Well let me start by thanking anyone who can help me with this. I came home from class today to find my fish not looking so good. I have a 55 gallon tank with a 12 inch pleco, a 12 inch Oscar, a 6 inch angle, a 6 inch red tail catfish, and two bala sharks which are 6 and 12 inches. I realize that this tank is over stocked but they have lived like this for 8 years with no problems. When I arrived home I noticed that the two bala sharks where acting strange. Upon further inspection I was horrified. They both have red on their lips, their gills and where their fins meet their body. Also there is what looks like mucus all over there bodys and covering their eyes. The two bala sharks are also breathing erratically. The Red tailed cat has some of these symptoms but does not look as bad. The thing which really concerns me is that all of these fish were fine two days ago. They healthy and eating. Now they are on the verge of death the larger of the bala sharks is upside down some times. In response I have done a 50% water change making sure to have the water at the same temp. also I have added new carbon to my filters. I also have added aquarium salt to try and help with the breathing. I checked all of the water paramaters and they are all great. One thing that I did find interesting was that the water has no smell to it at all I thought that it would smell like a pond. I checked Cl and it was 0.
Need Help ASAP
- Thread starter koanders
- Start date
the oscar may have been attacking the balas. cichlids like to nip other fish which may have caused the red on their lips. the mucus must've came from the rtc cuz once in a while, they shed a mucus film off their bodies and some of it could've gotten onto the balas. the tank is not overstocked but the oscar is getting a little big for it. i suggest a bigger tank for it but the rtc can probably stay in here a year or two.
Remove the oscar ASAP to a larger tank and go again for a 20 percent water change. Remember balas can be very delicate sometimes when attacked or when tank is dirty. They can also suffer greatly fro m loss of oxygen so ensure that also. Alittle flow or current can also be a good idea.