Bala Sharks

daSchooler · 04-30-2005, 03:49 PM

Hi

I've seen 2 inch Bala Sharks offered for sale in my area. I'd like to get 3 of them but the biggest tank I currently have is a 30g which is understocked.

My questions are...

1 How big does a bala shark grow?

2 What size tank should you have to keep 3 balas happy?

3 How long does it take a bala shark to grow from 2 inches to 6 inches? I ask this question because I'm getting a bigger tank sometime this year. Maybe I could house smaller bala sharks before I get the bigger tank.

Hamm3592 · 04-30-2005, 04:00 PM

bala sharks can grow up to be 18 inches, but the normal lenght is about 13 inches. They can not be kept in a aquarium under 55 gallons. They are jumpers so you will need a lid. they also have some unusual behavior, they sometimes make strange grunting or clicking noises. the water temperature should be around 75 to 80 degrees, they like worms, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, and in combination with flake food. They prefer to have a large tank with plants available to munch and do best when paired with another Bala Shark. good luck

**fish_doc** · 04-30-2005, 04:11 PM

1. How big does a bala shark grow?

They can grow over a foot

2 What size tank should you have to keep 3 balas happy?

The very minimum is a 55gal (I know I am going to stir things up with this) a 75 would be better.

3 How long does it take a bala shark to grow from 2 inches to 6 inches? I ask this question because I'm getting a bigger tank sometime this year. Maybe I could house smaller bala sharks before I get the bigger tank.

This all depends on feeding habits, water temps, and water conditions.

Hamm3592 · 04-30-2005, 04:30 PM

I looked on the internet and i found a site that says it takes a couple of years for a bala sharks to just grow to four inches, so you've got some time.

Gracie6363 · 04-30-2005, 09:16 PM

I think you'll do just fine. I have 2 that are approx. 3 inches a piece in my 40 gallon. All the sites I have found on them state that they are fairly slow growers. Before they hit 6 inches I will be upgrading to a much larger tank... My minimum choice will be an 80 gallon, but they do grow quite large and need space to turn, swim and hide. They are also very atheltic/powerful. They can scare easily and run into decorations, uproot plants and injure themselves. So I am thinking about 120 or larger if I can afford it and have the place to put it. My husband's into it now, so bigger is better for him! LOL.

LIke mentioned by the other person they can be jumpers... especially in a new tank. Fully covered is a must! I can't wait till mine grow larger and their clicks and grunts are audible.

They are such a neat fish and they will eat ANYTHING. They forage constantly on the bottom, on algae, plants, flake, shrimp pellets, etc.

Good luck!

svolk · 04-30-2005, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracie6363 @ Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:16 pm

My husband's into it now, so bigger is better for him! LOL.

LOL my husband is the same way!

We currently have 2 balas, only about 3 inches long each, in a 55 gal. and they are doing fine so far. But we plan to upgrade to a 100 or so gal. within the year.

Gracie6363 · 04-30-2005, 09:27 PM

LOL my husband is the same way!

We currently have 2 balas, only about 3 inches long each, in a 55 gal. and they are doing fine so far. But we plan to upgrade to a 100 or so gal. within the year.[/quote]

buddah101 · 04-30-2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamm3592 @ Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:30 pm

I looked on the internet and i found a site that says it takes a couple of years for a bala sharks to just grow to four inches, so you've got some time.

umm...err...I don't think so...I keep them in a 180 gallon and mine grew to over 9 inches in 8 months and can grow to 17 inches easily in a years time but usually slow down in growth at around 10 inches...here is proof.... The oscar is 11 inches and about a year old. you can use that to compare the Bala Sharks to...
sharon&balas

osteoporoosi · 05-01-2005, 05:00 AM

I don't think balas are suitable in normal aquariums at all. They grow too big, are schooling fish and are very active.

**Cichlid Man** · 05-01-2005, 05:02 AM

Bala sharks can grow 6 inches in a year if fed protien enriched foods and need an aquarium at least 90g.

