Albino Rainbow Shark acting weird

[Vincenia]

I was checking my tank, after I fed them. I noticed my shark got in a bit of a fight with the upside down catfish, I saw the catfish hit the shark with it's barb. For a while after, my shark shook its head, rubbed on things and shook its body. It would do it off and on after it was hit. Would my shark be ok?

 

[Lillyan]

Mine was a tough little buttface, nothing really slowed him down. I'd keep an eye on him, maybe add a touch of salt and keep water clean. He should be fine.

 

[Vincenia]

I do not have salt right now and I will do a water change when I can find my bucket again. It disappears a lot.

 

[OrionGirl]

Clean water will be better than any additives. Salt is NOT a cure all, and it can irritate the fish. Without seeing any sign of damage, there's nothing to treat. At a guess, the shark was grazed by a gill spine--like many catfish, UGF have a mild toxin on their gill spines. If the shark is no longer rubbing, and swims fine, feeds as normal, no worries.

And seriously...equipment for fish keeping should be labeled and stored so that it isn't used for anything else. You don't want someone washing the car with the same bucket you use for water changes.

 

[Vincenia]

I just checked him, was swimming fine, then he shook his head. I don't want to use salt, since my angel doesn't like it and salt may bother her. I'll do a water change, the bucket is only used to remove old water ad I use a pitcher to add water back, slowly.

 

[Vincenia]

He's now back to his normal self. Grazing on the wood, plants and glass.

 

[Glabe]

good to hear he's making a recovery! and OrionGirl is right... if any of my fish stuff gets "abused," skulls will be thumped.

 

[Vincenia]

He nibbles on my hand and arm when I do water changes. It tickles. XD