Why did my bala die???

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Snoozie

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 15, 2006
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Sydney, Australia
I'm soooo sad. I lost 1 of my bala sharks today, I had a pair...

My question is why did he die???? I can't understand it, I thought they are meant to be a very hardy species. I have a completely cycled tank, my nitrate was 10 to 20, nitrite 0 and Ammonia 0. I do frequent water changes.

The only difference is I have a planted tank and my PH sits at about 6.8 ( I've read they prefer harder water but I don't want to use chemicals to alter the water).

I've only had them since Sunday...I restocked my tank. Could I have overstocked too quickly????

I had six tiger barbs and 2 suckermouths, then after I restocked, I have 1 x neon (were 12 but they didn't make it...) 6 x Blood fin tetras, 1 x Bala (as posted had 2 but 1 died this morning), 2 x Rainbow sharks, 2 x Electric yellows, 2 x Kribs and 1 x suckermouth.

I know this would have added more to the bioload but as my water was testing okay I didn't think it was an issue.

Does anyone have any idea of what may have caused this??? He appeared to be sucking at the surface just before he died....

P.S. I use CO2 for my plants but it's regulated, (its one of those Red Sea Turbo CO2 kits), and its yeast and sugar job not gas.

Please help....I don't want to lose anymore :shark:
 
If you only had two it could very well be stress. They are schooling fish and naturally they get stressed when they do not have a school.

Chad
 
It might have been just stress from the move or gill damage incurred at the same time, possibly from the net, it does not sound like you restocked to quickly as that would have spiked your ammonia. Do you know what the pH was in it's old tank, sudden changes can sometimes do it.
 
he seemd oxygen deprived because u said he was sucking at the surface usally means he needed more Oxygen
 
I am assuming that the other fish are not gasping, if I am jumping to conclusions here and they are gasping the Fishofdoom has hit it, in that case yank out the CO2 and bump up the surface movement with airstones.
 
Bala sharks are really sensative to a drop in PH, you said your using basically a DIY co2 system. They are really not a fish for that. The co2 has changed the PH or the co2 level is to high. Then someone said there a hardie fish. Not really they are so sinsative to strees from just knocking on the side of the tank. Bala sharks can strees out over the water primes,PH drop,Movement any little thing.
I've been reading up them to try alearn a way to breed them in captivatie. Using a swimming pool {2 1/2 f deep x 18f across } There a very sensative fish and the movment of the tank will kill them. They don't like changes of anykind once they adjust to the frist set of primes. Adding a airstone to the tank will bring back the old primes.
 
Hang on...I think my neons were doing the same thing before they died...gasping at the surface! However, everyone else seems to be okay...no more gasping.

ooooh...so maybe it's the Co2 doing the damage? I just did like a 70% water change last night to try and help the little guys out, tested the water again before doing it and still showing no ammonia, nitrites and only minimal nitrate. PH still bout 6.8.

Crap! So what can i do? If it take the Co2 out the plants die, if I don't the fish die....Looks like either way I turn something dies.

Also, found another thing that might have contributed...2 of my new plants I got (also on Sunday) have rotted in the roots...wasn't evident until I put my hand in to replant one and then it just fell apart in my hands.

What do u think? Should I definitely remove the Co2 and let the plants take their chances without it? Anyone else keep live plants and don't have a problem without Co2? Maybe I should just go back to artifical....... :confused:
 
I would. The fish should provide enough co2. If they dont then I would lightly stock the tank and keep the co2 on. So basically co2 on and lightly stock the tank or co2 off and heavily stock the tank.

Chad
 
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