My fish is picking on my other fish!

[Phreaxer]

I just picked up a silver tipped shark tonight and I introduced him to my 4 goldfish. He is a JERK! He was cool with them for the first hour or so, but now he started nipping at the other fish... what can I do? I put him in a bowl with the water from the tank, but what can I do? Is there a way to introduce them so he is nice to them? He is comparable in size to them, so its not like he is a huge guy, he is just mean... is that common? Should I try and take him back? or should I introduce them a different way? PLEASE HELP ME make these guys play fair?

 

[Angel Lady]

it isnt a good ideal to mix tropicals with gold fish I havent heard of anyone having any luck with it most sharks are mean anyway. Gold fish need a lot of salt and I do know from bad luck I lost one of my best sharks by adding the salt in the water. but that is my experience with the both together by the way Hi

 

[Phreaxer]

that being said... now what do i do?

 

[Phreaxer]

thank you for your post by the way, I dont want to seem like I am ignoring you, I just want some advice on the next step...

The guy at the store said "they will get along fine... " and he even seemed knowledgeble of fish.

 

[Jamnog]

i would take him back i think those guys might get a bit big for ure tank i cant think of a good way to introduce him it might be that he doesnt have anywhere to hide out like a bit of bog wood or a rock or cave or something.

edit : how big is the tank btw i forgot to ask and is it heated and filtered i would have thaught that would be the reason that the shark was attacking the other fish because he feels crouded.

 

[Pufferpack]

The "Silver Tipped Shark" is it silver with black tips on the fins? If so It is a Columbian Shark Catfish, and will grow up to about 18 inches long, will have to move to brackish water as ages and again into full marine when fully mature ...They also have a reputation for eating anything that will fit into their mouth...and they have a pretty big mouth , sounds like he is measuring up the goldfish to see if they fit.
About your only choice (other than a bigger tank for the shark) is to return him to the lfs and try something else

The guy at the store said "they will get along fine... " and he even seemed knowledgeble of fish.

It could have been an honest mistake, but I doubt it. Salesmen will often lie to make a sale ( say it ain't so )...you can test him by asking about a fish that you know is totally unsuitable for your aquarium, if he recomends it to you then you will know what kind of salesman he is.

 

[Phreaxer]

its a 10 gallon tank, and there isnt much to hide behind yet for him...

are most store cool about taking a fish back? what do I transport him in? tupperwere? sorry, new to fish, so I have stupid questions...

 

[Jamnog]

i suppose tupperware would be ok so long as its not a long journey they need to have oxigen so the best thing to put him in is a bag tied at the top. most fish stores will take them back if you have a recipt and you tell them that the fish is not suitable for the setup you have. copy some of the things that puffer just said onto a peice of paper and that should sufice for an explanaition the fish is too big for the tank. i cant see that there will be a problem. but i dont think the fish will last more than a few months in the tank you have planned for it ither that or the goldfish wont last long.

 

[Phreaxer]

He is pretty much all silver, it doesnt look like he has black tipped fins and tail... but its hard to see very well... he is moving around pretty quick. I have him in a large salad bowl at the moment away from the other fish he was picking on... (with water from the tank)

 

[Jamnog]

does he have slight horizontal black stripes along his body? the thing is that all the sharks i know of that they might sell you at a fisgh shop are also likely to be tropical and need a heater to keep them warm. it might be best if you took it back today unless you have a heater in your large tank. or in the bowl

 

[Phreaxer]

ok, jamnog, i will do that. the trip is only a couple miles, if that, so I think he will be alright for the short time I will have him closed up...

 

[Phreaxer]

does he have slight horizontal black stripes along his body? the thing is that all the sharks i know of that they might sell you at a fisgh shop are also likely to be tropical and need a heater to keep them warm. it might be best if you took it back today unless you have a heater in your large tank. or in the bowl

Its after 10pm here, they are closed, but I will put a light on the bowl to keep him warm...

 

[Pufferpack]

Is this him? Arius seemani

 

[Phreaxer]

Is this him? Arius seemani

GOOD LORD! 14 inches? haha, no!

not in this tank.

hehe, yes, that is my little boy. his fins arent quite as dark, but im sure that varries...

 

[Pufferpack]

I also have one in FW at this moment...biggest wuss in the tank (but he did get his tail chewed off by a Pictus earlier in his llife, It's grown back beautifully but he is totally non-aggrrssive towards other fish now)...depending on his mood he changes to almost white when stressed, and to a silvery black when annoyed. I give it about 3 more months before he will need BW (just a guess)