Bala Shark

[Lynden]

Bala sharks are cyprinids, and are actually fairly similiar to a tinfoil barb, except not as hardy, more docile, and slower growing. They can be kept as a single specimen, and if raised with a larger fish, they will occasional take on the behaviorial characteristics of the larger animal.

It is more reasonable to keep these animals in a shoal with less agressive fishes, ie, headstanders, cigar sharks, larger characins, plecs, gouramis, ect., or if size permits, maybe even a pacu.

-Lynden

 

[Ethos]

I don't have room for that. I'm not giving up my 55G cichlid tank to this thing.
So basically all I can do is let it grow more in the 10G untill I find it a home..

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I don't have room for that. I'm not giving up my 55G cichlid tank to this thing.
So basically all I can do is let it grow more in the 10G untill I find it a home..

Why dont you put it up for grabs on the buy/sell section here? Its worth a try. Chances are though if you give it back to the lfs they will just sell it to another person with a 2gal tank.

 

[Durbkat]

So the cichlids you have ethos is to aggressive for bala's? Why don't you PM someone you know on here that has balas or wants balas and could take care of it properly?

 

[andywg]

Bala sharks are cyprinids, and are actually fairly similiar to a tinfoil barb, except not as hardy, more docile, and slower growing. They can be kept as a single specimen, and if raised with a larger fish, they will occasional take on the behaviorial characteristics of the larger animal.

It is more reasonable to keep these animals in a shoal with less agressive fishes, ie, headstanders, cigar sharks, larger characins, plecs, gouramis, ect., or if size permits, maybe even a pacu.

-Lynden

You can keep any fish that shoals singley, but it is not best for the shark. They exhibit behaviour far different when in a shoal than when kept alone. I orignally kept mine as a single, but once we bought two more his behaviour became a lot better and he isn't as skittish as when kept singley.

Balas are a species that really needs to be kept in a group of the same species. Anyone who has kept them as a sole specimin and then developed a shoal will agree.

As for your problem Ethos, you need to try and off load the fish now if you aren't going to be able to get a 100 gallon tank or et any others for a shoal.

 

[MegTheFish]

It came with no filter? Please tell me you added one.

 

[Ethos]

Of course I did.
I can't get a 100G tank... And I don't have the resourses to ship it.
Mind I'm a minor and I don't have any way to pay for anything online, and both my parents work, so time is difficult.
I can get it off too a nice place I know of, and the take very good care of thier fish and are very good with large fish especially(I got my 9" plec from them..)

I did get a free 10G off of the deal..

 

[Matty]

i would really reconsider the move to the 55G for the fish's sake...10 gallons for a bala is like a gorilla in a phone booth.

As for feeding, i feed mine floatinng pellets, bloodworms and tetramin flakes. they really love the bloodworms and tetramin flakes.

 

[Durbkat]

He already said he is giving it to a pet store that takes good care of fish that get big.

 

[Ethos]

But can i risk him in the 55G? It'll be who knows how long till I drive out to forest lake(45mins one way)?

 

[Durbkat]

If he doesn't look sick I'd say you could try it but if he or the other fish start attacking each other then remove it.