Breeze7050
Fishaholic
These guys are looking a little ill? Seems as if they are losing their color/scales? They are lethargic, but eating. Red around all fins. Any ideas?
Bala Shark Sick?
- Thread starter Breeze7050
- Start date
These guys are looking a little ill? Seems as if they are losing their color/scales? They are lethargic, but eating. Red around all fins. Any ideas?
OP
OP
Breeze7050
Fishaholic
Ok, I added that pic last night, now that Im at work I can give you a little more info. All of my water parameters are WNL.
They have a distinct redness around there dorsal fin and tails. Eating well. 2 seem very lethargic and are usually sitting by the heater, not really swimming, sort of floating up and down more vertical than horizontal. The 3rd seems to be doing better, he is a little bigger than the others. They are juvies, only about 2.5 inches.
It appears as if they are losing their color/scales - notice in pic how he is a bronze instead of silver up by his head - it looks like it has "chipped" off for lack of a better explanation. All other fish in the aquarium are doing great and showing NO signs of sickness. Im not sure if this is normal for balas or if it's because they are juvies or stressed... Im kind of at a loss.
This pic doesn't show the redness, but the other 2 were too hard to take pics off. This has been going on pretty much since I brought them home, but it has gotten worse. Ive had them for 3 weeks.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
They have a distinct redness around there dorsal fin and tails. Eating well. 2 seem very lethargic and are usually sitting by the heater, not really swimming, sort of floating up and down more vertical than horizontal. The 3rd seems to be doing better, he is a little bigger than the others. They are juvies, only about 2.5 inches.
It appears as if they are losing their color/scales - notice in pic how he is a bronze instead of silver up by his head - it looks like it has "chipped" off for lack of a better explanation. All other fish in the aquarium are doing great and showing NO signs of sickness. Im not sure if this is normal for balas or if it's because they are juvies or stressed... Im kind of at a loss.
This pic doesn't show the redness, but the other 2 were too hard to take pics off. This has been going on pretty much since I brought them home, but it has gotten worse. Ive had them for 3 weeks.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
OP
OP
Breeze7050
Fishaholic
Anyone? ? Does this need to be moved?
cybortech
Fish Fanatic
If you have a hospital tank I would advise you move them so you can keep an eye on them until you get more Info.
I lost two balas over the space of a few months still never found out why.
I have two in the tank just now and there front gills always appear to be a little red but there is no info to suggest why.
Is there enough room in the tank for them?
Sorry I can't be of more help.
I lost two balas over the space of a few months still never found out why.
I have two in the tank just now and there front gills always appear to be a little red but there is no info to suggest why.
Is there enough room in the tank for them?
Sorry I can't be of more help.
OP
OP
Breeze7050
Fishaholic
Thanks for the try and moderator - thanks for the move!
I have a 4' footprint and the whole top 1/2 is open water so they have plenty of room to swim. If they were schooling that is!
The redness isn't in their gills it just outlines their tails and their dorsal fins... its very odd. Thanks for your help though. I may never know as Ive had few responses on the boards Im on.
I have a 4' footprint and the whole top 1/2 is open water so they have plenty of room to swim. If they were schooling that is!
The redness isn't in their gills it just outlines their tails and their dorsal fins... its very odd. Thanks for your help though. I may never know as Ive had few responses on the boards Im on.
chardonnay1000
Fish Crazy
Hi, my harlequins had the same red edge to their fins and at the bottom of their tails, sadly i lost one but wilder told me it could be septecemia and needed treat with a bacterial med.. dont take my word for this but if you posted a message for wilder, hes very good at diagnosing stuff.
OP
OP
Breeze7050
Fishaholic
Thanks for the idea!
nath1
Fish Crazy
hello breeze7050,
i had a simular problem with my bala's. they didn't have the redness but did have the 'flaking off' thing going on and became lethargic! the 'flaking off' was localised to a specific area rather than the whole body( the head in my case). i treated them with a salt bath for a short period and made sure the tank water was as good as i could get it and they did make a recovery without doing much else. im not sure if the salt bath did any good but it certainly didnt do any harm.
good luck,
nath1
i had a simular problem with my bala's. they didn't have the redness but did have the 'flaking off' thing going on and became lethargic! the 'flaking off' was localised to a specific area rather than the whole body( the head in my case). i treated them with a salt bath for a short period and made sure the tank water was as good as i could get it and they did make a recovery without doing much else. im not sure if the salt bath did any good but it certainly didnt do any harm.
good luck,
nath1
It septicemia on the fins, but I wondering if you also have a parasite like velvet.
Yellow to golden dusting on them is velvet, any signs of flicking and rubbing on objects or laboured breathing.
http
/www.fishtanksandponds.info/care-mai...septicaemia.htm
http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/heal...thprotist.shtml
Yellow to golden dusting on them is velvet, any signs of flicking and rubbing on objects or laboured breathing.
http
/www.fishtanksandponds.info/care-mai...septicaemia.htmhttp
/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/heal...thprotist.shtml
OP
OP
Breeze7050
Fishaholic
Boy, if you call him, he will come! Thanks wilder, quick reply.
it is JUST like nath described "flaking off" and just around/on the head area!
No flicking or rubbing on anything. The 2 literally sit up by the heater all day long, in a vertical (almost) position. They do "right" themselves and swim occasionally and also eat flakes whenver they are put in the aquarium. The biggest and most robust swims around the whole tank, picks at the gravel ect.
Thanks for the reading material. The septicemia sounds right but definately no sores or lesions - yet!
It doesn't appear like anything is on the skin - it appears as if it has just plain fallen off! again, just in the head area.
Should I treat for the septicemia??
Thanks everyone for all your help!
it is JUST like nath described "flaking off" and just around/on the head area!
No flicking or rubbing on anything. The 2 literally sit up by the heater all day long, in a vertical (almost) position. They do "right" themselves and swim occasionally and also eat flakes whenver they are put in the aquarium. The biggest and most robust swims around the whole tank, picks at the gravel ect.
Thanks for the reading material. The septicemia sounds right but definately no sores or lesions - yet!
It doesn't appear like anything is on the skin - it appears as if it has just plain fallen off! again, just in the head area.
Should I treat for the septicemia??
Thanks everyone for all your help!
vancouver
- l l a m a s -
Are they eating?
I would probably treat if you can.. no point in risking it..
And I believe Wilder is a SHE
I would probably treat if you can.. no point in risking it..
And I believe Wilder is a SHE
chardonnay1000
Fish Crazy
Im still treating mine for septicemia and about 1 week into the treatment, the have improved a little and have a healthier colour now. Please i could help.
oops thats my fault, i guess you shouldnt presume anything eh
vancouver
- l l a m a s -
I don't know.. I don't think many guys would have tweety in their picture and have their member title as ''tweety is a tweety pie'' or whatever it says..
lol
lol
chardonnay1000
Fish Crazy
U never know these days ahem
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
511 -
322 -
247 -
230 -
225 -
190 -
161 -
160 -
136 -
136 -
127 -
126 -
120 -
109 -
99