04-30-2005, 03:49 PM	#1
daSchooler Fishy Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11	Bala Sharks Hi I've seen 2 inch Bala Sharks offered for sale in my area. I'd like to get 3 of them but the biggest tank I currently have is a 30g which is understocked. My questions are... 1 How big does a bala shark grow? 2 What size tank should you have to keep 3 balas happy? 3 How long does it take a bala shark to grow from 2 inches to 6 inches? I ask this question because I'm getting a bigger tank sometime this year. Maybe I could house smaller bala sharks before I get the bigger tank.

04-30-2005, 04:00 PM	#2
Hamm3592 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 55	Re: Bala Sharks bala sharks can grow up to be 18 inches, but the normal lenght is about 13 inches. They can not be kept in a aquarium under 55 gallons. They are jumpers so you will need a lid. they also have some unusual behavior, they sometimes make strange grunting or clicking noises. the water temperature should be around 75 to 80 degrees, they like worms, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, and in combination with flake food. They prefer to have a large tank with plants available to munch and do best when paired with another Bala Shark. good luck

04-30-2005, 04:11 PM	#3
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,825	Re: Bala Sharks 1. How big does a bala shark grow? They can grow over a foot 2 What size tank should you have to keep 3 balas happy? The very minimum is a 55gal (I know I am going to stir things up with this) a 75 would be better. 3 How long does it take a bala shark to grow from 2 inches to 6 inches? I ask this question because I'm getting a bigger tank sometime this year. Maybe I could house smaller bala sharks before I get the bigger tank. This all depends on feeding habits, water temps, and water conditions. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

04-30-2005, 04:30 PM	#4
Hamm3592 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 55	Re: Bala Sharks I looked on the internet and i found a site that says it takes a couple of years for a bala sharks to just grow to four inches, so you've got some time.

04-30-2005, 09:16 PM	#5
Gracie6363 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Age: 29 Posts: 139	Re: Bala Sharks I think you'll do just fine. I have 2 that are approx. 3 inches a piece in my 40 gallon. All the sites I have found on them state that they are fairly slow growers. Before they hit 6 inches I will be upgrading to a much larger tank... My minimum choice will be an 80 gallon, but they do grow quite large and need space to turn, swim and hide. They are also very atheltic/powerful. They can scare easily and run into decorations, uproot plants and injure themselves. So I am thinking about 120 or larger if I can afford it and have the place to put it. My husband's into it now, so bigger is better for him! LOL. LIke mentioned by the other person they can be jumpers... especially in a new tank. Fully covered is a must! I can't wait till mine grow larger and their clicks and grunts are audible. They are such a neat fish and they will eat ANYTHING. They forage constantly on the bottom, on algae, plants, flake, shrimp pellets, etc. Good luck! __________________ 10 Gallon 1 orange white skirt tetra 1 chinese algae eater 40 gallon 2 leopard cory 1 bala shark 1 angel fish 1 pl*co 1 doberman 3 tabby cats 1 siamese 1 gray tree squirrel 1 husband 1 4.5 yr old son

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04-30-2005, 09:27 PM	#7
Gracie6363 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Age: 29 Posts: 139	Re: Bala Sharks LOL my husband is the same way! We currently have 2 balas, only about 3 inches long each, in a 55 gal. and they are doing fine so far. But we plan to upgrade to a 100 or so gal. within the year.[/quote] __________________ 10 Gallon 1 orange white skirt tetra 1 chinese algae eater 40 gallon 2 leopard cory 1 bala shark 1 angel fish 1 pl*co 1 doberman 3 tabby cats 1 siamese 1 gray tree squirrel 1 husband 1 4.5 yr old son

05-01-2005, 05:00 AM	#9
osteoporoosi Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 633	Re: Bala Sharks I don't think balas are suitable in normal aquariums at all. They grow too big, are schooling fish and are very active. __________________ http://photobucket.com/albums/v640/osteoporoosi/

05-01-2005, 05:02 AM	#10
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	Re: Bala Sharks Bala sharks can grow 6 inches in a year if fed protien enriched foods and need an aquarium at least 90g. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

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