bala shark parasite

Question
QUESTION: I have 4 bala sharks and recently noticed that one of them had a problem with its
gill and 2 of the 4 had black spots on them. I was told that this was a parasite
and started treatment. Now all 4 of them have stopped eating, they seem to hide
in a corner barely moving at all, and one looks to have scraped some of its scales
off. The black spots haven't seemed to go away either. Am I treating them for
the wrong thing or should I continue the treatment?

ANSWER: Hi Kelly,
When black spots appear on aquarium fish, its very rare that it is due to parasites. Because these parasites are quite uncommon to appear in aquariums.

The black spots can also be scabs, injury sites, or ammonia burns. So take that into consideration. I'd imagine your Bala sharks are hiding and not eating because they are stressed (two red flags raised here) so its either due to the medication or resulting bad water quality from medication killing off bacterial colonies.

I think your best bet is to stop the meds for now and start an aggressive water change schedule of about 50% everyday. Always making sure the replacement water is treated with a water conditioner and the temp is equal or just a bit warmer than your aquarium.

Also, it would help if you could test your aquarium for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. In healthy aquariums, these levels should be as follows- Ammonia-0 NItrites-0 Nitrates- 20 or less. If you have any presence of ammonia/nitrites then your tank must either be unestablished or out of balance due to the medication.

Water changes and time will cure almost any water quality problem.

Best of luck and I hope this helps!
Karen~

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I checked the water and all the levels are good. I've now done 2 water
changes of 50% and now the same bala that had lost some of its scales has
started to lay on the bottom of the tank barely moving and will randomly
seem to have a burst of energy, swim all over the tank, and then go right
back to the same spot in the corner on its side. He seems to be getting worse
as time goes on. What could I be doing wrong?

ANSWER: Wow, this seems like a case where the fish may not be able to fully recover. I'm sorry to have to say that.

Were these bala sharks recent purchases? If so, they may have already had something when they were in the petstore before you brought them home. I know you said your water quality is good but the behavior you described points towards a pollution problem in the water... perhaps there was a problem in the past that is catching up to them now?

I'm really afraid there is not much else I can advise for now. I fear your shark may not live much longer.

How is the other bala shark doing?

Gosh I wish really bad there was something else I could recommend. But when water changes don't help...and we aren't sure of their illness or if they even have an illness-- all we can do is know we tried our best.

Karen~

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I bought them about a month ago at a local pet store. I checked out all the
fish there and they seemed to be in good health. The other 3 seem to be
getting better slowly. They've started coming out of the corner more but
haven't started eating again yet. I had to remove the other from the tank
because they had started to pick at him. It's now in a small tank and is only
laying on the bottom but is somehow still alive. I'm sad to say that don't think
he will make it through the night but I do think the other 3 will survive. Thank
you for your help!

Answer
Aww, the poor sickly bala shark.

Sometimes these things happen and we can't control them and can't find a real convincing answer why...sometimes it can be something internally wrong that there is nothing you can do about.

I am really working to the best of my knowledge to help. I wish there was something else I could recommend but I think the poor shark will not last much longer. :(

My very best wishes as always,
Karen~