is on its own. Silver sharks need their own company, or else you will see them being extremely skittish and rubbing up the glass.

 

[SPO-00L]

^^ Thanks for that.. ill go down to the shop tomorrow and get a couple more smaller ones to keep him company.

 

[SPO-00L]

ok, latest update.. went to the LFS yesterday to get some more sharks to keep him company (3 of them, about 2 - 3 inches big as they are the biggest they had)... but its still doing the same thing.. rubbing against the glass and splashing about. and the sore seems to be getting bigger.

 

[WILDER]

Have you checked your water stats.
Is the fish laboured breathing.
Where is the sore on the fish, is the sore through rubbing.
Any excess mucas on the fish.
Check the gills over and body of the fish.

 

[SPO-00L]

water stats are all fine. 0 ammonia 0 nitrate and very minimal nitrite. also added another 20 Litres of water to the tank today. Fish appeares to be opening and closing its mouth every second. The sore is on the front of the fish, about 6mm above the mouth directly in line with its eye (i hope that makes sense) there does not appear to be any excess mucas or slime on the fish

the school of sharks i bought yesterday dont appear to be hanging around the fish either.. i gather they are intimidated by the size.

 

[WILDER]

Have you got your nitrites and nitrates mixed up.
The sore abit worrying as they can get infected.
I go with what andy has said but worrying that its still doing it.

 

[SPO-00L]

ill do another test on the water tomorrow. If you like i will capture on video what he is doing and zoom in on the sore. not only am i worried about the fish.. but the tank is in my bedroom about 2 metres from my bed. and it actually wakes me up cause he swishes his tail out of the water and makes very loud splashing noises..

 

[WILDER]

Does he dart around the tank like something irratating him.
Bala sharks are very skittish fish.

 

[SPO-00L]

there was one particular rainbow shark which was bothering him and nibbling on his sore, but i took that fish out yesterday and gave it to a mate of mine. basically, he will swim up and down in one corner of the tank for about 5-10 mins (appearing to rub his nose on the glass), then go for a swim around for about a minute, then come back to the same corner and do it all again.

 

[WILDER]

Swimming up and down sides of tanks can also be stress.
Have you seen any signs of flicking and rubbing with any of your fish in the tank.
Want to rule parasites out.
Signs are.
Darting around the tank, even trying to jump out of the tank.
Flicking and rubbing against objects.
Laboured breathing, or gasping at the suface of the tank.
Excess mucas or slime build up.
Sores on the body of a fish.
Spots on fish, or yellow dusting on fish, white dusting, apaque slimey appearance, or a greyish white film on fish.
Cloudy eyes.
Pale gills with excess mucas, are all signs of parasites.

 

[SPO-00L]

he hasnt been rubbing against other fish in the tank, but one of the larger loaches come up every now and then and try's to play with him. he darts around when i approach the tank (i assume this is normal, i approach the tank as slowly as possible to try and not spook him). has doesnt appear to gasp for air at the top of the tank. there are a few scales missing from his body, i have removed a number of sharp rocks since to reduce this.

Assuming it is stress related, what would you recommend to combat / reduce it?

Cheers, Trent

 

[WILDER]

Don't no done everything you can by adding more sharks.
If he's carries on rubbing get back to the board.
How does the sore look?