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I have two ID sharks that just lay on the bottom of the tank all day, they barley move, they only swim for a bit during feeding time. Is this normal. Please help....

how big is your tank? is it cycled? what other fish are in there? could be any number of things, ranging from space constraints to water quality issues (i.e. high ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)

FYI, ID sharks grow HUGE... and pretty ugly if I may say so. Even semi-mature fish look nothing like the pretty little flashes of silver you have now.

Last edited by nowherman6 at 09-Feb-2005 14:53

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Yeah...irridescent sharks practically don't stop growing. Ever. Unless you stunt their growth in a tank thats too small for them.

My bet is the tank is too small, uncycled, or poor water quality, or a combo.

Can you post your params?

And what are you feeding?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I know how huge they get they can get 18" to 52" in captivity. They are going to be going into a 300gal indoor pond in the winter, and a 600gal outdoor pond in the summer.when they get older. Anyway the sharks right now are only 3" and in a 55 gal tank with bala sharks (3). yes it's cycled and heated and filtered. I'm just not sure why they are lying around, this is our first go with ID sharks. I know lots of people think they get ugly but I think they are gorgeous when they get older. I have read all the info I could find, and can find nothing about them lying down all day. My ammonia and nitrates, and etc are fine, I take my water in to get tested once every two weeks. All the info I can get the better. So thank you for your info I do apreciate it.

I feed them tropical flakes and blood worms.

No offense intended. Most of the time when people have problems with ID sharks, they start off with, "I just got a new 10 gallon tank with 4 ID sharks and 2 clown loaches 2 days ago and now my fish are acting weird..."

Strange that yours are acting lethargic. From what I've read about them they're pretty active fish... perhaps it's bullying from the Balas (who also get too large for a 55, IMO.. hope they're going in the pond too...)? Or internal parasites? Have they been eating or are they just ignoring their food?

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There eating fine, but thats the only time they swim. My Bala's leave the sharks alone when I'm around. My tanks in my living room so I watch them all the time. I know how large all the fish I get. yes the Bala's will go into the pond. which will be heated. The sharks are actually my fiances though I love them too. They are extremly expensive but worth it. I tell all the people I know how large they get and not to get them, but I want mine to live a long time and be healthy.

Once again, no offense intended. As you've said, those two species are some of the most misunderstood that LFSs sell, so whenever someone brings them up it sets off a few alarm bells around here.

As for your problem... hmm, I'm stumped now. How long have you had them? Maybe they need some time to get used to their surroundings.

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I have had them for about three months. I actually went down to my fish store, which specializes in fish only, and they told me to try a couple table spoons of salt.

Well found out what was up with my fish, the lights were too bright. The ID's are now swimming and playing..

good to hear

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