Member

Posts: 20
From:Denton, TX 76201
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-21-2003 05:13 PM         

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My Bala Sharks had a problem where they got red streaks in their fins. I had my Balas for a week before I mixed them with Afican Cichlids.I was told by the "pet store" where I bought these fish,that Balas and Cichlids were safe to put together;they even had them mixed together at the "pet store." After having the Cichlids w/ the Balas for a week I notced the Balas were acting very stangely. They were twitching and then they got those red streaks in their fins. I called the "pet store" and they told me that they were probably hemoraging, but I didn't believe that so I called the same "pet store" of a different location. This guy was the aquatic expert at the other location of the "pet store." He said that the Cichlids were the most agressive fish that you could buy and that he was suprised that the Balas hadn't been killed yet! He said that the red marks were a result of Cichlids hitting the Balas which caused them to get "blood blisters" which could be cured with something called "Maracyn." Unfortunately it was too late for Jaws and Duff(my Balas). Not only did they get blood blisters but when I found them dead their fins had been eaten off! Please warn others to be careful with who they trust about their fish and to carefully look into these things. Just because they work in a pet store doesn't mean they know everything.

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Member

Posts: 277
From: Indy
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-21-2003 06:00 PM         

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What kind of cichlids do you have? Did you see them attacking the balas? The reason I ask is that what your discribing sounds alot like Bacterial hemmorrhagic septicemia. If your cichlids are very aggresive the balas would more likly have been killed right off or have chunks taken out of them from bites. Not saying that there's not a problem with compatible fish it just sounds very familiar.
Your right on the money as far as pet store employees. You wouldn't believe some of the winners I've run across.

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James (The Grateful One)

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Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 09-22-2003 12:53 AM         

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Thank you once again gr8fuljames. The man at the second store was half right. Africans are too aggressive for Balas, but as gr8fuljames pointed out the red streaks were from bacterial hemoragic septicemia probably from the overcrowded tank at the store and poor tank maintenance. In any case, I don't think I would be buying my fish from the first store you mentioned.
PS. Anytime fish die in a tank almost any of the other fish will feed off of the remains. This was probably the case with the missing fins.

[This message has been edited by kc5gvn (edited 09-22-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 20
From:Denton, TX 76201
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-22-2003 08:13 AM         

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Thanks a lot you guys. To gr8fuljames, I have african cichlids and I did see them hitting the balas and ocassionally nipping, but I didn't think it was too serious because the pet store said they were compatable. I really do believe that the cichlids had a lot to do with the death of my balas because they were fine until I got the cichlids.

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