	AllExperts > Fish
	Search

About Ron Coleman
Expertise
I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish). Please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. I keep fishes both as a scientist and as a hobbyist and I currently maintain about 140 aquariums.

Experience
I am an Assistant Professor at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.

Publications
Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes

Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Fish > Bala Sharks

Fish - Bala Sharks

Expert: Ron Coleman - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have lost a Bala shark the last two times I did my monthly 25% water change.
The tank is established.
The water tests fine.
I use tap water @ 80 degrees - I have done this for years with no problems.
It is just recently that I lose Balas.
No other fish are affected.
Tell me why Balas just recently seem to be sensitive to water changes.
HELP!
Thanks
Darrel

ANSWER: Hi Darrel,
It could be coincidence. It could also be that your tap water has changed. It may be that your municipality has recently added more chlorine to the water (they often do these in rainy periods) or they might now be adding chloramine. Either of these would be a reason for your fish to die.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ron
Are there any products to add to the water to make the change less stressful i.e. Seachem Prime
that removes chlorine, chloramine, ammonia and detoxifies nitrite & nitrate? Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Darrel

Answer
Hi Darrel,
If your water has chlorine in it, then letting it sit 24 hours before using it does the
trick. That is what I do for all my tanks. If it has chloramine, then you absolutely have
to use one of those products to break up the chloramine molecules. If you only have chlorine
and don't want to have buckets of water sitting around, then you can use one of those products.
Be sure to add the chemical to the water BEFORE adding all of that to the tank. Do not just
put in the new water and add the chemical to the tank -- that can really shock the fish.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>

Add to this Answer Ask a Question