Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => The Emergency Room => Topic started by: Arniemar on January 03, 2016, 11:48:50 PM
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My albino Red tailed shark :fishy1: developed a distinct red spot on his back some weeks ago. Is this a sign of disease or some thing else? Im wondering if I need to add something to his diet. It matches the colour of his fins and the pigment under his scales. Seems to be behaving normally, spends his time sheltering mostly during the daytime and comes out for the odd forray at night.
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Since it is an albino it could be a pigmentation patch. In the natural coloured fish (black body) it wouldn't be seen. As the fish is behaving normally I wouldn't worry at this point. If it was hiding more than usual, or wouldn't eat, or had clamped fins, or had white patches, that's the time to worry.
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Thanks :) I think you're probably right. Maybe this is just something that comes with age, he must be about three now. The red spot is ever so slightly raised, but that may be a trick of the eye. This fish does hide a lot so it's hard to tell how much it is eating and whether it is hiding more than usual! I haven't noticed anything else at this stage that would concern me.
Incidentally, what else would you feed a red-tailed shark? Mine largely survives on algae wafers.
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I've never had these fish so I have pinched some info from www.seriouslyfish.com
Primarily an aufwuchs grazer feeding on algae, small crustaceans, insect larvae, etc., and for it to develop its best colours and condition it should be offered regular meals of small live and frozen foods such as chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Daphnia and Artemia along with good quality dried flakes, granules and fresh plant material.
Shelled peas, cucumber, blanched courgette, spinach and chopped fruit all make good additions to the menu. Once settled it will often ascend into midwater to feed and browse the biofilm that tends to form on rockwork and other solid surfaces.
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Lovely, keep up the good work Sue.