TheEssigs

Hey guys, I have 2 balas... one of which is developing a white nose. I didnt notice if he had an all white nose to begin with, but its noticable now... do you think he may be sick?

Amnagrla

Okay.

This is just what I've learned from here... and the internet. Other people will be able to help you more.

a) I've heard that they can run into the sides of the tank, banging up their nose... stress, etc. If this is the case, I think you'll be fine, it'll heal.

or

b) Maybe if it's an infection... try melafix to treat with... and I've also heard that you have to increase air flow because the melafix reduces oxygen levels or something.

Again... just my guesses but I'd wait until someone else gives an opinion. :-)

TheEssigs

Am... thanks!
I used mela today and yesterday, but I did notice that the fish were hanging at the top, so I did a 5g water change. There isnt any sign of other problems (yet)... and about the air... I just posted something on that too!
Thanks again for the advice.

Amnagrla

lol no problem. I know it says I'm a fish addict :-) but I just talk ... a lot. I'm still a newbie. I just happen to read just about EVERY thread on here.

I've learned so much in like 4 months it's riDICulous!

Good luck and keep me posted!

TheEssigs

Its spreading... now the discoloration is past his fase and creeping up his body (past his eyes), but his fins are fine... what hte heck?

armadillo

OK, I know nothing about bala or silver sharks so a verrrrry silly question: could it be that some adults are more white and he's just developing into his adult colours? Something else: a fish loosing colour could be a sign of stress, but then it would be all over the fish. Something else again: I believe the oodinium fungus can cause a while film on fish. You could look it up and see if it's related?

Here's a link to a couple of disease diagnosis sites that I hope will help:

http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html
http://www3.sympatico.ca/drosera1/fish/illness.htm
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/...h-Diseases/13/
http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

Hopefully that will set you on your way to diagnosing this and treating properly. Do you have an isolation tank you could put your sick fish in to avoid propagation and to allow treatment of that fish only, rather than the whole community?

TheEssigs

Update: I did some research and I found that sometimes with discoloration it may be parasitic... all i had was aquari-sol. So I added it. I added it 2 days ago, and the color in his face is returning... I guess it must have been some sort of parasite... wierd.

armadillo

Oh that's so cool, Theesigs. Glad he's on the mend.