My bala shark has been losing a few scales lately. The water is ok, and I change it frequently. He is eating well also. I do have some lava rock in the tank. Could this be the only problem? Any other ideas?

Wow, hot topic! Thanks for the help.

This forum has been slowing down lately... we need a new moderator to help get some traffic in here.

Anyway, are there any signs of aggression? How big is the tank? What else is in the tank? (size, species, etc.)

I have 2 bala sharks, and never had the problem of them losing their scales.....Look over the tank and see if you can notice on if any of the other fish are picking on it...Also is there any type of fuzz or discoloration around the area or on the bala shark??????????

You may not have to worry about anything, just keep a watch on the bala shark....Are there fish picking on it or does it get itself stuck into tight spots....I can't find any disease that would cause the loss of scales....Also does it rub itself up against objects....Let us know what's going on and we'll help you in any way we can....Good Luck..

Thanks for the replies. I have a 55 gallon tank. I have a black ghost that is about 10 inches, and the bala is about 7 inches. I have a few tetras as well. The tetras have nipped at others' fins at times, but not the balas'. The black ghost knife doesn't bother the bala at all. The bala does get spooked at times and swims fast. I guess this could be the only reason.

Oh, and some Red Rainbows.

The other fish shouldn't be the problem....I've done more research, though still unable to find any disease that would cause it,,,so far so good,,I have been told by several people that their bala sharks scales have come off though would grow back, the cause would be due to getting stuck in a tight spot or would get scrapped up against an object...If this all started when you put in the lava, lava rock does have a rough suface, when your bala sharks gets spooked and get's into the high speed swimming, it really doesn't think about where it's going, as long as it get's away from whatever scared it, therefor it is possible that he could of been spooked and possibly, swim along the lava rock and be scraped by it....Just something to think about...If I find anything else about it I'll let you know...

Sorry,,I just found something..
Does the bala shark have an open sore with red edges, red abcesses or possible muscle tissue exposure??? If so are there tiny visible worms in the sore??????

one other thing::: [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]oes the bala shark have red streaks on body or is bleeding????
Are the scales lost along the lateral line only??????Are there white patches on the scaleless skin??????

No, there are no red patches, nor white patches. The scales are just missing from a few random areas. His movement and behavior seem fine. Thanks for the help.

None of my Balas are missing scales. However, speaking or red sores, one of them seems to have a pinkish-red sore below one of it's eyes just in front of his gills. I can't really see if it’s an open sore w/ worms or not. What might this be.

Another question, does anyone know if red tail sharks get along with Balas? (6”+ Balas 3” Red tail)

iamgeefer,,,,,Is the pinkish red area fuzzy on top of the scales or is it an open soar???

Hey,
Just wanted all to know that I noticed new scales emerging from beneath the lost scale patches. I think it is just from the sharp lava.

Nice to hear that Billy, Good Luck, in the future...If you have any other problems, we're here to help...

It appears that the pinkish red area ison top of not an open soar. It is on the head area bellow the eye not on the scales.

Iamgeefer, Is your bala shark being picked on at all, by the other fish?????

Also, does it look like a velvet patch????

One of my corydoras cats had a white velvet patch on it before it died. It was a fungus, and you can treat it with Maracyn. (which is chemically known as Erythromycin)

You can also add StressCoat, which is a product that is designed to improve the slime coat on fish.

Secondly, you could try adding aquarium salt to the water, it can help prevent disease outbreaks.

Red tailed sharks should get along fine with the Balas.


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Somonas
Moderator - Freshwater Fish
Aquariums are interactive TV for cats.