Bala feeding behaviors

[MattyJFly]

Howdy,

My 3 balas have been doing fine, but I'm always puzzled about how to feed them. If you know balas you know that they are a shy fish generally. I never catch them eating. They won't go after slow sinking pellets even near by, and they don't immediately seek out pellets on the ground. Forget flakes.

At any rate, I don't know if they're waiting till I leave the room or what. It's tough because I don't want to overfeed them (i.e., keep dropping pellets till they eat), as the trouble there is obvious.

Anyone have any insight here?

 

[Die Putzfrau]

Bala

Well in my experience, my bala never goes to the top with the other fish when I drop in flakes. It usually just hangs around the middle and bottom areas of my tank and eats the sinking flakes that my other fish didn't catch. It doesn't really seem like it eats very much but it has been doing fine ever since I got it. I'm not sure if this helps you or not, it's just what I've experienced.

 

[Web Gazelle]

I have 2 years of experience with Balas. I have seen em go to the top, swim around the middle and search the bottom. They always found food somehow. Try dimming the lights and moving away from the tank. Having someone close to the tank could frighten them. They are also a schooling fish so the more there are the better off they will be.

 

[MattyJFly]

Yes, I have 3, and I suppose that they eventually find food -- they are, of course still alive. I'm just making sure that everyone else's Balas aren't feasting before their owners' eyes.

You're right about them being scared -- the biggest fish in the tank are the biggest wussies I'm afraid

 

[Web Gazelle]

They will continue to be alive if you don't try using a sponge to clean crud off the sides of the tank. Go here to learn more about Bala Sharks.

 

[Jesta]

Not to hijack the thread but I have a quick question about balas. Does anyone know why I sometimes see them hovering vertically in the tank? It's not always but sometimes I will catch one of my 3 balas just floating in the tank vertically, facing the bottom of the tank. Most of the time the bala is high in the tank when this is going on. Otherwise everything is normal, mine too eat the flakes that the top feeders miss.

 

[chuckj]

That's suprising to me. I have two bala's now in my tank that i've had for about 4 months and they eat everything. The come to the top and eat flakes, making a loud popping noise as they try to get a hold of them. They stick their noses in on shrimp pellets as my cories are gathered around them. They even pick at raw cucumber I put in for my pleco. When I'm not feeding them they are picking the surfaces for any leftovers. They pick at algae wafers also. I do see them go vertical when they are eating flakes or picking on the surfaces for food, not sure if thats the behavior that the other poster is mentioning.

My balas certainly don't seem to have any trouble eating, however it's the only experience I have to compare!

 

[damion]

When I had my balas, they ate everything. (whether it was krill,flakes,sinking pellets or frozen bloodworms/brine shrimp) Always 1st to go on top to feed and later bottom to clean up what's left.
It was hard to get the other fishes to eat when they went after everything even mealworms.

 

[mcps95]

My balas (I have 3 in a 55 gal as well) eat any food I put in the tank almost immediately. They are always waiting at the side of the tank nearest my bedroom as if they are on the lookout for their meal. As soon as I switch on the tank light for their morning feedings, they instinctively swim to the surface and gobble up the flake food and/or bloodworms and swim after the sinking tablets as soon as it hits the water.

I agree that balas are shy and easily spooked. It might be worth considering other factors, such as tank decor and environment, that might cause them to be acting timid during feeding time.

Mike

 

[MattyJFly]

My 3 are relatively new, so maybe they're not too accustomed yet. I'll give em time ... anything about decor in specific you think might be paying attention to?