View Full Version : Large Blind Injured Irridescent Shark Wont Eat
malakaikingston
01-12-2004, 7:22 PM
I have a large blind injured irrdescent shark, his nose is smashed in from freaking out, which he does all the time, however now he will not eat and seems to be taking even less care of his nose, I am treating with mela fix just like I always do, my main question is do you know of anything I can use to bait him with the algea flakes he usually eats are not enticing him I fear he may have damadged his nose as since he is blind he relies on his sense of smell heavily...
please help...
shogun@obscure.org
OrionGirl
01-12-2004, 8:25 PM
Keep offering food, and make sure the water is kept in good shape. It may recover. Fish can go for long periods of time without food, so there's still hope.
You may want to do some more research on ID sharks. They get big, prefer to be in groups, and often have behavior issues like you're experiencing when kept solo. They are not really good aquarium fish, especially if you don't have a large enough tank to prevent them from being so skittish.
MonoSebaelover
01-13-2004, 12:04 AM
Try some live brine as that always seems to help encourage fish to eat that are not. Like OG said just keep trying everything, mainly try frozen foods for now like bloodworms, brine, maybe even mysis and such. All products listed above are commonly made by Hikari but many others make them too. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck with him!
Yes, the frozen food might have a better scent in the water for him to find. Do you have plants in the aquarium?
malakaikingston
01-13-2004, 7:49 PM
The shark was a "pity acceptance" he was blinded by ph burn, I am aware of and was when I took him in what I have on my hands, he is a solid foot long and all blind torpedo, his nose looks slightly better today I am still melafix'n him and he may have eaten I did not see, he was sniffing which he hasn't been doing.
The Tank 75G
Planted
Low decorations so as not to injure the shark
1 magnum canister filter
1 Power head for extra flow
1 large dual biowheel filter
feeding Tetra color
Algae Discs
Algae flakes
frozen blood worms
his tank mates are
9 inch clown loach
2 large gourmies (moon, platinum)
few swordtails
convict ciclids
few assorted cics
1 foot and some pleco
1 7 inch plec
1 5 inch bala
shark medicated with
biospheres
melafix
I know it's an odd assortment no bullying of the shark or larger fish occur as I have seen so far, The tank is way to small for my shark but it's the biggest I got and I can't put him down. thanks for the advice so far
MonoSebaelover
01-13-2004, 10:05 PM
Why not return him to the store? What is water quality looking like? That is a ton of big heavy waste producing fish for such a small tank (compared to the fish). Maybe water quality has gotten out of control causing him to no longer seek interest in food? Just a thought. Hope this helps.
returning him to the store might not be such a good idea because he would knwo his home tank pretty well and may freak in a different enviroment.
malakaikingston
01-14-2004, 7:11 AM
Originally posted by Rhys
returning him to the store might not be such a good idea because he would knwo his home tank pretty well and may freak in a different enviroment.
I have had him for over 2 years this is is home tank, as far as stores taking him I don't know of anyone that wants a fish in this shape.
malakaikingston
01-14-2004, 10:04 PM
Originally posted by MonoSebaelover
What is water quality looking like? That is a ton of big heavy waste producing fish for such a small tank (compared to the fish).
Ammonia is 0.0
PH 7.6
Nitrite 0.25
If I could find a home for the shark I would
You just might have to up the water changes with the big guy in their.
A tough call as if you give the fish to a LFS they will probably put it down, but it is too big for your tank but still realitively healthy. I am glad not to be in your shoes.
Hopefully he will perk up if you can get those nitrites down a bit.
malakaikingston
01-15-2004, 11:42 AM
Originally posted by TKOS
Hopefully he will perk up if you can get those nitrites down a bit.
should I do a 25% now or after I finish the med cycle out? I do 25% changes every week thanks to my python.
I guess it depend on what the med says. Most of my meds call for a daily water change (I assume that is because it also kills the good bacteria off slightly as well as any bad). But I know Maracyn 2 says no water change.
Regardless I wouldn't let that level climb any higher, and I would keep checking it. If some of the good bacteria have died off it may take a while to catch up after treatment.