FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have a 5-6 inch Bala Shark that is doing some really wierd stuff. It starts off by making a loud splashing noise then he floats upside down at the top of the tank twitching, shaking, and barely breathing for about 30 - 40 seconds. After that his breathing picks up and he attempts to swim a bit. After 20-30 seconds of that he turns around and appears to be totally fine.

He has done it twice today (that I've seen), and other than a little booboo on his snout he looks totally normal. All his tank mates seem fine also.

interesting to say the least, my old bala used to splash around but he never would float upside down, how big is the tank and what else is in it?

I have a 30 gallon, there is an albino channel cat, a rainbow shark, 2 angels,2 columbian sharks, and a brown bullhead catfish,

Do you have a test kit for water quality for that very busy tank?

Yes I do have test kits and I have a pretty good balance going on in it too... I wish my Oscar tank could do just as good but I'm sure it won't until I get a much bigger tank for them.

in my experience twitching und floating upside down is never good. got no idea how to help tho. post a pic if u can and put up the exact water parameters. then a few of the experts on here might be able to help

I was wondering about water quality due to the tank being overstocked. Most disease and death can be traced back to poor water quality. I am not saying your water quality is bad, I just wanted to state that due to your stocking of that tank.

What I have to say next is not intended to be rude but to represent all the facts and possible future problems you will experience with your tank. Keeping fish should be ENJOYABLE not troublesome and stressfull.

Channel catfish are tank buster and should NOT be kept in home aquariums. Shunting and early death is a very common problem. They get huge and weight lots. here is a link.http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/ictaluri/ictaluru/261_f.php
This site makes claims of the fish attaining 100-250 pounds and up to 4 feet plus. It also states that is North America's largest native fish species. It is a crime and should be outlawed that LFS can sell this species. The proper tank for this species could only be measured in thousands of gallons.

Bala sharks are one of the most active fish out there. They a foot plus and need at least a six foot tank and most people on this site believe they should be kept in a eight foot or longer tank. Beautiful and stunning fish.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/library/profiles/blfw0050.htm
Columbia Sharks also get a foot plus. A lot of shark can be conspecific aggressive.

Did the lfs employee suggest this arrangement of fish, because it seems like a LFS was recommending some fish that usually don't sell that often. To a have a tank that you will enjoy I would return all the fish but the angels and maybe get a school of community fish to compliment those angels. Those other fish don't belong in a 30 gallon.

I agree with OpenWater.
This is likely the problem, your Bala Shark
has likely smashed itself into something in such a
tiny tank and hurt his/her swim bladder.
Bala Sharks alone need a tank 100 gallons or larger,
with 6-7 feet in length being the bare minimum.
Columbia Sharks also grow very large, 12-14 inches and
then even larger, they also require a tank 100 gallons plus.
Channel Cats grow to be 45 pounds or larger, obviously too large for any aquarium.
Brown Bullheads could be kept in a tank 75gallons or larger.
The angelfish alone need that tank to themselves, with perhaps a small group of small tetra (rummynose, bloodfins etc).
Not trying to be mean, or rude, but I would advise you to return all those fish except the Angels to the Fish Store.
Your fish will not live long in such a cramped environment and will be e to stunting (where internal organs outgrow the external body and explode or become infected causing death), or will be plaqued with disease and die at a very young age.
All of the fish in question can live upwards of 15 years, and wont live more than 1-3 years in your aquarium.
The Fish Store should give you instore credit for such fish, which you could use to replace these fish with ones more suited to your small tank.

Also, for "good balance" in your tank what exactly are your test readings?
A cycled tank should test 0 for ammonia and nitrites,
and read only for nitrAtes. Any thing else is not a good balance.



Last edited by So_Very_Sneaky at 09-Sep-2005 00:17

Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

*sigh* The great fish debate. Seems like a mess to have such cool fish and to realize they probably aren't going to work for your tank.

Unfortunately they are right, but hey not like you knew when you bought them


The bala shark could be having seizures, or could have a swim bladder problem. Typical minimum size tank listed for them is 125 gallons. My three actually seemed kinda cramped in my 125 gallon tank. They really do rather prefer company. Most local fish stores will gladly take these guys back in on trade

The columbian sharks get very large and even more alarming is that they kinda get agressive. They will kill a fish if they can and eat it. Mine were amazing in that respect. Brought my lovely "peaceful" oddball fish home probably 3 or 4 years ago and man oh man did they take out the entire school of tetras fast. Then they moved on to bigger fish. During their short overnight stay they wiped out half of the community tank before I woke up and went wow and moved them into another tank. There is quite a bit of debate as to whether they need saltwater or not to thrive, but in the wild they do eventually become a fully marine shark catfish.


Just figured I'd chime in on the fish I've kept, Really a 30 gallon is going to be a bit small imo for two adult angels unless they are the dwarf angels. I hate saying this but I would in your shoes just take all of the fish back to the fish store and think about building a new stocking list for your 30 gallon

Goodluck, got some hard decisions ahead

koi

Sorry I forgot to chime in on the channel cats, I kept them in ponds outside, that fish will be 12 inches in 2-3 months and 2 feet within 4-8 months and then it slows down to 3 ft within 2 years of you owning the fish and just keeps going. They never stop growing, and they will always eat whatever they can fit in their mouths

Last edited by Koi Keeper at 09-Sep-2005 18:23

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

I thank you for all your input, I can assure you that I didn't know about all these potential problems with the fish when I bought them. I have been into fish since January and I just assumed that the lfs store would have filled me in on things about the fish. The store owner went away on tour for 6 mos and the help he had at the store really did not know alot about fish. Believe me, I will NEVER buy another fish without doing my own research first. I am in the market for a 100 gallon or better, of course I'm looking for a bargan so I just hope it comes along soon so I don't have to make any unplesant decisions.

It is refreshing to see someone agreeing with good advice and experience. All to often people reply back with anger and despair when told the facts. Thank you for being rational and open-minded about the situation.

OW; I agree with you too , I have noticed that going through some of the posts..... The way I look at is that if you don't want to hear, or deal with it then why ask in the first place. Your just wasteing peoples time, not only that but if you read some previous posts you may discover the answer to your question. (To be honest I may have done that also when I first got into this)

I'm not surprized, and I'm sure no one else will be either, but my Bala Shark bit the biscuit this afternoon.... another lesson learned the hard way.....

aww im very sorry to hear this


best of luck on the new fishies once you get them though