I want to get a bala shark but I don't know what size tank to get. I currently have a 55 gal african tank and I want to setup a separate tank with just some balas and plants. What size tank should I get?
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Bala Shark
- Thread starter MyRequiem
- Start date
they *do* get big eventually, but it is very rare to see them that large around here. i have only ever seen a couple of them that were actually close to a foot.
i think a 90 would do good for a 1/2 dozen of them for quite awhile. i would go with good filtration tho and/or a powerhead maybe, to add a little current. 90g would give you a 4ft tank.... 120g would give you a 6ft tank i think..... much better. anything bigger would be better.
i think a 90 would do good for a 1/2 dozen of them for quite awhile. i would go with good filtration tho and/or a powerhead maybe, to add a little current. 90g would give you a 4ft tank.... 120g would give you a 6ft tank i think..... much better. anything bigger would be better.
I have 2 balas in a 125 with 2 rb-pacus, 2 Nicaraguenses, 3 common plecos, and 1 clown knife fish. Right now, everyone but the plecos are 7-8" and doing great. The combo seems to work well now, but I'm sure I'll be getting a bigger tank soon. Also, my balas were about 3" when I got them 2-3 mos ago.
That sounds like a cool tank Erika! I love Nics. Wish I had a tank for some. Do you have a pic of the pacus? I have never seen a large one.
I think they will do ok in a 125, but they are very active swimmers. It was interesting, I recently moved my balas (3) to an outdoor pond and their behavior remarkably changed. They swim much more now and swim very fast and school much more tightly. They do like room and swimming space.
Scott, I just can't get good pics with my digital, but I'll try to describe them to you. I believe I hae a male and female. The "male" is about 8" long and about 6" high. He is silvery with darker spots similar to a rb pirahna but not as pronounced as the ones I've seen. He has a line running roughly down his middle on the side that is very pale and his red starts at that line near his gills and deepens toward his belly but fades as it goes to his tail. He has very red fins except for his dorsal and tail, which are pale gray. He has a darker band at the end of his tail which runs about a 1/2" wide top to bottom. The "female" is basically the same size and markings, but her red is very faint.
They should be, time will tell. They are fast swimmers and get pretty good size. Down here the weather is pretty nice year around so I am hoping. I have added three more and they school very well.