Help My Bala Sharks Are Dieing

[NDferro]

Hello Can anyone help me with this I had 4 bala sharks 3 out of 4 are now dead the 3 had what I thought was fin rot so I moved them to an already setup 10 gallon to make it easier to treat them with "Mardel" the first 2 days of treatment went fine the 3rd day one fish was dead come morning with a red and white spot on its underside between its front fins and so there were two and then last night treatment day 4 the other 2 were dead with the same mark on there underside see attached picture for basic idea of location any ideas what it can be? They were about the same size as fish pictured

Here are my specs for the hell of it

An older picture of my tank
http://photos1.blogger.com/img/14/5719/1024/Full_Tank_Shoot.jpg

All-Glass 40L 40 Gallon Tank
Marine Land Emperor 400B - 400 gph with optional media containers filled with Marine land BLACK DIAMOND Premium Activated Carbon
300w Marine Land Neptune Heater
Marine Land Penguin Power Head 1140
2 12" air rods hooked up to a Reba Air 200 Air Pump
150LBS Substrate
12-13 fake plants
Plastic rock face
Plastic tree trunk
Plastic terracotta pot

~FISH~
1 5 1/2" Bala Shark
1 2 1/2" Krib
1 3 1/2" Fire Mouth

[wataugachicken]

how long was your tank set up for? ammonia/nitrate/nitrite readings?

[pictus5]

the red was probable internal bleeding no clue for any sicknesses

[Kasakato]

Its probably some kind of chemical. I would suspect ammonia due to high stocking levels. Bala Sharks can grow to 2 feet and will quickly over load your tank. How new is this tank? Do you know what the cycle is?

[NDferro]

My 40gal tank is over a year old and has done just fine I don’t have any reading of the 10 gal from the last day or so I took the 10 gallon down today and cleaned it all fish in the 40 seem healthy I’m guessing its some kind of infection I took the sick ones out as soon as possible to keep the others safe so I guess only time can tell is it spread

[Kasakato]

How do you clean your tanks?

[NDferro]

I use a Marine Land Siphon-Kleen Large to clean the gravel and an Algae Scraper Pad from Jungle Labs for any algae build up I change the filter media every 2-4 & diamond blend every 2 weeks and 10%-15% water every 2-4 weeks I have separate tool for each tank
And all plants and decorative items are aquarium safe

[Kasakato]

That's a bit less than normal. Do you have a test kit?

[NDferro]

my tank did contain
2 Kribs
2 black convicts
1 green terror
1 bala sharks the other 3 are new comers of about 1 month
9 tetras
1 guppy
2 gold rams
1 blue ram
i butterfly ram
for a year with not a single issue

[NDferro]

That's a bit less than normal. Do you have a test kit?

I have to buy a new one i dont have any reading because my test kit got thrown out

[Kasakato]

That's really overstocked. Go and get the test kit and report the readings for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates. I suggest this one: http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19383;category_id=3111;pcid 1=3233;pcid2=
Be sure to get liquid and not test strips.

Also do some water changes right now just in case. Try one 75% change. And every week do a 50% one. This will help to keep all of your levels in balance.

[wataugachicken]

yeah, what he said (beat me to it)

[NDferro]

I did a 50% water change last night and used the last of my chlorine remover the 40 gallon looks to be as stable as its allways been i just hope those sharks didnt bring something to the tank that will spread any further

[Kasakato]

yeah, what he said (beat me to it)
HeHe, sorry. Iv gotten good at typing thanks mainly to AC.

[Kasakato]

I did a 50% water change last night and used the last of my chlorine remover the 40 gallon looks to be as stable as its allways been i just hope those sharks didnt bring something to the tank that will spread any further
If they brought something into the tank then you will have a problem. But all you can do is wait for that.

But what they did for sure bring in is more of a bio load. The necessary bacteria probably wasn't there, so the tank spiked and some fish died. Only a test kit kill tell.

