Save My Shark!

[matug]

hi

my red tailed shark is dieing as i write this!
He is floating around on his side and doesnt seem to have any strength in him
He was at the top late last night sipping at the air

Please help me, i dont want to see him go

matug

 

[Breeze7050]

We need some more info to help you out.
What are your water stats? Tanks Size?
Other fish in the tank? Tank Temp,
When was your last water change? How long has the tank been set up?
Are any other fish showing signs/symptoms?
The more information you can give us the better we will be able to help you.
You should probably quarentine him for now and answer these questions and we'll help you out from there. Best of luck.

 

[matug]

hi

I don't know my water stats just yet - i'll go and check them in a minute. They were fine two weeks ago
My tank is 30 litres. I have got 2 black phantom tetras, 6 small bristlenose catfish and two small albino catfish
The tanks temp is 25 degrees c . My tanks been set up for bout 7 months. No other fish have been showing any symptoms - i had a gourami and some tetras die this month though
I cant quarentine him because i havent got a hospital tank.

matug

 

[Arimus]

Doesn't that tank seem abit over crowded?

 

[matug]

i've been told numerous times by different fish shops and friends that its not

 

[so_highstreet]

i've been told numerous times by different fish shops and friends that its not

Maybe in terms of numbers it's not, but IMHO you've got to many bottom feeding fish in there, and more to the point what are you going to do once they get bigger?

 

[matug]

thanks for the advice with the catfish - i'll see what i can do!

my stats are as follows

ph - 7
nitrate - 0
nitrite - 0
ammonia - 0


matug

 

[zoekin8yg]

Are you sure of those stats? Its very very rare to have zero nitrates.

Most of your fish will grow to be too large for your tank

 

[matug]

i'll give them another test - might not have looked at the colour chart properly - sorry!

 

[matug]

Are you sure of those stats? Its very very rare to have zero nitrates.

i've retested and my nitrates are 10 - sorry


matug

 

[WILDER]

Sorry I can't believe you have a ammonia and nitrite reading of 0.
The tank is severly overtstocked and you are only doing water changes once a fortnight.
Plus the shark is gasping a sign of bad water quality.
Immediate water change and I would rehome some of the fish.
The sharks sounds like its dying of ammonia poisoning..

 

[matug]

Sorry I can't believe you have a ammonia and nitrite reading of 0.
The tank is severly overtstocked and you are only doing water changes once a fortnight.
Plus the shark is gasping a sign of bad water quality.
Immediate water change and I would rehome some of the fish.
The sharks sounds like its dying of ammonia poisoning..

I've just looked at this site - is this a good definition of ammonia poisoning?
http/fish.mongabay.com/diseases.htm
Could the shark also have gill flukes?
I found this on the same site
Gill Flukes (Dactylogyrus, Cichlidogyrus, Tetraonchus)
Tiny worm-like flukes infest the gill membranes causing redness and slimy gills, panting at the surface, rapid breathing, and emaciation.

My test kits show the levels even when i test the water again - sorry if you dont believe me

matug

 

[WILDER]

Signs of gill flukes are red inflamed gills, or pale with excess mucas on them.
Laboured breathing.
Flicking and rubbing against objects, spitting, losing weight sometimes, and swimming in a jerky movement.

 

[WILDER]

All you can do is wet a cloth in tank water, sterlise some tweezers in boiling water, wrap the fish in the cloth, and with a magifying glass take a look behind the gill plate for parasites.
If he does have gill flukes there done there damage now if he's laboured breathing.
http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=138

 

[matug]

Hes been breathing heavily and flicking when hes been swimming since wednesday.
All hes doing at the moment is laying in one of my plastic plants.He has got his mouth open and is breathing heavily. His tail has been getting lighter all evening.
Is there any chance of him surviving?