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Red Tail shark---red is now gone?
I just set up a new 30 gallon tank, this is my first tank ever. I put in 3 small tiger barbs and one red tail shark. The red tail is only about one inch long. I put the fish in the tank last Saturday.
The water where I live is very soft, last night when feeding the fish I noticed that the red tail has lost all the red on the tail, it is now almost clear. I have been feeding the fish flake food.
any advise would be helpful.
3 Answers
- JestepLv 51 decade agoFavorite Answer
Did you cycle the tank before putting the fish in it? Ammonia build up can cause fish to change colors. If you didn't cycle the tank, the water will become toxic to the fish. These are robust fish and may be able to survive a cycle, but you will need to do daily water changes.
- 1 decade ago
Don't know what flakes you have, but the red tailed shark eats:
Fresh spinach, zucchini, lettuce and algae. Live brine shrimp, blood worms, glass worms and tubifex worms. Frozen vegetable diet, blood worms, brine shrimp, glass worms and plankton. All types of freeze dried and pelleted foods.
Did you use water conditioner? poor water conditions and or diet make the fish lose colors., take a sample of your water to a fish/pet store and ask if they can test your water for u, they should, and can help you with what you need to get so that you can make your water levels nice.
Source(s): 100 Gallon http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/Civic1998Tu... http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/Civic1998Tu... http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/Civic1998Tu... http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/Civic1998Tu... - Aquella BSL=BSLv 71 decade ago
I too believe that the most likely cause for your fish's paleness is lack of a proper cycle. Generally, it is best to cycle your aquarium without fish. However, you could probably get away with doing so with your current fish, though they're bound to suffer, and you'll likely lose some.
Here's some cycling info:
Basic - http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
Better - http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquarium/cycling.p...
Should you decide to return your fish and perform a cycle before restocking - http://www.csupomona.edu/~jskoga/Aquariums/Ammonia...
At any rate, your fish is showing clear signs of stress. An immediate nest of your water parameters, (Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate,) is in order, and a 30% water change as well.
Good luck.
FYI, good fish profile sites:
By species/kind - http://www.peteducation.com/category.cfm?c=16+1911
Search by name - http://www.aquariumlife.net/fishprof.asp
Source(s): Experience,.
