Albino Red Finned Shark

[PlecMama]

Got an email today...husband bought a red finned shark and a bala shark, they are beautiful but we are once again learning post-purchase.

The bala looks happy enough but the albino looks like it doesn't know what to do with it's self. I'm sure it'll figure something out but is there anything I can do to chill it out a bit? It's eating algae off the rock but it got all excited when we put flake food in then despite chasing every bit that came near it, it didn't eat any.

As we have a mixed tank there, there is cucumber, plec wafers, catfish pellets, prawns and flake going in the tank. What would it like if it had it's choice? I did read the sites on them but they just had really bland descriptions like "Omnivorous, some vegetable component to the diet is recommended, will graze on algae." which is like saying "Sue will eat chips but likes apples sometimes".

So what do you guys find actually gets yours happy when they see it floating towards them?

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

Which tank are you putting them in? generally sharks of different varieties shouldn't be put together, the albino should be provided with a cave or somewhere to hide, they are known to be agressive so be careful with what other bottom dwellers you have in the tank. Balas should be kept in groups of 3 or more but as they grow 14 inches long you'll need to have a 100 gallon + tank to do this.

Check out the fish index as both fish have profiles.

Emma

 

[kniesh]

Red fin shark (rainbow/ruby) or red tailed shark? The red tailed variety is very aggressive especially to other sharks. The ruby shark is less aggressive and is much better for a communal tank.

As regards to food, have 3 ruby sharks and they love the algae tablets u can buy for plecs. Also blood worms seem to go down well. Wouldnt recomend the bala tho, need a very large tank.

 

[PlecMama]

It is an albino red finned shark for sure, it is a text book picture of one, he has a torn dorsal fin too - do they ever heal? it doesn't matter to us, we buy things because they are cool, not to show.

Also about sizing, it doesn't matter how big it's going to be, provided it isn't going to be 2ft long or more, we can always get it a new tank, that's just a matter of money. I'd rather own something cool and go out of my way for it then just not have it.

We are thinking they can stay together until we have a problem then one can go upstairs, where they both are now in Nessies tank, since Nessie is going in the 6ft on Wednesday. I expect it will be a year or more before anything gets to big for a 4ft, but as and when it does, we'll get it a new home.

If they turn out to be maniacs, they will end up in their own tanks, I already have 5 bully fish in their own tanks, they just couldn't leave the others alone, but we don't get rid of things just because it might be inconvenient, seems to me animals are similar to children, you had them - you look after them. You don't go getting rid of a family member just because it became inconvenient to care for it. You just make a bigger effort on it's behalf.

When Sasha did this to my arm chair (that bin bag is all the stuffing she shredded out of it):

we just altered our tactics when dealing with how she handles fireworks. Family is family
Though I have to admit I felt like kicking her bum a little bit....