Fungas Disease

Question
We have had the tank for only 3 months or so. We had 2 black tip sharks, 2 albino barbs and 2 catfish. On Sunday we noticed one catfish was dead and one shark was on his way out. I went to the pet store and told the person there what was happening and he thought it sounded like the fungas disease. He had me buy the "antibiotics" I think it is Marecylin(?) for the tank. Reading the description on the box it sounds like what we have.

So my question is are the rest of the fish going to get this even if I treat the tank? We will give the 5 recommended doses. How did we get the disease in the first place so I can try to prevent it from happening again?

I hate those barbs. They are like peranas. I am think seriously of flushing them. They were attacking the dying shark before the thing was dead on Sunday. The other shark and catfish left it alone.

Should I get a pleco for algea for a 10 gallon tank? I have one catfish that eats from the bottom. Would a pleco survive in a 10 gallon tank with a catfish already?

I have been doing partial water changes every 2.5 or 3 weeks. Is that good to continue? Am I cleaning too much if I scrub down the walls and clean the fake plants in the tank if I don't have a pleco?

Thanks for any help.

susie

Answer
Hi Susie;

I think the main problem is that the fish you have are too big and too messy for a 10 gallon tank. You need at least a 55 gallon for blacktips, as they get up to a foot long. Barbs are indeed aggressive fish. The smaller the tank, the worse they are. I wouldn't add any more fish to this little tank. Especially not a plecostomus. They get a foot long or more too. There are some varieties of pleco that stay 4 to 6 inches, but even they would be overloading it.

With the fish you have, you are best off changing 25% of the water every week while vacuuming the gravel. You might be able to go up to two weeks, but it can be risky. I think that is partly the problem too. It needs more water changes and gravel cleanings. The fish get sick easily if the water and gravel are not clean. Their immune systems can't work properly.

I am so sorry you were misinformed about the fish you have in your little tank. Just do the best you can for now in cleaning until you can either return the fish to the store, find other larger homes for them to go to or get a bigger tank.

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

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