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Sonic Tooth
12-25-2006, 9:49 PM
I have a Columbian black finned shark in a fresh water tank. The tank is a well filtered 20 gallon tank, with water being changed often. The other fish in the tank are a common pleco (soon to be moved), 2 cory catfish, a male swordtail, and a tiny angel fish.

The shark was added four days ago. He seemed quite fine. He was a very shiny silver. The shark tended to swim against the glass.

Today, however, he is not doing as well. Maybe he has just mellowed down a bit after the change of enviroment, but it is noticably paler.

I have read that the Columbian shark is a brackish water fish, but in a number of places have read that when small they do fine in freshwater. Should I move it to a brackish water tank ASAP or give it more time in the fresh water and let it adjust to the new enviroment?
liv2padl
12-26-2006, 5:56 AM
Arius seemanni will survive in a freshwater tank with low to moderate hardness, but for best results it should be maintained it in hard alkaline water at a minimum and most often it does best in brackish water.

it also grows to about 18 inches and cannot be maintained in a 20 gallon tank for very long.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/fishinfo/brackish/bfshark.shtml

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Columbian+Black+Finned+Shark&btnG=Google+Search
Sonic Tooth
12-26-2006, 4:46 PM
Yea, we are aware that it needs a bigger tank. It is looking much better today. Hopefully it will be fine until we progress to a larger tank.
blackwolfXKAV
12-26-2006, 5:17 PM
BW if not full salt when an adult is a must.

also, please be aware that stunting begins the moment the fish enters the water, chemically at least.
liv2padl
12-26-2006, 6:04 PM
Hopefully it will be fine until we progress to a larger tank. that depends on how long it takes for you to "progress". if your fish is 3 inches right now, you've got about 4 months at the outside before you begin to do permanent damage.
Sonic Tooth
12-26-2006, 7:39 PM
that depends on how long it takes for you to "progress". if your fish is 3 inches right now, you've got about 4 months at the outside before you begin to do permanent damage.

It was kind of forced upon us, so we are doing the best we can for it.
Kansei
12-26-2006, 11:56 PM
Brackish water will help ward off many skin problems that the Columbian can have . The Swordtail also would like the brackish water.