Bala feeding behaviors

It takes balas (or just about any other type of fish, for that matter) a few weeks to get comfortable in new surroundings. If you've had them less than a month, I certainly wouldn't worry, as they are likely still adjusting.

Although the balas being newly introduced to your tank is more likely the issue here, decor issues that might be worth considering are:

- not enough plants (live or plastic) or other decor items for them to hide in/around
- too much decor, preventing them from freely swimming around

I tend to decorate the back and middle of the tank, but leave the front and top portion open for swimming.
 
I have a bala question. What if I were to put 3 small ones alone in a 12 gallon tank. How big do you think they'd grow?
 
They wouldn't last long, I'll grant you that. They can grow to be what.. 13 inches? X 3 = 39 inches? In 12 gallons? I'd not recommend it...the tank won't support them and they'll die. They won't just stop growing -- the will die.
 
They will eventually out grow that 12 gallon tank and will need more space. If your getting Balas you need to have a plan for getting a larger tank in the future.
 
Now don't fish adjust to their environment and will stunt their growth so they don't become too big for their tank? The one bala that I have used to be kinda crammed in a 12 gallon tank and it never grew at all in the two months that it was in there. Now it has plenty of space in a 50 gallon, and I'm waiting for it to grow.
 
I wouldn't classify 2 months as being any amount of time by which to decide whether growth was occurring or being stunted. Certainly, fish with less resources (oxygen, etc) and more problems (overcrowding, increased waste, etc) are going to have a tougher time growing. But this doesn't mean nature's course is going to hault -- they will be trying to grow in an environment that won't support that growth. Bad things will happen.

My two cents. :dance
 
If you have any driftwood make sure they don't have sharp edges. My bala cut an eye from darting too fast. I never known them to 'hide' behind plants or decor. Mine usually go about it's business searching for food.
They take a long time to grow. My 46 bow tank w/mates was plenty of space for them
 
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