Why did my Bala die?????

S

Snoozie

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Oct 24, 2005
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I'm soooo sad. I lost 1 of my bala sharks today, I had a pair...

My question is why did he die???? I can't understand it, I thought they are meant to be a very hardy species. I have a completely cycled tank, my nitrate was 10 to 20, nitrite 0 and Ammonia 0. I do frequent water changes.

The only difference is I have a planted tank and my PH sits at about 6.8 ( I've read they prefer harder water but I don't want to use chemicals to alter the water).

I've only had them since Sunday...I restocked my tank. Could I have overstocked too quickly????

I had six tiger barbs and 2 suckermouths, then after I restocked, I have 1 x neon (were 12 but they didn't make it...) 6 x Blood fin tetras, 1 x Bala (as posted had 2 but 1 died this morning), 2 x Rainbow sharks, 2 x Electric yellows, 2 x Kribs and 1 x suckermouth.

I know this would have added more to the bioload but as my water was testing okay I didn't think it was an issue.

Does anyone have any idea of what may have caused this??? He appeared to be sucking at the surface just before he died....

P.S. I use CO2 for my plants but it's regulated, (its one of those Red Sea Turbo CO2 kits), and its yeast and sugar job not gas.

Please help....I don't want to lose anymore :sad:
 
I lost both my balas (at different times) at completely random moments. The first one died abruptly while my roommate was watching the tank. He saw it swim around rapidly for a few seconds then die all of a sudden.

About 6 months ago the second one died out of the blue. It had been going up and down the side of the tank like it was trying to find a way out... the next day he was done for.

I have no idea how they happened, but I feel your pain.
 
what sized tank was it?

bala sharks are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of 6+. they also grow up to 14 inches long and i feel they should be kept in nothing smalled than a 5-6 foot long tank, as they are very hyper fish and need plenty of room to move.
 
I would certainly have to say that you stocked too quickly and really increased your bioload in a short time -- though your water numbers don't support that. The fact that you lost 11/12 of your neons also points to water problems -- though other people have said they're hard to keep alive (and I've experienced losses due to inexperience and water problems), once I had a completely cycled tank and added them in a reasonable fashion (4 one week -- 4 more the next), I lost only one weak one -- and the other 7 are doing awesome (going on 6 months now). I don't have balas -- but I have to think that you're spiking on ammonia/nitrites -- could your test kit be giving you false readings (are you using chem kit or strips??)?? I also wonder if your plants may be making a nitrite spike....maybe one of the experts can shed some light there.
 
My tank is a 3 foot though my hubby will be buying a tank just for the sharks soon (they are his sharks i'm housing in my tank for the moment).

I was wondering if it could be my test kit giving me false readings myself...I'ts not chem stips its aquasonic (with the powder and liquid chemical mixes). Though I'd noticed when cycling that the readings didn't seem to alter much so i'm quite suspicious...

The symptoms of all the fish that have died (neons and bala) seem consistent with ammonia poisoning, eg, gasping for breath at surface before dying. My hubby just informed me too that he can see some sort of film on the top of the water and that some of my plants are starting to shrivel a bit...Would this also be consistent with ammonia probs????? I would have thought the plants would use the ammonia...

urrggghhhh...I wish I was an expert on these things. :confused:
 
what exactly are your readings?? Also, balas are very skittish fish, and it is not uncommon for them to bash into the sides/top of the tank. I have heard of them dying that way, which is why it is important to keep them in a large tank. Before I knew better, my 3 were in a 55g and at only 2-3 inches, they still freaked out if I moved to quickly around the tank. How many gallons are they in?
 
Hi Holly,

Current water readings are Ammonia = 0, Nitrate = ~20 (not more than), Nitrite = 0, PH 6.8.

He (as I only have one now) would be in the equivalent of a 38g.
 
RockabillyChick said:
what sized tank was it?

bala sharks are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of 6+. they also grow up to 14 inches long and i feel they should be kept in nothing smalled than a 5-6 foot long tank, as they are very hyper fish and need plenty of room to move.
Click to expand...
I think this is your problem.
 
I doubt the size of the tank is an issue right now. It would seem that you got a sick fish that just didn't handle the stress of the move well.
 
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