Ugh... So it looks like the same thing spread to the catfish? I think when i get home I will toss the balls out depending how they look. Anyone near seacoast NH that wants these? I just can't medicate 600g and don't have a spare tank atm
Help with bala sharks
- Thread starter brich999
- Start date
Sorry I can't be of more help... I'm not sure what it is honestly. I've made a post here about my Catfish as well since I'm so confused. I did find a large plastic bin, about 7-8 gallon size that I've set up with a filter, aeration & and put him in. He seems fine while medicating with the API Fungus Cure, he's been real active, checkin out the new container he's in, but still not sure if he's getting better. His "cotton" look over his sores looks more like plain white, muscle tissue now. The medical bin I have him in helps cause I'm not affecting my Cichlid and I'm not using nearly as much meds vs. the amount needed for a 55. Right now I have a UV filter running through the 55 gallon as well to help kill the bacteria, fungus 'n' such that's been left over from my Balas dying and this issue w/ my cat.
Your best bet is really looking into the main issues w/ the Balas and finding out if you can pinpoint it as being bacterial or a fungus... I know mine was probably a fungus b/c they looked like they were flaking and their eyes were all clouded, but on the same term, I did have a Bala that had red patches on his side & under his chin, so that seems bacterial. It didn't look like "cotton" on them, more like "flaking skin", but it's strange b/c they showed signs of BOTH fungal AND bacterial, but the Maracyn definitely didn't help. That kind of blew me away b/c I've always gotten Maracyn to help w/ wounds and such. As said before, they died before I could try a fungal treatment... it's so difficult b/c Balas seem to die quick when they get affected. You could try to put them in a smaller container of some-sort w/ aeration and filtration and try medication... at least you gave it an effort then. Maybe take some photos and talk to someone at a local fish store. Also, check the pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc.. of your tank as well...
Your best bet is really looking into the main issues w/ the Balas and finding out if you can pinpoint it as being bacterial or a fungus... I know mine was probably a fungus b/c they looked like they were flaking and their eyes were all clouded, but on the same term, I did have a Bala that had red patches on his side & under his chin, so that seems bacterial. It didn't look like "cotton" on them, more like "flaking skin", but it's strange b/c they showed signs of BOTH fungal AND bacterial, but the Maracyn definitely didn't help. That kind of blew me away b/c I've always gotten Maracyn to help w/ wounds and such. As said before, they died before I could try a fungal treatment... it's so difficult b/c Balas seem to die quick when they get affected. You could try to put them in a smaller container of some-sort w/ aeration and filtration and try medication... at least you gave it an effort then. Maybe take some photos and talk to someone at a local fish store. Also, check the pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc.. of your tank as well...
Ya the fins and mouth are red, and they have a little film type stuff, but it isn't like any fungus I've ever seen. It's very quick thou, one night one fish had one cloudy eye, the next night all of them were on the brink of death
Sounds like a bacterial infection or fungus. Typically a clouded eye is a good sign of such, and is usually caused by poor water quality. Not saying it was your water quality but very likely caught in their previous tank. They're very easily transferable to other fish in a tank. A hospital tank is a must with a tank this big, especially for treating. Find a tank on craigslist asap. If you don't remove these guys and treat (I'd start with salt/good water quality/and temp raise) then it's very likely to spread to your entire tank, in which case you'll have to break the entire tank down to properly treat it.
I have only seen red fins in mine when I tried to keep them in an uncycled tank, and I have only seen cloudy eyes when there was injury. So I can't be of much help, I hope it all works out I love you Balas
I hope for your sake that its nothing that will spread. I would use a rubermaid as a hospital tank. No way I would not have one of those just waiting, I learned this lesson when I looked to see how much it would cost to treat a 220 gallon tank. It would have been cheaper to treat the rubber maid with prime and medicaid each day then to treat the 220 for 2 days.
I hope for your sake that its nothing that will spread. I would use a rubermaid as a hospital tank. No way I would not have one of those just waiting, I learned this lesson when I looked to see how much it would cost to treat a 220 gallon tank. It would have been cheaper to treat the rubber maid with prime and medicaid each day then to treat the 220 for 2 days.
Yes, I can understand... I can't use salt on my Cat for this condition b/c I heard they were sensitive to it. But Balas and maybe some fish in general do take a turn for the worst, quick... like I said, my Balas were belly-up the next day... I never dealt w/ a bacterial or fungal infection this bad in the 6 yrs I've had fish so it's definitely thrown me for a loop, especially cause I am thinking something transfered from bacterial to fungal from how my Balas transitioned in their issues...
