Silver Shark

[cheechee125]

Hi, i bought two silver sharks roughly 2/3 weeks ago, one died last night so i went to get a water test done at pets at home.
They said my water was fine.... today, my other silver shark has spent all day in the top right of my tank in an upright position, it doesnt look like he/she is gasping, it just "treading water" an inch from the water surface, what could be wrong?

I have 1 live plant, some hiding places, an air stone and my water is fine

 

[WILDER]

Immediate water change. Increase aeration.

How many gallons or litres is the tank?
How many fish and which type?
Please in future ask pets@home to write the test results down for you.
I would also advise you to invest in some liquid test kits of your own.

Does the silver sharks show any signs of these symptoms below.

Laboured breathing?
Does the fish look pale, or darker in colour
Can the fish maintain balance in the water.
Is the fish darting around the tank, or any signs of erratic swimming.
Does the fish swim in circles, turn upside down.
Does the body look cloudy in appearance.
Do the gills look pale, red, purple.

 

[cheechee125]

Immediate water change. Increase aeration.

How many gallons or litres is the tank?
How many fish and which type?
Please in future ask pets@home to write the test results down for you.
I would also advise you to invest in some liquid test kits of your own.

Does the silver sharks show any signs of these symptoms below.

Laboured breathing?
Does the fish look pale, or darker in colour
Can the fish maintain balance in the water.
Is the fish darting around the tank, or any signs of erratic swimming.
Does the fish swim in circles, turn upside down.
Does the body look cloudy in appearance.
Do the gills look pale, red, purple.

 

[cheechee125]

Immediate water change. Increase aeration.

How many gallons or litres is the tank?
How many fish and which type?
Please in future ask pets@home to write the test results down for you.
I would also advise you to invest in some liquid test kits of your own.

Does the silver sharks show any signs of these symptoms below.

Laboured breathing?
Does the fish look pale, or darker in colour
Can the fish maintain balance in the water.
Is the fish darting around the tank, or any signs of erratic swimming.
Does the fish swim in circles, turn upside down.
Does the body look cloudy in appearance.
Do the gills look pale, red, purple.

Its a 120 litre tank ive got guppys, male and female, balloon mollys, neon tetras, frogs, harlequin rasboras and a pleco. It has had the odd fast swim but it must have been in the same place for at least 3 hours now, i have seen it twitching a bit, but apart from that it looks normal with no other symptoms

 

[WILDER]

How long did you climatize the new fish for?
Check the fish for tiny clear bubbles on body,fins, also tiny white spots?
Have you seen the shark flicking and rubbing itself on objects in the tank?

Did the other shark that died show any symptoms before death?

 

[cheechee125]

No bubbles, no white spots and ive not witnessed any rubbing, I did everything that was asked of me at pets at home, and i didnt see anything wrong with the last one, i returned from work and he was dead and being nibbled at by the guppys

 

[WILDER]

OK.
Just keep a close eye on him and if any changes get back to the board.

Also silver sharks like to be kept in groups.
Will eat small fish that can fit in there mouths. Such as neon tetra's.
Once they start to grow they need to be kept in 100 gallon tanks.

 

[cheechee125]

Thanks for the advice, pets at home never told me about them eating smaller fish! she told me they are so friendly and if anyone told her differently she would find it harder to believe, and she asked how big my tank was and said it was fine!
Im annoyed now lol

 

[WILDER]

Best advice I can offer is to do your own research before buying a fish.
Tank size, adult size, compatibility.

Keep a look out for when the fish goes to the toilet. As this can tell you alot.
Does he look bloated, or thin, sunken in belly?

 

[mossonthemoon]

I would be weary of advice you get from any shop, but especially one that isn't a fish specialist. My Pets at Home has someone that seems quite knowledgeable, but I have also spoken to someone that... wasn't. I was just looking at my small quarantine tank that is branded by them, and for the first time I checked the instructions that came on the bottom of the packaging. This was only an hour ago. The official advice is horrendous. I feel sorry for people who (rightfully) assume that instructions would be correct. I would have a look at the beginners section here and see how well it corresponds to what you have been told, then go from there. Good luck with your fish.

 

[cheechee125]

Best advice I can offer is to do your own research before buying a fish.
Tank size, adult size, compatibility.

Keep a look out for when the fish goes to the toilet. As this can tell you alot.
Does he look bloated, or thin, sunken in belly?

I wish i could tell you, how can you tell if a fish is bloated? lol
I will keep an eye on him, Thanks

 

[WILDER]

The tummy area on the fish will look swollen, and bloated.

Neon tetra with bloated tummy. Dropsy.

 

[cheechee125]

i see, no nothing like that, just not like him to be so still and upright, he looks totally healty, just unusual behaviour

 

[WILDER]

What is your tank temp?

 

[cheechee125]

20c