Lonely Bala Shark?

G

geneticbits

AC Members
Aug 3, 2013
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Hello all!

I just bought a new tank setup today. I was at an Estate Sale and they had their tank for sale. It's a 44gal as far as I can tell from using the dimensions (48"l x 12"w x 18"h). And it was a deal I couldn't pass up. Anyway, the best I can tell from googling pictures the fish that came with it are:
- 1 Bala Shark
- 1 Red Wag Platy
- 2 Silver Dollars
- 1 Dojo Loach
- 2 "other" Platy (I gave up before I could figure them out exactly)
(There was also a chinese algae eater, but it died in transit :( )

They are all large - as in I'm pretty sure they were originally purchased a long time ago. So I was researching what I need to do to keep them all happy. I read that Balas need to be in schools. But this one is 7" already and I'm afraid that if I get some buddies for it, it would bully them. Besides, if I got more, I'd only want to get one since they get so big and the tank is already small for single full grown bala (I realize this one is only half-way there).

So what do you guys recommend I do? This one seemed active at the house I bought it from and it's active now that I have it here.

Also, my silver dollars are flipping over and laying on their sides... is this normal?

P.S. I'm not a complete newbie. I've had my 29gal for 2 years and know about cycling first. I didn't cycle this tank since it was already established and I'm using the same gravel and filter media. I got the fish acclimated to the new water by a drip-tube into their bucket until their old water was completely changed out. I'm just new to these types of fish and want to make sure I do the best I can for them.

Thanks for your help! :D
 
Ok, update: One of the silver dollars has died :( I'm hoping the two that have died that the cause was just from all the stress of moving :/
 
Do you know if the tank was well maintained before you got it? As in recently before? If not, it could simply be "old tank syndrome" where the water quality was so bad, that improving it was detrimental to the fish's health.

If it was, it's still possible that there were some anaerobic bacteria pockets that could've released some toxic funk during the move.
 
I'm thinking it wasn't cared for very well. The filter pads were disgusting and when I vacuumed the gravel while draining the tank, the dirt coming up was black. It was bad!

The tank is in my classroom (I'm a biology/chemistry teacher) and I just went and checked on it again and everyone was still swimming... So hopefully they'll be ok now *crosses fingers*

I'm still concerned about the Bala and (now, only) silver dollar since they're both supposed to have "friends" but are singles now.
 
Thanks, I'm going to call the local pet store (only place that sells fish around where I live, it's not a chain store tho) to see if they will let me trade or something. If they say no, then I'll be off to find a new home for it I guess.

What do you think? Same for the sole surviving silver dollar? Or could my tank hold a couple more of those?
 
I'd say rehome the silver dollar unless it fits the theme you wish to go with.
 
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