Water Changes And Stress In Bala Sharks

[srnoncom]

I am new to keeping fish and experienced a pretty scary event this evening with a partial water change for my sharks. While performing the water change using a siphon, and staying away from both my sharks one of them starting swimming upside down and looked like it was playing dead! After completion of the water change he's still "hiding" in a tiki hut, and floating upside down. He's coming down and out occasionally, but still looking very stressed. I did add some salt to my water changes, but what should I do for water changes, etc. to help with the stress level of my sharks? Thanks for your input! Brett

 

[Corleone]

Salt is actually stressful for many freshwater fish - it's rarely needed, though it has temporary uses in treating some illnesses. You really shouldn't use it all the time, and what fish do require salt require marine salt.

Bala sharks are skittish, but swimming upside down is an indication that he's badly ill or injured, not just stressed. Things that could help win down what's wrong would be tank size, water stats (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate), tankmates, and any other symptoms you might be able to notice - skinnyness, bloating, abnormal poop, discoloration, mucous, etc.