Sick Bala's Need help

I have two bala sharks that have begun to get very sick. I believe one is already to the point that I can't help him, he's swimming upside down. They both have red streaks through their fins. I've been reading up on Septicemia but I'm not sure about it. The only reason why my smaller bala is so much sicker is because the larger one attacked him for absolutely no reason. I'm afraid that the size of the tank may be the problem, only 10 gallons, both balas are 3-4 in, but that doesn't explain the red fins.
I change about 50% of the water every 2 weeks, vaccuming the gravel, and use Stress Zyme and Tap Water Conditioner, Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, everytime that I change the water. They only get flake food. There is also one small pleco and 2 small neon tetras in the tank with them. I have not had any problems with any of my fish since two days ago. All other fish are healthy.

If anyone has any idea what could be going on I really need some help, I don't want to lose the other one.

Thanks in advance,

Sakura

 

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte? With 2 balas (they're supposed to get around 14" and really need at least a 6' tank which would be around 120 gallons), a pleco (do you know what kind?) and neons in a 10 gallon, I'm guessing your water quality is really poor and that's what's causing the septicemia (which appears as red blotches on the body and red streaks in the fins).

I'd start doing at least daily 30% water changes and get those test results asap.

-Chelle

 

Honestly I am a new aquarium owner who was poorly educated until AFTER I bought my fish, I have been taught not to trust Petco. As for the pleco, I can't remember the name. He's about 1 1/2 inches long, tall dorsal fin, black with brown spots. I don't have those kits yet, but thank you for the suggestion. I've changed the water and tomorrow I'm going to go out and get a 20 gallon to last for awhile, and seperate my balas until this passes, as you know aquariums get quite expensive, too expensive for my single mother college student budget. Thank you though!

 

Trust Petco...Its a good place. I've learned a couple of things from them. But for anything extensive, going online should be able to help you. I learned SO MUCH from just sitting down and reading about the fish I wanted before I went out and bought them.
Yes, Balas need a MUCH bigger tank than a 10. The poor water quality is causing the fish's immune system to drop and stress the fish out, which causes them to get sick. If you're going to keep them in that kind of tank, the water needs to be changed everyday.
If one is swimming upside down, theres not much time left. But if you go to PetCo or whatever store you go to and ask them, they can give you some medication to atleast treat the water.

 

Perhaps its only the petco in my town, but no one there knows what they are talking about. My smaller bala died last night, so I've moved my larger still live bala to my new 20 gallon to keep him away from the other fish. I guess I'll see what happens. Do you know the name of the meds I need? All the websites I've been to just tell the name of a particular brand. I live in the states, so I guess we don't have the brand, I haven't been able to find it in the 3 local pet stores.

 

You still need those test results (especially now that you put him in a new, most likely uncycled, tank). For meds, I'd try Maracyn-two (an antibiotic made by Mardel. Active ingredient is Minocycline), or if you can't find that, you could try Tetracycline or maybe Kanacyn.

-Chelle

 

My other bala just died. Thanks for the med suggestions though, because now my tetras are acting strangely. Hopefully I won't lose all of my fish to this. :cry: