We just started a fish tank a couple weeks ago. We have a few bala sharks and they all have some spots they almost look like air bubbles on them. The biggest one doesnt seem to be acting right. Anyone else have this problem or know what it is
Spots On Bala Shark
- Thread starter colts69
- Start date
How big are the spots? It could be a case of "white spot" which is a paracite on your fish. Are you able to take any photos?
It is a common problem and should be treated immediatley otherwise you will start losing fish.
Have a read of this site and visit your local pet shop for some treatment solution if you think you have white spot in your tank.
http
/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php
It is a common problem and should be treated immediatley otherwise you will start losing fish.
Have a read of this site and visit your local pet shop for some treatment solution if you think you have white spot in your tank.
http
/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php
If they look like grains of sand/salt/sugar, it's white spot (AKA Ich).
If they look like bubbles under the skin, it could be gas bubble disease.
If they look like tiny bubbles on top of the fish, it could be that you added the fish too soon after setting up the tank and some of the bubbles in the water have settled on the fish.
The first two conditions need proper diagnosis and treatment. The last one doesn't - it'll go away eventually - but some claim that the bubbles resting on the fish can trigger gas bubble disease.
You say you have just started a new tank? Fish in new tanks are prone to something called New Tank Syndrome, which can be fatal! This happens when fish are added to a tank that is not mature enough to support aquatic life. This maturation process is called the "cycle".
Do you have readings for ammonia and nitrite? A local fish shop can test your water but we would very, very strongly recommend that you get yourself a liquid test kit for these chemicals. They are very dangerous and always occur in new, immature tanks.
What size tank do you have? How many fish do you have? I ask these questions because it will help us work out how appropriate your set up is and whether the fish will be getting stressed, which leads to them getting sick.
If they look like bubbles under the skin, it could be gas bubble disease.
If they look like tiny bubbles on top of the fish, it could be that you added the fish too soon after setting up the tank and some of the bubbles in the water have settled on the fish.
The first two conditions need proper diagnosis and treatment. The last one doesn't - it'll go away eventually - but some claim that the bubbles resting on the fish can trigger gas bubble disease.
You say you have just started a new tank? Fish in new tanks are prone to something called New Tank Syndrome, which can be fatal! This happens when fish are added to a tank that is not mature enough to support aquatic life. This maturation process is called the "cycle".
Do you have readings for ammonia and nitrite? A local fish shop can test your water but we would very, very strongly recommend that you get yourself a liquid test kit for these chemicals. They are very dangerous and always occur in new, immature tanks.
What size tank do you have? How many fish do you have? I ask these questions because it will help us work out how appropriate your set up is and whether the fish will be getting stressed, which leads to them getting sick.
We need more information to help you.
How old is the tank?
Do you have test readings for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH?
What fish do you have?
How large are your fish?
How often do you do water changes?
What chemicals do you add to the tank?
What temperature is the tank?
The tank is at 78 now was at 76 before I turned it up, the tank is 2 years old but I just got and set up a few weeks ago. I have 3 bala sharks, 3 tiger barbs, 3 tetras 2 yellow with black strpied leper somethings, 1 black ghost knife, 1 eel, 1 petco alge eater, 1 african feature catfish, 1 red-tailed catfish and a stripped catfish all small except 1 sharks and the african cat are medium. I havent changed the water at all I did put some stress coat in. I am new to the scene so your help is much appreciated. I will get a test kit and let you know Thanks
Thanks for the info. There are some problems with your stocking but I'll cover that at the end of the post.
To start with, you need to be doing more regular water changes. We recommend around 25% a week for newbies. As you start to understand more of the science behind fishkeeping you can start to adapt that for ypur tank, but 25% a week is an excellent place to start. Too few water changes causes quite a few problems and makes the tank rather unstable, from a water quality point of view. It also allows parasites and pathogens to build up in the water which can make fish get sick more easily.
Please read the information in this link, especially the stuff about cycling a tank (very important to understand) and setting up and maintaining a new tank. It may not seem relevant but in a healthy and well cared for tank fish rarely get sick, so it's important to make sure you are looking after the fish properly.
Onto your stocking - this is relevant because bad stocking increases fish stress, which leads to disease, and when the fish mature you will run into loads of new problems.
3 bala sharks - these guys get to 12 inches/1 foot long and need 6 foot tanks as a minimum. Despite being very popular and being sold in large numbers by shops, they are unsuitable for all but the largest fish tanks. In order to accommodate these you would be looking at about 800 litres/175 gallons as a minimum. If kept in a too-small tank they will become stressed, sickly and stunted.
3 tiger barbs - these feisty guys are a great addition to a tank of 55 gallons but need to live in groups of 6 or more. They will become stressed in a small group and may become ill or may start bullying other fish.
3 tetras - are they all the same species? Like the barbs, tetras need to be kept in groups of 6 or more of the same species. Most tetras are suitable for your tank. Do you know what species they are?
2 yellow with black strpied leper somethings - sounds like a leporinus. These guys can also hit 12 inches/1 foot and also need those huge tanks.
1 black ghost knife - ditto the bala sharks and leporinus. They can reach 24 inches/2 foot so need even bigger tanks, but they more commonly reach 12-18 inches.
1 eel - this may be OK, but many freshwater eel species get very large and also need those hugs tanks.
1 petco alge eater - do you know what species? It is most likely to be a common or sailfin pleco. These monsters also reach between 12 and 24 inches and need at a 6 foot tank.
1 african feature catfish - do you mean featherfin? A brown colour with small black/dark brown spots? If so, a good addition to your tank.
1 red-tailed catfish - this is a true monster. They reach over 3 foot long and I don't know a single person who has a tank large enough for one (and I know several people with 6-10 foot tanks). This huge, beautiful animal needs a 15-18 foot tank. That sounds impossibly huge but these fish need the space! Frankly, these fish should not be sold in normal aquatics shops. Too often they get sold into "big tanks" that are only 30-100 gallons. Of all the fish, it is most important that you rehome this one.
1 stripped catfish - what species is this? Can you find a photo?
I know it seems we are picking holes in your pride and joy and I know it seems like we just want to evangelise about fishkeeping, but we want you to have a beautiful, balanced and healthy tank that you can be proud of. The fish may seem OK when they are babies but fish don't stay small for long and even the smallest fish can grow up to be a giant.
yeah I know my stocking isnt ideal but they are all similar in size the red tail is tiny hes my favorite and im goin with a 125 as he needs it and ill get an even bigger one when needed just want to learn how to keep them alive. Yes African featherfin and yes on the leporonies too still learning. well bad news 1 shark did I bought some Ick Clear Jungle brand put 4 tablets in there after I disolved them. the water is all blue now. I know thats normal. I had to do something its getting worse. I am going to do a 25 percent water change tommorow. Hope this works
bae1994
Fact. Bears eat beets. Bears.Beets.Battlestar
does the red tail look like this
(this fish is still a teenager in size wise)
or this
if its the first one please rehome it it needs a huge tank atleast 10ftx6ftx2-3ft any smaller and its just not fare on him and he will become stunted and what happens is there body stops growing so they end up in constant pain and die prematurely
(this fish is still a teenager in size wise)
or this
if its the first one please rehome it it needs a huge tank atleast 10ftx6ftx2-3ft any smaller and its just not fare on him and he will become stunted and what happens is there body stops growing so they end up in constant pain and die prematurely
Follow the instructions on the bottle to the letter. Once the course of treatment is over, do a large water change and run some fresh carbon in your filter.
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