HELP ASAP
- Thread starter eizenjin91
- Start date
Okay -consider the water parameters are good, and no other fish in the tank appear to be affected (including another shark)- I think rule out problems with pumps or filtration, as well as elevated ammonia or Nitrogen levels.
Since only this one shark appears to be affected.
When you add things like - rapid, irregular breathing, erratic swimming, and appears disorentated.
I think we need to consider it could be something like a parasite infection(possible internal).
Since only this one shark appears to be affected.
When you add things like - rapid, irregular breathing, erratic swimming, and appears disorentated.
I think we need to consider it could be something like a parasite infection(possible internal).
Internal:
Parasite or something impacted in the GI tract that he's stressed over and trying to work out of his system.
(As an example of when I lost an elasmo to an impaction: There was a fine sliver of a shell lodged in the lining of the stomach just before the spiral valve. It swelled, and blocked the SV completely. Despite eating, none of the food was being processed. Animal stopped eating for two days and then rolled over on me.)
Parasite or something impacted in the GI tract that he's stressed over and trying to work out of his system.
(As an example of when I lost an elasmo to an impaction: There was a fine sliver of a shell lodged in the lining of the stomach just before the spiral valve. It swelled, and blocked the SV completely. Despite eating, none of the food was being processed. Animal stopped eating for two days and then rolled over on me.)
I agree that since the other tankmates are OK and the basic water parameters are within normal limits - that rules out an external/environmental problem.
You then have to consider other possible problems
1. infectious
2. metabolic
3. neoplastic
Unfortunately, unless you are or have an experienced aquatic vet 2 and 3 are difficult to correct.
Though I do not think that the problem is infectious, I would still empirically treat. You really do not have anything to lose. The shark is no longer eating and is exhibiting extremely concerning behavior. I would give praziquantil, and broad spectrum antibiotic (minocycline - is maracyn II). A viral infection is a possibility, but treatments are limited.
My guess is that there is some metabolic disturbance. The only correctable issue that you could easily assist with, would be removal of undigested food from the gut. If a large meal is retained in the gut, a bacterial overgrowth can occur. This will produce gas that could cause buoyancy issue (possibly resting upside down) and a metabolic acidosis (increased respirations). That said, it is probably not the cause.
Please keep let us know what happens.
EDIT: just saw zoodivers post - again same issues with bacterial growth and agree that it is a cause.
You then have to consider other possible problems
1. infectious
2. metabolic
3. neoplastic
Unfortunately, unless you are or have an experienced aquatic vet 2 and 3 are difficult to correct.
Though I do not think that the problem is infectious, I would still empirically treat. You really do not have anything to lose. The shark is no longer eating and is exhibiting extremely concerning behavior. I would give praziquantil, and broad spectrum antibiotic (minocycline - is maracyn II). A viral infection is a possibility, but treatments are limited.
My guess is that there is some metabolic disturbance. The only correctable issue that you could easily assist with, would be removal of undigested food from the gut. If a large meal is retained in the gut, a bacterial overgrowth can occur. This will produce gas that could cause buoyancy issue (possibly resting upside down) and a metabolic acidosis (increased respirations). That said, it is probably not the cause.
Please keep let us know what happens.
EDIT: just saw zoodivers post - again same issues with bacterial growth and agree that it is a cause.
damn. just lost him this morning. I've attached some pictures from when i took him out of the tank. It looks like he has been chaffing himself. I have never seen him like this.
