very confused about size of tank needed

[chishnfips]

bala link 1

bala link 2


bala link 3


here are three links to see what size of tank is suitable all with 3 different recomendations could anyone enlighten me as to which link is the most accurate. i am getting very confused.

cheers

 

[abstract]

4 foot, 75 gallon or larger IMO

the 25 gallon minimum and 10" max size is absolute bull

the other two give accurate representations of size and good tank suggestions (one says 4 foot, the other says around 130 gallons - i'm guessing that is more the ideal size tank than the minimum)

 

[chishnfips]

cool I have a 4ft which is about 30 - 37 gallons should that be ok?

 

[chishnfips]

Do I have room for another? as a friend for him

 

[abstract]

4 foot, 75 gallon or larger IMO

no, it is not large enough

according to what i'm seeing, if it is 33 gallons for instance, it only measures 48x13x13...this isn't even enough for a average-sized bala to turn around in...

no offense and i dont mean to get nasty, but i clearly stated that a 4 foot, 75 gallon tank is minimum...you are asking about a tank half the size...

 

[chishnfips]

aw well I will have to find him a home for sure, he is only 3 inches at the mo.

will I have a good bit of time to find him a home.

 

[abstract]

i think they grow pretty slow but you will def. need a home within the next year

 

[chishnfips]

okey dokes cheers

 

[rvm]

Just to add to this, I have a huge Bala in my tank which is 5ft long and 2ft wide and I wouldn't keep them in anything less than that since they are best kept in groups of 3 or more, that means you've got 3 foot long plus fish swimming around in a tank only 4 times the length of their bodies!! And these guys love to swim fast. mine will create a wake in the tank even when he is swimming at about 6 inches from the surface!! and since they are easily spooked, they will quite often zoom off in one direction and swim into the side of the tank!! If I knew all this when I got my balas, I probably wouldn't have got them. IMO they are best kept in a 6x2 tank minimum to give them plenty of swimming space.

 

[andywg]

I keep my 4 in a 6 X 18 and I would certainly prefer to have it wider.

In my opinion, due to their fast swimming tendancies and their adult length, I wouldn't happily recommend anything less than 6 foot in length, purely because in anything smaller they barely have time to 'stretch their fins' so to speak.

 

[Paul_MTS]

to be honest i would get rid of your bala now, it's always harder to let go of bigger fish and like stated they need to be kept in shoals so a single bala isn't going to be happy by it's self.

by it's self it's likely to hide away and/or be very skittish.

 

[wrs]

oh my! They really need a 125 gallon tank or larger so that you can have a complete school of them. How can you keep 3 plus 12-14 inch balas in a 75 gallon tank? It would be cramped and the poor fish wouldnt have alot of room to move. If you really want them get them a 125 gallon tank or larger.