Some people find an automatic fish feeder useful in maintaining a consistent feeding schedule. This includes low pH caused by the high concentration of ammonia in the water. Bala Sharks are very active fish species that enjoy darting around the fish tank at high speed. Bala sharks are pretty hardy and can live up to 10 years in captivity. Bala sharks are native to the clean, freshwater rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia, including around the Malay Peninsula, in the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins, and in the waters surrounding Sumatra and Borneo. Pay attention to any changes in the balas environment, like a changed diet. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Features like automatic shut-offs can also be helpful. Heres a quick overview on how to do so. Twitching may help bala sharks move faster through the water. Just keep it on for a third of the day (or eight hours) and you will have very happy fish! Consider adding shrimp or other higher protein-laden food. These signs vary depending on the individual shark but can include changes in behavior, such as swimming in a different direction or staying close to the water's surface. You likely dont have to worry about predators in your aquarium, but if they are housed with fish that share dissimilar temperaments, they might feel prone to defensive or aggressive behaviors in an act of self-preservation. Besides theyre attractive look, Bala Sharks are generally healthy fish if you provide them with proper accommodation and water quality. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. Dropsy is a buildup of fluid inside the fish and is usually a symptom of a bacterial or parasitic infection. (Reasons, Treatment, Prevention). When Bala Fish suffer from dropsy, you must quarantine the sick fish in separate tanks and bathe them in Epsom salt to reduce the swelling. An appropriate temperature range is 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (22.2 to 26.7 degrees Celsius). (7 Things You Should Know! As it gets large, 14-16+ inches, that means at the very least a 6-foot tank but better in 7-8 feet. The fishs ventral fins are small and colored black or gray. Bala sharks can be purchased online easily, but the fish are difficult to find in small, local fish stores. Interested males and females will spawn early in the morning, lasting for a couple of hours. She has been helping her father with his freshwater tanks since she was a toddler, and has fallen in love with the hobby ever since. Aggressive and non-compatible tank mates can make bala sharks stressed. Algae wafers are a great way to add plant matter to their diet, but some Bala sharks may also enjoy fresh vegetables like blanched peas or spinach. Plants and roots work fine. These white spots irritate the fish skin, so itll swim erratically and rub itself against objects and tank walls. All Possible Causes, Dropsy In Fish: Your Guide To Symptoms & Treatment. There are some species of smaller fish that should be avoided as tank mates as well. Lets start by having a brief overview of the most common Bala Shark diseases that your fish may suffer from. Learn how your comment data is processed. Symptoms: White spots on the body, fins, or eyes, Causes: Poor water quality, stress, or overcrowding. Think carefully before choosing tank mates for your bala sharks, as they might stress them and make them uncomfortable. Despite their size, theyre a peaceful fish that gets along very well with other species. These fish tend to remain healthy, but fish owners should be sure to keep their aquariums clean and the water level and temperature stable for best results. It is crucial to have a good water filtration system, and fish owners should try to leave these fish undisturbed during this time frame. Since the fish stops eating, its growth is stunned and its immunity is compromised. Choosing a small tank for your bala shark can stress them as they grow bigger and compete for food. As these Bala Fish grow larger, they should be switched to larger sized aquariums. 3. All-in-all, this is a pretty easy-going fish. Hi I have a Bala shark thats around 12 inches I started of with 4 but I gave away 2 of them after about 3 months as they were getting picked on and eventually another so Im only left with the one but a friend has asked if I can re home his mollies in my tank Im not sure with the Bala and a fully grown pleco any advice please? Signs of stress are often seen in bala sharks when theyre not kept in the right conditions. Ich or stress on my Bala. However, a few plants, like anubias, can make them feel more at home in captivity and provide a hiding place for tired or nervous fish. Treat the fish tank with an OTC antiparasitic medication. Some aquarists decide they would rather go with something that doesnt need such a large tank, and others get hooked on the idea of owning a Bala Shark right from the get-go. Feed the fry ciliates, then switch to nauplii of artemia or cyclops once the fry are four days old.Keep the fry in a separate tank until the fish reach six months old or four inches long.Should You Get a Bala Shark for Your Aquarium?Bala sharks are unique-looking fish that provide plenty of entertainment in a home aquarium.You should get a bala shark if you have plenty of space for at least five of these active shoaling fish. Theyre found in tanks, The Dojo Loach (aka Weather Loach or Pond Loach) is one of our all-time favorite freshwater species. Hi! In that case, its usually accompanied by other erratic behaviors like excessive twitching, rolling, pitching, etc. It's a good idea to check your other fish for signs of sickness, and check that your plants aren't rotting in the water. A good, nutritious diet is important to every fish, and Bala sharks are no different. Well, a