If you need some more dechlor get some Prime. Its cheaper than most. http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28321;category_id=2229;pcid 1=2207;pcid2=

[NDferro]

my tank did contain
2 Kribs
2 black convicts
1 green terror
1 bala sharks the other 3 are new comers of about 1 month
9 tetras
1 guppy
2 gold rams
1 blue ram
i butterfly ram
for a year with not a single issue

My tank only had this many fish because my mother was moveing the rams, guppy, tetras were only visiting the convicts and green terror i gave away 1 krib got sucked in to an broken power head cage and the 3 bala sharks are ofcourse dead

[Kasakato]

Fish should never get stuck in a filter. Even with out its cage on. I would say that there's something going on in your tank; most likely stress. Again, only the test kit will say.

[NDferro]

If they brought something into the tank then you will have a problem. But all you can do is wait for that.

But what they did for sure bring in is more of a bio load. The necessary bacteria probably wasn't there, so the tank spiked and some fish died. Only a test kit kill tell.

If you need some more dechlor get some Prime. Its cheaper than most. http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28321;category_id=2229;pcid 1=2207;pcid2=
at the time the fish had issues there were only 4 sharks 1 fire mouth 1 krib so not really overloaded it has to be a infection LFS in this area can be really bad most employ people that happen to be retarded

[NDferro]

Fish should never get stuck in a filter. Even with out its cage on. I would say that there's something going on in your tank; most likely stress. Again, only the test kit will say.
i tested the other day before my wife "Cleaned" aka threw things she didnt reconize away and everything was spot on and the fisn did get cought because the cage was missing on one side and i didnt know a few other got sucked in after i pulled the dead on look but i replaced the power head so that not an issue anymore

[Kasakato]

Ok. Just get the test kit and try to return the Bala shark you have not because it will grow, and grow big. You may want to find another fish store if they don't have good fish.

[NDferro]

Ok. Just get the test kit and try to return the Bala shark you have not because it will grow, and grow big. You may want to find another fish store if they don't have good fish.

the bala shark should be ok in my tank if i limit it to just one plus ive had her for a year since she was like an half inch ive had sharks for 13 years and this is the first issue ive had the other 3 were going to go in to another tank a 160 gal but they did last long enough for me to buy it

[Kasakato]

Bala Sharks should grow to 2 feet. But in your small tank they will never reach their full length.

[NDferro]

Bala Sharks should grow to 2 feet. But in your small tank they will never reach their full length.

Yes the average groth is 13 inches and i know the 1 i keep will never grow to that but thats ok it will still live a happy life

[Kasakato]

Actually not to tell you off or anything but fish will not really be happy if they are shortened. They will live shorter lives and wont be as health as other filly grow fish.

[NDferro]

Actually not to tell you off or anything but fish will not really be happy if they are shortened. They will live shorter lives and wont be as health as other filly grow fish.


Yes i under stand where you are coming from and what you are saying but i can keep this fish as happy as i can saying that i have the bigest tank of the people i know and there really is no other place for this fish to go

[Kasakato]

There's always the store. But if you cant, that's ok. Just try to keep the fish healthy.

[wataugachicken]

okay, so people keep saying that their so-and-so fish only got x long so it is fine, but the reason your fish is only getting x long is because the tank is only x big. it didn't stop growing because it felt happy at that size, it stopped growing because it had to.

grrr.

"i keep my great dane puppy in a cage sized for a border collie, but once it started touching the bars on each side it stopped growing, so i don't have to worry anymore... "

[NDferro]

There's always the store. But if you cant, that's ok. Just try to keep the fish healthy.

Yeah i thought of that but like i said LFS in this area are bad really bad and like i said this fish was 1/2 " long and in really bad shape so ive allready helped it out once and its just what it is

[Kasakato]

okay, so people keep saying that their so-and-so fish only got x long so it is fine, but the reason your fish is only getting x long is because the tank is only x big. it didn't stop growing because it felt happy at that size, it stopped growing because it had to.

grrr.

