Bala Shark

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betsonmets12

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Jan 2, 2006
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Can Bala Sharks be put into a 20 gallon community tank. I'm starting a new tank and looking into the future about what i may want to have. I was curious if and how many bala shark would be good for this size tank. Also, what are some other good tank mates for bala sharks.
-thanks
 
Bala Sharks can grow to about 18 inches long. So the answer is no Balas in a 20 gallon.

Sorry.
 
That reminds me; one time when I was at petco this couple wanted a medium sized bala shark for a 29G tank. The girl working told them the balas were too large for that tank. Well as you know, they sell them in "small" and "medium" sizes. So the couple decided to get a small one for the tank. Yes, they honestly thought the fish came in a small variation.

just thought I would share.
 
I have 8 of them in a 75 gallon..They are really slow growers. From my experience of having them, they will not reach the 12 inch mark in the aquarium as there max size in the wild.

As a matter of fact, it is hard to find Balas that are 8 plus inches for sale at fish stores.
 
bala

I just had a 13 inch Bala pass. I started him in a 55g but he soon out grew it! He was in a tank with mostly african cichlids and did very well with them. Only recommend mixing with these if Bala is big! Or africans will beat him up.undefined
 
They were most likely slow growers because they were in a tank way to small for them, and in the fish store they are small because they only sell baby ones your most likely not going to see a full grown bala in a fish store. I believe they can grow more like 18 inchs or so. But no in an aquarium they are not going to reach their max size because they will die first from not being able to grow properly.
If I'm wrong about this someone will let you know but IMO DO NOT get bala, they should be kept in groups of 3 or more to be happy and in a MUCH bigger tank.
 
From the books I read, Balas can grow up to 14 inches in the wild. I never saw a 14 inch one for sale. Eight years ago, one fish store had one and it was about that size. That was the biggest one I ever saw. I been keeping Balas for 10 years.

A 75 gallon is 48 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 21 3/8, that is a lot of room for a 6 to 7 inch fish
 
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How long do the ones you have usually live? I'm not trying to be mean but from everything I have read they should be in at least a 125/gallon (I beleive that is for just one even), and should grow to be at least 14"-15" and live for years.
Look at thatpetplace.com they are called tri colored shark there, or at ****************.

If you really have had them for years..you actually are making me feel much better about myself, I do have 3 but was feeling so guilty that all I could upgrade them to for now was a 55 gallon. Believe me I had WAY to much fish for my tank in the begining, now the only ones I still have are my bala's (which I love BTW), and gourami's. That is why I was so worried about the person getting bala, I lost 4 fish in the begining (2 to death and 2 to new homes) and I know how terrible I felt.

To correct myself it does say they grow up to 14" not 18", and actually should be kept in groups of 6 not 3.

To answer what makes good tank mates, my dwarf gouramis go great with them...but I would say unless you DO plan on going bigger with the tank steer away from the bala.

Just my opiniom,

Gin
 
gstoffer, You told me to go to ****************. I agree with what **************** said. If you don't, well so be it and go by your opinion. In a paragraph in ****************, it said this about the bala sharks:

"From time to time I hear well intentioned but rather cross advice to new aquarists, who are told something like, "You really shouldn't get Bala Sharks because they will soon grow to 14", and it isn't fair to keep them in a little aquarium." Well they probably won't grow to 14", even with the best of care, but they might grow to 7" and have a nice long healthy life. It will take several years for them to grow to 7". You might start with six of them at about 2.5" long in a 30-gallon aquarium with a few other compatible fish."
 
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