Could I fit two more balas in this tank until summer?

[Brent II]

Ok, this weekend I am going to put a down payment on a 120 gal tank. So I should have it paid for by July. Anyway here is what I currently have.

55 gal.

Fish:

1 Chocolate Cichlid - pretty large, about 10 inches
1 common pleco - again pretty large, about 11 inches
1 bristle nose pleco - 3 inches
1 bala shark - 6 to 7 inches
1 silver dollar - 3 1/2 inches
1 red tailed cat - 2 inches


I know the bala, common pleco, and red tail get big big big. But I'm comcerned that my bala is stressed cause he and the silver dollar are the only schooling fish in there.

So what I was thinking was maybe get a couple small 2 or 3 inch balas to keep in that tank until July.

Sound like to much?

[thom336]

i reckon you'd be pushing it too far trying to fit acouple more balas in there...but whats happening in July?

[Brent II]

I'll have the 120 gal by then.

[thom336]

well...if your tests are good, and you think the tank could support more fish, then go for it. you really have to do whats best for the fish, and the company of a shoal would benefit the bala sharks.

[Brent II]

Tests are fine. I'm more worried about space but since I would get two small balas I thought it might work.

[wetmanNY]

Schooling fish behave differently with conspecifics that aren't their own size. The two little Balas aren't going to relieve much stress and are likely to be stressed themselves.

Try to decide now which species is the one you'll keep well in the 120 gallon tank. If it were me, I'd be finding more of the same species of bristlenose Lory and trying to spawn them in suitable surroundings. But i like small fish in big tanks better than big fish panicking at every shadow and smashing their snouts on the glass...

The red-tailed cat is a temporary resident in the 120. What will you do with it next year, after it's too big?

[Brent II]

I'll be getting rid of him next year. The lfs said they would take him back.