"i keep my great dane puppy in a cage sized for a border collie, but once it started touching the bars on each side it stopped growing, so i don't have to worry anymore... "

Weclome to the world of AC!
;)

[Kasakato]

Yeah i thought of that but like i said LFS in this area are bad really bad and like i said this fish was 1/2 " long and in really bad shape so ive allready helped it out once and its just what it is
If the fish store is bad then find a new one. In my area there are at least 5 stores. And only 2 are good. I would keep looking for a better one.

[NDferro]

If the fish store is bad then find a new one. In my area there are at least 5 stores. And only 2 are good. I would keep looking for a better one.


ok in my area lets go past my area lets says 100 miles theres petsmart, petso, the fish store, pet purri & dennys pet world dennys is nice its also about 120 miles away pet porri never sells fish they are all allways sick petcp & petsmart and full of retards

[Kasakato]

Well that sucks. I guess you just have to be lucky and find some good fish when they first some in.

[Candycat21]

All the more reason to do research on the fish before you purchase them! When fish stunt their growth because of poor water quality or lack of space, it's only their exterior body that is stunted....all their internal organs keep growing which is why stunted fish don't live as long as they're supposed to!! Horrible death if you ask me no matter how well you take care of the fish.
If you're still planning on getting that 160 you're going to need it for the lone Bala you have.
Definitely get the bigger tank if you can, your fish will love you for it and perhaps even live a few extra years for you!! :)
I work at a petstore and I've been dealing with fish for over 15 years now. I agree with you though, there are some stores that have morons working there and trying to give advice. That's why when I don't know about a certain fish etc, I will come here and ask questions, do research on the internet etc to make sure I don't do something regretful...on my behalf or the fish in question.
Heck, I had one person working with me who had a customer return a dead glass fish...the customer asked him if it could have been because he didn't feed the fish CLEAR FOOD!!!! The worker said he guessed that could have been the reason :duh: ...for crying out loud now that's just idiotic!! Anyway, he no longer works at a petstore after that one!

[Hrafnkel]

You could probably find a decent store. I'm way out in West Texas and there's still at least 8 or so fish stores within 2 hours of me. A decent amount of those are good ones, even.

[NDferro]

This wasnt started to discuss my one last fish but to find out what killed the other 3 so not that i dont respect the views of you all but please only write if you can tell me why my fish's had internal bleeding

Thank You

[Holly9937]

It sounds like you got a bad batch of fish, and I hate to add this, but bala sharks are schooling fish, which will only eventually add to his already existent problems. Also, 15-20% water changes every 2-4 weeks is not nearly enough, that may also be a problem, regardless of what your test kits say when you get them. Many seem to forget that there is more to water than ph, amonia, nitrite and nitrate. Those are just obvious things that can be tested for and can indicate problems. Many aquarists do 25-50% water changes a week

[NDferro]

It sounds like you got a bad batch of fish, and I hate to add this, but bala sharks are schooling fish, which will only eventually add to his already existent problems. Also, 15-20% water changes every 2-4 weeks is not nearly enough, that may also be a problem, regardless of what your test kits say when you get them. Many seem to forget that there is more to water than ph, amonia, nitrite and nitrate. Those are just obvious things that can be tested for and can indicate problems. Many aquarists do 25-50% water changes a week

i dont think it was bad fish its something else my large shark is starting to get sick now so there is something in my water or air that is landing in my water maybe paint they are painting alot in the apartments around us not matter how hard i try to keep it out i bet some got it

[NDferro]

Ive tested my tank every 3 days for about 2 weeks now
PH 7.0
Ammonia 0PPM
Nitrites 5PPM
Nitrates 0PPM
i even tested some left over water from the filter can on the 10 gallon they died in tested the same so still dont know they lg bala is still alive he just has a few missing scales still thay look to be growing back so only time will tell

[Holly9937]

WHOA!! I am suprised that any of your fish are alive!!!! Nitrite is very toxic to fish, it should be 0 at all times (unless the tank is cycling). Do water changes (50% back to back if necessary) until you get that to 0 or very close to 0

[iamgroovy]

Or did you perhaps mix up your nitrite and nitrate readings?

[NDferro]

Yes
Nirate 5.0PPM
Nitrite 0.0PPM