my blacktip shark has goiter... any ideas

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
K

kevinster_1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 3, 2010
45
0
6
west covina
i've read that iodine suppliments should help in curing this problem... question is has anyone use a particular brand that works?
doesn't seem like there much information on this matter.

my blacktip is about 24" now and i've had him for a year or so now. he's still eating but i'm afraid he will not be able to swallow if it gets bigger.

if anyone knows of the best solution for this please let me know.

addtional info on my tank:
water condition and tank in very well kept. he's currently in a 500 gallon tank. with a few other small reef fishes. plenty of space to swim around since he's my only shark. my tank has a 120 gallon sump, skimmer, chiller, carbon reactor, gfo reactor, addtion 40gallon sump filter w/ 4 sock filters. use to have over 600 lbs of live rock but only 200 now since he's grown a bit. 400 lbs of live sand. 8 medal hilades (though only 4 is on at one time)
saltwater is delivered monthly (1000 gallons from catalina) water changes every 2 weeks. only 10-20 percent each change. all other fishes are completely 100% healthy.

i will post the pictures of his goiter soon. doesn't look right. i'll cure him first before posting it.

thank you for cking this out. any suggestions will be helpful.

kevin
 
I use liquid vitamins (VitaChem) and have never had any goiter issues. Since the shark is still eating you should have no problems administering the vitamins. Just soak the food in liquid vitamins for 10-15 minutes and then feed. You should see a turnaround in the goiter in a month.
 
he's currently in a 500 gallon tank. with a few other small reef fishes. plenty of space to swim around since he's my only shark.
Click to expand...

Umm ... I hate to tall you this - but a 500 gallon tank is already too small for a 24" Blacktip reef. If you had a Bamboo shark or other similar type of benthic species you would be okay for a little while, with a 500 gallon tank.

However Blacktip reefs are ORVs (Obligated Ram Ventilators) - which means they need to be in continuious motion in order to breath. These sharks need lots of room in to maintain a normal Swim-glide motion. At 2 ft long a ORV needs at least a pond that's at least 10 ft (5x it's current length) diameter. But even this won't allow much addition room for the shark's continued growth.

As for the problem with the goiter - Shark dealer has a good suggestion.
 
Reason you are seeing the problem metabolizing the iodine/iodide is the small tank. HE needs more room to swim to properly make use of the additive.

Quick question...black tip shark or black tip reef shark?

Mazuri Shark/Ray tabs or supplementing with live/fresh killed food will help if you don't want to do a straight iodine pill. It might take some time for the body to absorb the mass.
 
hi i have had a bamboo shark for six months now, when i bought her she had the start of goiter looked like she had a little adams apple.
I used SEACHEM REEF PLUS & BRIGHTWELL AQUATICS VITAMARIN-M to soak the food in,the reef plus contains iodine.
I have found frozen cooked prawns to be good at absorbin and retainin good amounts of the vitamins.
The goiter was all gone within 2-3 weeks .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom