badger-pants

Hello all. I am asking this because someone I know has 2 silver sharks in a (im not sure of the size) but its on of those massive corner tanks made by Juwel...

and I happened to notice in the LFS that their Silver Sharks are a stunning silver and very shiny...but hers (one she has had for 2-3yrs and the other 3months) have gone a very dull looking grey.

I have no idea about the water parameters as it isn't my tank...and I'm guessing she's using the standard tube lights that came with her tank... :/ she feeds them Aquaria tropical fish food flakes. She has 1 Common Pleco, 1 Silver Catfish, 1 Moonlght Gourami, 3 Platys and the recent addition of 2 Angel Fish. She is hoping to add 2 Silver Dollars eventually too....

Anyway, about the Silver Sharks? whats going on? and what can I advise her to do to make them silver again.

Shawnie

it could be a combo of bad water, diet, or the tank isnt big enough and causing stress or illness...bala's like friends of their own also, but I have a single one and he is doing great......without all the readings and sizes etc, its hard to say...I can say that bala's like horizontal swim space and in corner tanks, there isnt room for a bala to grow and expand...a diet of just low quality flakes, can also cause it....lighting even at the lowest standard, shouldnt be an issue...I have all standard lighting and my bala is a shine freak...

ABCDemily

I'm not sure if they lose their shiny gleam with age, or if its an indication of stress. I don't have much experience on the Balas, but I'm guessing it's either as they age and grow larger, or if it's an indication for something more underhand at work. I looked at a large shark on google images (Hi-tech-I know) And they did look a wee bit duller than the younger counterparts.

Good luck.

*EDIT*

Ninja'd by Shawnie!

badger-pants

hmm, thanks for your replies. I thought it might be something to do with the cheap food she feeds them. It's just some cheap brand she picks up from Sainsburys.

I keep meaning to test her water when she isnt looking lol just out of curiosity because I bet the levels are disgusting! How her fish are still alive I will never know. She only does a water change when the glass is thick with green algae... and then its a FULL change, take out fish, store fish while she scrubs the glass clean, refill tank, put fish back in. - I have NEVER seen a bottle of tap safe in her cupboard around the fish tank... somehow shes kept her fish alive for three yrs!

Shawnie

aww poor things..but being alive, isnt always thriving...allot of us can live in a dirty closet for years with food..even icky food..but we are not thriving...goodluck ! and maybe she will give the tank to you if its such a pain to her

ABCDemily

Also IMO I'd tell her that she has far too many adult lengths of fish in a 50 gallon (Assuming it's the 190) she's going to have 28 inches from the balas, 18 from the pleco, and I'm sure I don't need to go into the rest. I'd try educating her on testing, clea ning without actually removing fish! Cycling, and water conditioner!

Good luck with it!