Maybe if you get it all under control you might wanna invest in a UV for your large tank to help prevent this in the future... It's definitely good to have a smaller tank or bin 10-15 gallons for medication treatments... I have the catfish in 10 gallons worth in the plastic bin I found, so hopefully this relieves all the pressure my cichlid went under for the past 2 wks w/ the Balas and now my cat... I do believe my cichlid did start some of this as they are known to suck scales off of other fish... when I seen her starting it, I sectioned off a section of the tank just for her so she'd leave the others alone but I think the damage had already been done...
Maybe if you get it all under control you might wanna invest in a UV for your large tank to help prevent this in the future... It's definitely good to have a smaller tank or bin 10-15 gallons for medication treatments... I have the catfish in 10 gallons worth in the plastic bin I found, so hopefully this relieves all the pressure my cichlid went under for the past 2 wks w/ the Balas and now my cat... I do believe my cichlid did start some of this as they are known to suck scales off of other fish... when I seen her starting it, I sectioned off a section of the tank just for her so she'd leave the others alone but I think the damage had already been done...
UV for a tank that big would cost more then buying a small rubber maid as a QT tank and then buying a smaller UV. For the most part if the fish are healthy when you put them in they will stay that way.
I would guess the poor guys never had a chance and where sick from time of purchase. My two large bala's came with a free batch of ick.
I would guess the poor guys never had a chance and where sick from time of purchase. My two large bala's came with a free batch of ick.
all i can really say is a QT tank is always a must if it is 600G..but otherwise i would try to bump the temp, add salt, try to get the water quality up and most of all, HOPE...btw i have never had this happen to my fish (bala sharks) and it is probably a fungi or bacteria infection
Yea... I believe the UV for mine was over $100 and it was just for a 180 gallon... We had bought it when we got all the equipment for the 180 since we were having a bad algae problem w/ the 55 several months back and didn't even think of using the thing until yesterday to help rid the 55 of the rest of the crap since I just have a healthy cichlid in there now.
I did read around on the internet that you can't use UV when medicating anyway, but definitely a smaller bin for medicating is much easier than trying to get so much for a really large tank. It's hard w/ Balas... especially 10" ones cause their so jumpy and the larger ones tend to beat themselves up a lot in smaller confined areas. I remember how beat up they were from sitting 4 days, each in their containers from when I moved, so its probably the same thing in a 10-15 gallon medication tank.
As far as this spreading to my catfish... I believe it did but he seems to be a much hardier fish. Since doing the fungus treatment, he seems to be acting better, swimming around more, but I'm not sure even when to tell when he'll be healthy b/c I think he's gonna have something like scar tissue from this. Hopefully seeing his eyes clear up will help determine if he's gotten better. Usually that's the first thing to show when they get sick, at least on my Bala's it was...
I was at PetSmart tonight getting more gravel for the 180 and someone there mentioned a general "wide spreading" cure that helps with fungus, bacterial and parasites, so maybe wanna look into that if you're unsure what it is they have. I forgot what he said it was, but I know they said it was a lighter dose, so it would take a bit longer for signs of improvement. Maybe look into that, not sure if it'll help.
I did read around on the internet that you can't use UV when medicating anyway, but definitely a smaller bin for medicating is much easier than trying to get so much for a really large tank. It's hard w/ Balas... especially 10" ones cause their so jumpy and the larger ones tend to beat themselves up a lot in smaller confined areas. I remember how beat up they were from sitting 4 days, each in their containers from when I moved, so its probably the same thing in a 10-15 gallon medication tank.
As far as this spreading to my catfish... I believe it did but he seems to be a much hardier fish. Since doing the fungus treatment, he seems to be acting better, swimming around more, but I'm not sure even when to tell when he'll be healthy b/c I think he's gonna have something like scar tissue from this. Hopefully seeing his eyes clear up will help determine if he's gotten better. Usually that's the first thing to show when they get sick, at least on my Bala's it was...
I was at PetSmart tonight getting more gravel for the 180 and someone there mentioned a general "wide spreading" cure that helps with fungus, bacterial and parasites, so maybe wanna look into that if you're unsure what it is they have. I forgot what he said it was, but I know they said it was a lighter dose, so it would take a bit longer for signs of improvement. Maybe look into that, not sure if it'll help.
