Bala Sharks

[Bottomfeeder2]

I am upgrading to a 55 gallon tank in the next week or so. Just need to get a few more things so it will run smoothly.

I don't think a 55 is big enough to keep this species, either. Any fish that can push a foot in length will be cramped in a 55 gallon... which is only a foot wide... let alone a fast, nervous, obligate schooling species like bala sharks...

I wouldn't go anything smaller than a hundred gallons for a small group of them, preferably larger.

 

[Juelzann]

The tank has been set up for a few years...
Tap water does not read any nitrates. my LFS told me to do 50-75% water changes daily for a couple days.

I have a filter that hangs on the back, sorry don't know the lingo for that..
It has a carbon filter in it...

 

[Sploke]

Try testing your nitrates immediately before and after a water change. If your tap water is truly 0ppm, then if you do a 50% water change, your nitrates should drop by half.

 

[Juelzann]

Try testing your nitrates immediately before and after a water change. If your tap water is truly 0ppm, then if you do a 50% water change, your nitrates should drop by half.

I tested it today and it's half of what it was yesterday! I didn't have time to do another water change today, so I'll have to do it tomorrow and hopefully get it down more!
Thanks for the help!

 

[orozzky]

I bought a 20 gallon tank on sunday, the guy at PetSmart told me that if I added purified water I will only need to add the products he recommended for the bacteria, conditioner and water stress (I think it's called) and wait 24 hours so I could add the fish into the tank, the next day I added 3 Bala Sharks and 4 little fish witch I don't remember the name. About 3-4 hours later my 3 bala shark started dying one by one, my other 4 little fish are still alive... What can I do ?

 

[Coryfan]

I bought a 20 gallon tank on sunday, the guy at PetSmart told me that if I added purified water I will only need to add the products he recommended for the bacteria, conditioner and water stress (I think it's called) and wait 24 hours so I could add the fish into the tank, the next day I added 3 Bala Sharks and 4 little fish witch I don't remember the name. About 3-4 hours later my 3 bala shark started dying one by one, my other 4 little fish are still alive... What can I do ?

Rehome the fish ASAP! Bala sharks need at least 150 gallons since they need to be in groups. You need to cycle the tank( you could do a fish in, but with a fish that’s 5x too big for the tank that will not be easy(like 75% water changes daily) do you have a picture of the other fish so we can ID them?

 

[MeganYiun]

It's probably because of cycling problems. If you can't figure it out.. then just go to your local fish store and ask to buy a used sponge filter. Throw it in your tank and jump start your tank. Done deal! cycle done.

Also.. bala sharks are crazy fish.

 

[orozzky]

Rehome the fish ASAP! Bala sharks need at least 150 gallons since they need to be in groups. You need to cycle the tank( you could do a fish in, but with a fish that’s 5x too big for the tank that will not be easy(like 75% water changes daily) do you have a picture of the other fish so we can ID them?

Hey thanks for the advise, so the reason why I had them in the 20g tank is bc it was gonna be temporary until I got a bigger tank for the adult life, is that ok ? to move them to a bigger tank later on, or it docent work like that ? so the smallet fish that had survived the first day are now all dead so im sure im definitly having cycling issues.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You cannot keep balas in anything even close to a 30 gal or a 55 gal or likely even a 180 gal. These fish get bigger than 1foot.

If you do not kill the 3rd one it will take care of some of your overstocking and save you some money on fish food at the same time.

Please write 100 times on the black board: I will not buy fish I have not thoroughly researched first.

Given its potential size this species is clearly unsuitable for the general community aquarium. Though normally quite peaceful it will also eat very small fishes and can upset slow-moving or more timid tankmates with its constant activity and vigorous feeding behaviour.

It’s therefore only appropriate for very large tanks containing robust, similarly-sized tankmates that enjoy the same conditions. There are a number of suitable choices but recommendations include Hypsibarbus wetmorei, Barilius, Cyclocheilichthys, Osteochilus, Barbonymus, Mystacoleucus and larger Garra species.

Although it is gregarious by nature this is a shoaling rather than schooling species which develops a distinct pecking order and therefore should always be maintained in a group of five or more. If only two or three are purchased the subdominant fish may be bullied incessantly whereas solitary specimens can become aggressive towards similar-looking species.

from https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/balantiocheilos-melanopterus/

https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/hypsibarbus-wetmorei/
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/barilius-bendelisis/
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/cyclocheilichthys-apogon/
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/osteochilus-hasseltii/
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/barbonymus-schwanefeldii/
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/search/Mystacoleucus
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/search/Garra