good rule of thumb is to opt for something with a flow rate thats 6 times the size of your tank. You can easily accomplish this with a solid heater. Breeding bala sharks is moderately difficult and best attempted by aquarists with fish-breeding experience. Betta Fish Tank Ideas Unique, Cute And Cool Designs, Best Places To Buy Goldfish For Sale Online, 13 Awesome Freshwater Aquarium Sharks to Enhance Your Underwater World, Aquarium Light VS Grow Light Know Which One To Choose. Remove all fish from the tank, including the parents, to prevent the adults from eating the fry. Other than diseases, Bala Sharks can develop white spots across their bodies due to stress. Some great tank mates for Bala Sharks are: However, there is the chance that the Bala Shark will eat smaller fish when they become larger, so the tank should always be roomy enough for all. Clown Loach Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates, Dojo Loach Care 101 (aka Weather Or Pond Loach), Sohal Tang Care Guide: Diet, Mates, Tank Size & Breeding, Chevron Tang Care Guide: Lifespan, Diet, Mates & Tanks, Clown Tang Care: Diet, Tank Size, Mates and Breeding. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Common Bala Shark Diseases to Watch For. You should also be sure your aquarium is big enough for your bala shark to swim around without feeling too cramped. The safe range for this is somewhere between 6.5 and 8 pH. As a shoaling fish, the bala shark feels most comfortable when housed with at least four other fish of its kind. Within 24 hours, larvae should appear. The fact that these are active shoaling fish also means theyll breathe a lot of life into your fish tanks, which is a glorious perk! Bala Shark Tank Size and Specifications . All Rights Reserved. Keeping a single Bala Shark in the tank for a long time (you should keep at least 4 to 6), Introducing your fish to a new tank with different water conditions, Changing the water temperature or pH suddenly, Introduce aggressive fish species to the tank. And will they nip your fingers off? Bala Shark Habitat and Tank Conditions Tank size. Anubias Has Holes In Leaves? from getting diseases is to keep the water as clean as possible and provide an environment where they do not experience stress, anxiety, or distress. Although bala sharks are extremely docile as far as aquarium fish go, they still need to be kept with other decent-sized fish. Generally speaking, this particular behavior has been observed to last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes at a time. To avoid this scenario, always have several of them as they travel together in schools when in natural environments. After the spawning and fertilization takes place, it is necessary to then remove the parent fish from the tank. So, lets dive in. Bala Shark is a kind of shark that lives in the Water should have a hardness of 10 to 13 dGH and a pH of 6.5 to 8. Hi! Additionally, youll want a filter that can handle a large volume of water and has a good filtration capacity. It might become necessary to move some to other tanks to ensure enough room for growth and movement. However, it can be as low as 6.0 and up to 8.0. Overall, you should be feeding yours 3 times a day. However, a dark-colored pebbly substrate, around an inch thick, is closest to the substrate found in the fishs wild habitat.Theres also no need to fill bala sharks tanks with rocks or plants. Fish Swimming In Circles? Unless there are other signs that your bala shark may be sick, theres no reason to worry at the first sign of twitching. External parasites can be seen attached to the body or gills of the fish, and are introduced to the tank through new fish, live foods, or plants.Use veterinarian-approved medications or insecticides to kill parasites. Make sure that every new arrival has been properly quarantined for at least two weeks. Bala sharks have sensitive eyes that see better in tannin-rich waters. 4. Fully-grown bala sharks should be housed in a tank of at least 150 gallons, at least 5 feet across. Raise the water temperature to 82o F for three days. Yet, you should still take it seriously and isolate the fish until it regains its full health completely. However, captive Bala sharks will be just as happy with any of the previously mentioned live proteins. At first we thought it was sand or gravel . Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! While some bala shark owners have noticed twitching in tandem with stressors or illness, its not indicative of correlation; it may just be a coincidence. Adding more will be better if theres enough space for all the fish to roam freely. In addition to a good filter, aquarists can add air pumps, air stones, and/or powerheads to create the desired water motion. Bala sharks grow up to 14 inches long. Bala sharks should be fed up to three times per day. When buying a bala shark, make sure the fish has been bred in captivity, to protect the species wild populations.The typical cost of a bala shark is $7 to $10. It is generally a good idea to purchase five or six Bala sharks from the pet store and to observe them for signs of mating behavior. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Theyre such active fish that theres a good chance they will jump from time to time. It is also difficult to distinguish between males and females, as the differences can be quite subtle. Treat ich by removing the affected fish and placing them in a quarantine tank containing water that is a couple of degrees warmer than the home tanks temperature. Caring for bala sharks is easy as long as you provide stable water conditions and enough space for these active swimmers to explore. It is important to have good water flow during spawning so that the male fertilizing agent gets spread out farther. Like most gentle fish, bala sharks tend to feel more at ease when they are kept in groups or schools. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Shy and slow-moving fish can be good companions for them. I had no idea that he would get this big. With a little bit of care and dedication, your bala sharks should thrive in your tank! Hi William, I wouldnt advise adding Bala Sharks to an existing tank. This is measured in dGH (degrees of general hardness) and the window youre aiming for is somewhere between 10 and 13. Is it possible it is an injured area or is there some disease that may cause this? eFishkeeping.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. These tend to be just 3 to 4 inches when first bought, and fish owners are often surprised to learn that the adult size can be up to 1 foot or 13 inches. This is when they are around 4 months old. It can be difficult to tell apart the sexes. WILDER Retired Moderator Retired Moderator Joined Let the Bala Shark settle in and then add the Gouramis. This can stress out smaller fish that tend to move less. They also flash against the gravel and other solid objects in the aquarium. External parasites can be seen attached to the body or gills of the fish, and are introduced to the tank through new fish, live foods, or plants. If they hit the decorations or the wall too hard, they may get stunned for a few minutes. All-in-all, the Bala Shark makes an excellent addition to almost any freshwater tank. Immediate water change and increase aeration. Twitching is an action seen in many bala sharks, so theres no reason to assume its a bad thing. When kept in an aquarium, they tend to eat just about any type of fish food including both live options and dried flake food selections. I see nothing in the video that would cause me to do anything but leave it alone to recover, and hopefully it will. Observe your Bala sharks for signs of dancing, as this is an indication that they are ready to breed. Sometimes, Bala Sharks may charge into the glass walls due to their active and fast swimming. Ive also kept tetras without issue, however most tetras need to shoal, so make sure your tank has enough room for a large group of tetras plus growing Bala Sharks. All these parasites come with new additions to the tank, whether its water, food, new fish, etc. A Bala shark that is kept alone in a tank may eventually start displaying signs of . This one causes white spots to appear on the Bala Sharks skin. He was being chased by a red tail shark & another larger bala, lost weight (because of being bullied), eventually showed red in his fins, fins started to deteriorate after being nipped and after being quarantined still died. Bala fish are some very beautiful fish to have at home in an aquarium, and this is one of the best environments for them given that they are endangered. The process of being bagged up, taken home, and added to an aquarium they arent used to is a lot of rapid change for a bala shark. However, a few plants, like anubias, can make them feel more at home in captivity and provide a hiding place for tired or nervous fish. This typically happens when you dont clean the tank and change the aquariums water frequently enough. Bala sharks are peaceful fish that can be housed with other medium-to-large, peaceful fish. Bala sharks are timid and easily scared, and spend a lot of time hiding in caves and behind plants. Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Initiate spawning by gradually increasing the water temperature to 82F over the time span of a week. As weve previously mentioned, getting a filter that generates a pretty strong water flow is important, as these fish need a lot of water movement to be healthy. They are merely named as such due to their uncanny resemblance to their namesake. Fully-grown bala sharks should be housed in a tank of at least 150 gallons, at least 5 feet across. At maturity, however, the Bala shark has the capacity to grow up to 12 or 14 inches in length. Provide a similarly varied diet in captivity with a combination of live and dried foods.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_15',136,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-136{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}High-quality dried food, like flakes and pellets, should make up the bulk of the bala sharks diet. 1)One of my bala sharks has already died. Reduced immunity due to other diseases or poor nutrition. Youd need a bigger heater, filter, and pump, all of which require energy to run. Frankly speaking, Bala sharks are a joy to feed. Yes, it is most likely stress from what he's gone through. Open to fish, plants and reptiles living in freshwater or saltwater environments. Males are typically a bit larger in size. The first is the baseline water temperature. We earn commissions when you buy through our links. And they are happy together . This could lead to further digestive problems that can make the fish more vulnerable to the common fish diseases and ailments usually seen. So far they are doing great with our 2 gouramis, 2 glo sharks, 4 guppies. Overfishing for the aquarium trade and forest fires in 1975, Otocinclus: Oto Catfish Care Guide & Species Profile, Iridescent Shark Care Guide & Species Profile, Red Tail Shark Care Guide & Species Profile, The Clown Loach Care Guide: A Playful Bottom Dweller For Community Tanks, The Complete Guide to Rosy Red Minnows Care, What Do Goldfish Eat? Treat the tank with OTC antibacterial treatment. Raise the water temperature slightly and gradually before adding some salt. Bala sharks become sexually mature at around six months old, or when the fish have grown to four inches long.