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Posts: 1
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-01-2003 11:08 AM            

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How Do.

Am not a complete novice to fish keeping, but am not yet experienced enough to 'know stuff' just be recognising symptoms. So, I'd really appreciate a little help with this one: I have a very large tank with the following:

1 x Redtail Shark
2 x Clown Loaches
2 x Plecos
2 x Emerald Cory Cats
6 x Tiger Barbs
4 x Albino Tiger barbs
6 x Silver (bala) Sharks

Now, all of these fish are pretty young and in very good, spritely health. Of the 6 Bala sharks, 2 of them were recently introduced and were slightly larger than the exisiting 4. One of the new balas is a little worrying as he is terribly lethargic, to the point you can nudge him along with your finger as he spends all of his time at the water's surface gulping air, or hiding vertically in the back corners, again at the water's surface. It doesn't seem to eat - at least i don't think i have seen him eat since i introduced him. He and his companion were ridiculously boistrous when they were first introduced and caused the rest of the tank to liven up considerably for the first day or so. But now, it just seems to float, either pointing up or down. He doesn't school with the rest of the balas and generally just doesnt mix at all. The water quality seems fine for the mix of species, they are fed at regular times with ever so slightly less than required due to the number of the fish in the tank. The oxygen levels in the tank are fine - not only because I have an additional mini pump/filter to accomodate the amount of fish present, but the rest of the fish are in tip top condition. Can anyone suggest what may be wrong? And what treatments i should think about in order to treat the problem. If, of course, there is one. It could be swim bladder, of course, but he isnt lolling or rolling over or unable to maintain a straight, floating foem. He just seems to prefer floating vertically. I'm a little stumped so would really appreciate any help. Cheers, Chris (UK)

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Member

Posts: 251
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 09-02-2003 01:24 AM         

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Normally my first thought on those symptoms is too much ammonia. Since all of the other fish seem to be doing so well I would have to suspect something that happened during acclimation, either air starved or acclimated too fast. If this is the case there's not much that you can do to help him.

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