Old Fish Die, New Fish Thrive

[The Alchemist]

Ill post a pic when I get home. I almost got 2 balla sharks but we went with these.

 

[Rummynose]

I think the difference in general hardness is to blame in the deaths of your fish! It caused an osmotic shock!

I'm no chemist, but the way I understand it is that the fish's cells could not adapt to the change in pressure!

http/mchportal.com/fishkeeping-mainmenu-60/water-the-environment-mainmenu-77/65-ph-kh-gh-carbon-dioxide-injection-water-chemistry.html

 

[The Alchemist]

Could you post a picture? By silver-tipped shark I assumed you meant bala shark.

I think the difference in general hardness is to blame in the deaths of your fish! It caused an osmotic shock!

I'm no chemist, but the way I understand it is that the fish's cells could not adapt to the change in pressure!

http/mchportal.com/fishkeeping-mainmenu-60/water-the-environment-mainmenu-77/65-ph-kh-gh-carbon-dioxide-injection-water-chemistry.html

That is the same conclusion that I have come to as well.


And if anyone out there cares, I am from USA, New Jersey.

 

[Man of fish]

I just researched silver tipped sharks and it didn't come out good
here's what I found:
Common Name: Silver-Tipped Shark Catfish
Proper Name: Arius jordani
Category: Catfish
Temperature: 25 - 28 C
Temperament semi-aggressive
Maximum Size: 40-60 cm
Looks like they'll still need to be rehomed sorry to say

 

[The Alchemist]

I just researched silver tipped sharks and it didn't come out good
here's what I found:
Common Name: Silver-Tipped Shark Catfish
Proper Name: Arius jordani
Category: Catfish
Temperature: 25 - 28 C
Temperament semi-aggressive
Maximum Size: 40-60 cm
Looks like they'll still need to be rehomed sorry to say

Why would they have to be rehoused?

 

[Man of fish]

Because you wouldn't be able to home (2 or 3?) 1 1/2-2 ft semi-aggressive fish in with the other fish that you have, or in that small of a tank. You'd end up with stunted fish, with deformities, and they'd die a painful death. That's unfair to them.

 

[The Alchemist]

Wow if they start getting that big than ill upgrade to a bigger tank. 100 gallon mimimum by then hopefulley I won't need any more "tester fish"

 

[Man of fish]

That's the problem though. They won't get that big. Being in such a small tank they will become stunted and deformed, where the outside stops growing but the internal organs continue to grow, until eventually they die a very slow painful death over a long course of time.

 

[The Alchemist]

I could probably go another year with the current tank before having to upgrade to a larger one. I see that it is recommended for fish that large to have a minimum of 100 gallons.

55 Gallons should be sufficient for at least 6 months to a year. Im probably not going to move any other fish into that tank than, and leave the other fish alone in the 20 gallon.

Im thinking that I should put the pictus in that tank as well now. Im reading they get up to 10 inches long, where the shark catfish get to be 12-14 inches.

Thoughts on that?

 

[TropicalJuwel]

They aren't actual sharks they are like a silver tip catfish that they called a shark at the petstore but it looks like a catfish

Have you done any research on this fish at all? This is a brackish fish so will not be able to stay in freshwater all its life. Its also a highly agressive fish so I wouldnt expect it to live well with any of your small fish. If I was you I would take them back to the store until you can care for them properly and also not mixing brackish and fresh water fish together. Its not worth harming them by stunting there growth (they grow very quick) and stressing them possibly making them ill or even worse killing them. They are great fish and I'd love them but i couldn't care for them properly so wouldn't buy them.

 

[The Alchemist]

Well to end this thread hear, I believe that we have come up with a solution.

I managed to get the hardness levels of both tanks within 30-50 ppms of each other. Than I got a 5 gallon bucket and filled it 50/50 with both tanks water, and threw the heater in the bucket. Put all the fishes in there and let them sit in there for over an hour.

Than I took about 15 gallons of water out of the new tank, and put all the old tank water in the new tank. Than we dumped the fishes all in the new tank, and so far so good. Everyone seems to be happy and living well, they all are eating except the blue groumai. He seems to be a bit stressed out.

As far as keeping the Silvers in brackish water, they should be fine for about a year before needing brackish water. Even still I keep a large amount of aquarium salt in the water as is, so for awhile they will be the same.

As far as other fish eating each other, its everyman for themselves in the tank. No one living in the old tank is not guilty of eating someone else. We have had about 10-15 guppies and neons just disappear from the tank, and someone eat our dalmatian molley and left him just floating around skin only. Black molley helped to eat him to, so he is guilty of the worst, cannibalism.

All in all, anyone who feels as if Im just a horrible person because of my tester fish, and just buying whatever fish I want. As long as they are alive I will give them what I need.

Thanks all from the States

 

[balajake]

Could you post a picture? By silver-tipped shark I assumed you meant bala shark.

I think the difference in general hardness is to blame in the deaths of your fish! It caused an osmotic shock!

I'm no chemist, but the way I understand it is that the fish's cells could not adapt to the change in pressure!

http/mchportal.com/fishkeeping-mainmenu-60/water-the-environment-mainmenu-77/65-ph-kh-gh-carbon-dioxide-injection-water-chemistry.html

That is the same conclusion that I have come to as well.


And if anyone out there cares, I am from USA, New Jersey.

looks like a pangasius, they get to 3 foot in the wild

 

[Liamm]

Are there no animal cruelty laws that cover fish in the US?

 

[coldcazzie]

Thread cleaned up but will remain closed.