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-119{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}To breed bala sharks, follow these steps:Place a group of five bala sharks in a separate 65-gallon breeding tank with a temperature of 77F and a strong filter. The typical lifespan of a Bala shark is known to be 10 years. Just be sure you give them the best home possible so that, if their twitching is a sign of stress, it stops and they get back to living a swimmingly fulfilling life. Filtration Bala sharks need a quality filter that can filter five times the water volume in the tank. So do I need to remove other two of them or completely take them out? What constitutes a moderate portion? It really depends on the size of your Bala shark, but a good rule of thumb is to provide an amount of food that can be consumed in a few minutes. Bala Shark Breeding Guide (Everything You Need to Know), The Best Bala Shark Tank Size for Optimal Health. If something in your aquarium is causing this, remove it and either isolate it (if its another fish) or take your bala shark to a vet for further analysis. Theyll be perfectly content with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0 that essentially means you can do anything from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Heres a fun little factoid: Bala sharks are not, in fact, true sharks. Most fish breeders recommend that at least 5 Bala Sharks be kept together during the breeding process to ensure that there is both male and female fish in the holding tank. What does this mean for you? A perpetual nomad, Wanda does her best to integrate fish-keeping with her lifestyle, and has taken care of fish in three different continents. Some food types can make the balas sick and stressed. Look for nutritious foods that provide the vitamins, minerals, and proteins needed for these fish to grow to their full potential. In Bala Sharks, cloudy eyes are not a disease but rather a symptom of many conditions and diseases. Theres also no need to fill bala sharks tanks with rocks or plants. Also, the Bala Shark itself can become prone to stress if there are . The ideal tank conditions for bala sharks are: The essentials for a bala sharks tank are a powerful external filter, natural tank lighting, and a high-quality water heater. Since these fish come from a tropical environment, and will be living in a large tank, they'll need a good heater to keep the large amount of water at the right temperature. You can buy them from the following reputable online stores:LiveAquariaImperial TropicalsAppearance & BehaviorBala sharks have long, silver bodies with bold, pointed fins. That said, its important to create the most peaceful environment possible for your bala shark so they dont want to jump out of it. Ich is one of the most common skin diseases amongst captive freshwater fish. Byron. Replace the filter with an internal sponge filter that wont suck up the fry. Although they might seem interesting, poor handling, like squeezing the fish's body or touching the eyes or the gills, can cause stress. With ich, fish owners might begin to notice that the fish rub up against objects due to the itching. House bala sharks in a freshwater tank and feed them an omnivorous diet.Habitat and Tank RequirementsThe bala sharks natural habitat is lakes and fast-flowing rivers and streams in Southeast Asia. It's best to use a 150-gallon tank with a length of at least 5 feet. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Bala sharks can grow to be about 12 inches long or even more. Treatment usually involves sprinkling antibiotics into the water, but it doesnt always work out, and some Bala Sharks will simply die from the injuries. Well, youll need to invest in a larger tank to accommodate your fish when they reach their full size. Install the filter, heater, pump, and airstone. When it comes to plants and decor, bala sharks arent too fussy. Though I'm not positive, maybe someone will have a better diagnosis. I would feed everyone as normal but see if he eats? Dont house them with aggressive or carnivorous fish like neon tetras.Dont add non-fish species like shrimps and crabs to a bala shark tank, because they are known to eat crustaceans.Great tank mates for bala sharks include:Other bala sharks bala sharks are shoaling fish that should be housed in groups of at least fiveGouramisCorydorasRasborasRainbowfishDiet and FeedingIn the wild, the bala sharks diet consists of insects, small crustaceans, plant matter, algae, and larvae. Bala sharks can be quite active swimmers, but why do bala sharks twitch? Some fish breeders recommend adding an antibiotic solution to the tank water. I was thinking it was Ick so I've begun treating the tank, but none of the other fish in the tank have the spots except the bala sharks. Native to Southeast Asia, the Bala Shark has been affectionately called The Gentle Giant due to its larger size and easygoing temperament. However, we recommend testing the feeder out first. As diurnal fish, they are more active in the day than the night.Bala sharks are timid and easily scared, and spend a lot of time hiding in caves and behind plants.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',155,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-155{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}Bala Shark Care & Tank RequirementsCaring for bala sharks is easy as long as you provide stable water conditions and enough space for these active swimmers to explore. In this article, well look at everything there is to know about bala sharks. Twitching can also help deter any predators from coming near them. Maybe he's just stressed from all the bagging, was he acting normal in the petstore tanks? Here's How To Setup The Air Pump, Air Stone, & Sponge Filter For Aquarium. This article will list the signs of stress in bala sharks and what you can do about them.
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