Anyone have any long term experience with these guys? They are supposed to get very large (a foot+). However I have came across a couple of articles of people who keep them in "display" tanks that are very well maintained 200g+ and they seem to max out around 7-8 inches. I have 3 in my 180g and would like to get a couple more (they are schooling fish), but I have always thought even that tank size would be too small for more.
Bala sharks
- Thread starter Holly9937
- Start date
Holly,
Let me know what you find out
My balas have grown from 1" to 2" in only a one and a half month.
Let me know what you find out
My balas have grown from 1" to 2" in only a one and a half month.
I have one in a 125g that is about 5-6", but he came with the tank I bought 14 months ago. I don't know how old he is - 5 years is max, since the woman I bought the tank from had it for 4 years before selling it to me. He doesn't seem to have grown at all, whereas the youngsters I bought after getting the tank have grown about 1 1/2- 2 inches in the 14 months since I got them.
The only thing I worry about is when they get that big, they will be pretty powerful so their swimming (should they do any quick sprints) would cause a mighty wave in your tank. I would rather have 3 of them do it, rather than 5 I would love to get a few more myself, my tank is wider than tall which allows alot more swimming room, but I fear I would still have trouble keeping them properly 
I can't wait to have a house and build a 300+ gallon tank
I would love to get a few more myself, my tank is wider than tall which allows alot more swimming room, but I fear I would still have trouble keeping them properly I can't wait to have a house and build a 300+ gallon tank
Sar, how long is your tank? Mine is 6 feet, but for a foot long fish, it just doesn't seem big enough, but for a 8 inch fish, it seems much more possible!! I'm just starting to think this might be one of the handful of fish that rarely achieve their supposed "max" size, even in proper conditions (and I mean tanks kept much better and bigger than mine 
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patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Bala sharks require a lot of space since thay swim really fast and need to be kept in groups.
Whan I decided to get my bala school, I bought 6 of them, all 2" long. I lost 3 in a single night because of a stingray that ate them. Never though he could catch such a quick fish. Last month, I lost one that fell from the tank and he was about 5". The rest I keep, are 5" and 4", and still growing.
I expect them to grow to a max of 8". Never seen them bigger than that.
EDIT: My literature says they will grow up to 36cm (14" inches). Maybe maxing at 8" is caused by the lack of space. :read: :read: :read:
Whan I decided to get my bala school, I bought 6 of them, all 2" long. I lost 3 in a single night because of a stingray that ate them. Never though he could catch such a quick fish. Last month, I lost one that fell from the tank and he was about 5". The rest I keep, are 5" and 4", and still growing.
I expect them to grow to a max of 8". Never seen them bigger than that.
EDIT: My literature says they will grow up to 36cm (14" inches). Maybe maxing at 8" is caused by the lack of space. :read: :read: :read:
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I've seen 12" balas at the aquarium nearby in Chicago. I'll say the bigger they get, the uglier they are. They get this fat look to them.
I have a bala in my 55. Bought him, oh, 6 months ago @ about 5." He's as healthy as they come, very active and ambitious, eats a ton. Still about 5, 5.5" I'd say go for some more if you like. :huh:
I have a bala in my 55. Bought him, oh, 6 months ago @ about 5." He's as healthy as they come, very active and ambitious, eats a ton. Still about 5, 5.5" I'd say go for some more if you like. :huh: