Odd 4 Columbian Sharks?
- Thread starter Mom2ColumSharks
- Start date
Yep. They were in FW when I bought them. The pet store didn't know their butts from a hole in the ground about these fish. And of course neither did I, But in return before buying them, I came online and did my research on them, They are still juveniles and are ok with FW, And like you said slowly weaning them off the FW to the salt. A fellow Columbian Shark owner that works at PetSmart told me, That since this was a new tank, new fish, new everything, That I'd need to wait about a month before I started my 25% water change and to just give the right amount of salt it calls for on a 20 gal. tank. Then start the half tank water change and once a week adding the salt. I've observed them closely over the last 2 days, and haven't seen her do it at all. All 4 are about 3 to 4 inches long and yes I've been told they grow very quickly, So I do plan to buy a bigger tank as they grow a little bigger over the next few weeks. I actually plan to get about a 75 to 100 gal tank. I was told that would be plenty enough for the 4 of them. They are getting very fast with their swimming now, and being more playful with each other. My female (maggie) seems to be laying lower and lower on the gravel in the biggest cave in their tank, Is it possible she's getting ready to lay her eggs? Before I wasn't aware they wouldn't be fertile but after getting her home and noticing her belly was rather larger then the other's I thought she was pregnant. Then of course the more and more I searched and learned new things about them, I learned they didn't breed in captivity. But will lay non-fertile eggs, So with that kind of activity is it possible she's getting ready to lay them? Also, I read on another forum that someone was asking this question...Why do they swim straight up and down against the wall of the tank at the very top? Someone had partially answered the question with...There's too much water in the tank, And they don't need very deep water. But the person who answered the question, Never said about how much water should be in the actual tank. With my 20 gal. tank, about how full should I have it? Because my 4 are doing the same thing. Not as much as they were when I first brought them home, They are hanging out more on the bottom, But I still catch them doing it quite often. And again, I really do appreciate all yalls help.
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
pregnant, not likely. They are simply too young. The average LFS sells them at a juvenile stage, there is still plenty of growing to do.
too much water in the tank.... never heard of that before and must say, sounds kind of silly if you ask me.
too much water in the tank.... never heard of that before and must say, sounds kind of silly if you ask me.
Sounded silly to me also, But I'm also new to all this..lol And there's no such thing as a dumb question, So I had to ask..lol Today they seem to be less active as far as swimming mid tank. They are doing alot of laying on the gravel, Any certain reason they would be doing that?
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
you are 100000000000% correct 
and I am glad you're asking them. Your question could help tons of others who are looking for the same answers 
For columbians, that's what they pretty much do when they aren't eating. As long as they are eating and their skin looks ok, they are fine.
and I am glad you're asking them. Your question could help tons of others who are looking for the same answers For columbians, that's what they pretty much do when they aren't eating. As long as they are eating and their skin looks ok, they are fine.
Awesome. Then I guess I have no worries. They get their flakes and blood worms and don't waste a bit of it..lol And skin looks as good as the first day I got them.
