bala shark

[77710]

So I did some research on bala sharks and everything I read said they were good in community tanks, so now I would like your opinions on them. would they be good in a 140 gal tank with schools of tetras, gourami's and corys? how do they do in a planted tank?
thanks

 

[jm1212]

they are pretty actice and like to school. in those schools though, they bicker, so 6 is a good number to start with, which would be to many. they may also eat fish that are able to fit in their mouths like neons, other small tetras etc.

 

[77710]

would they be okay for a little while until they are too big then give them away and start with something else

 

[bdobosz]

I have 4 around the 6" mark in my 210g with a mix of other fish. They are super active but generally peaceful. If a Tetra swims by turing feeding time they definitly take a look at it as food, but they are still a little big to eat.

 

[77710]

i think i am going to pick 3 up for the tank. i am still trying to decide what else to put in the tank.
I had a idea for going with a gourami tank, i found a pond by my girlfriends house where someone must have released some gourami's and they bread because now there are huge schools of them in the pond. I am thinking of netting a few, they are around 6" long

 

[Lupin]

would they be okay for a little while until they are too big then give them away and start with something else

I don't agree with that. If you cannot keep balas long term, then don't get them. I'd rather you should stick to fish that will coexist with the tetras, cories and gouramis on long-term basis. What tetras were you keeping?

 

[77710]

I already have the tetras there are 12 blood fin and 6 pork chop

 

[Lupin]

I already have the tetras there are 12 blood fin and 6 pork chop

Pork chop tetras? I was under the impression the pork chops are rasboras.

 

[77710]

thats what the guy at the fish store called them, they are about 3/4" long and look like serpe tetras.