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Bala Sharks information
Badmans Tropical Fish Message Center:
General message area: Bala Sharks information
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Antony Liu
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Thursday,
February 21, 2002 - 10:32 pm
Hi peoples,
I am very interested in adopting a school of 6 Bala Sharks...
With the plan of purchasing them young (2" or smaller).
I have read numerous writings and heard stories (agreeable
and contradictory) about things like minimum tank size,
stunting, growth rate, etc... So, now I'm at a stand-still,
hoping to get some accurate info before doing anything.
Currently, I have a 40G with eleven 1.25" Tiger Barbs,
partially planted. I was hoping to bring in six 2" sharks
and hopefully just let them grow a little while I set up
another appropriate permanent home.
My questions, if anyone can help, are:
1) How big and fast will the 2" sharks grow in my
40G setup?
2) What is stunt and when would it start to occur? Is
it a terrible thing on the overall life if the fish? (most
LFS say, it's OK)
3) What is the absolute smallest tank they (6 of
them) will live good in as a permanent home?
If you don't know the answers but have ANY info about
these fish, please post anyway!
Thanks!
--Antony
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Lenard Goertz
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Thursday,
February 21, 2002 - 10:56 pm
With Eleven Tiger Barbs, there is no way you can keep 6
Bala Sharks. Even Without the Barbs they would need a bigger
home. Bala can grow to a Whopping 12 inches long. so you
would need an 80 gallon aquarium for these fish. They will
be fine with the Tigers while your other tank cycles, but
they can grow fast. The absolute Smallest tank would be
an 80 gallon because they need to grow plus room to swim.
Do not stunt the growth of the fish! It doesn't work!
It will just prolong your probloms. All fish will grow to
their full potential. So if you put them in a smaller tank
they will just grow slower. Plus its really bad for the
fish because of the immense over crowding. But once this
80 gallon tank is estabelished it will look stunning, and
the Balas will thank you for it!
Hope I helped
Len
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Antony
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Friday,
February 22, 2002 - 01:14 am
Thanks a lot Len! most helpful... especially knowing that
they don't just "stop growing". Most local fish
places say they only grow to your tank. I definetly don't
want to end up with large fish that suffer and don't
move in a tiny tank...
IF I did set up an 80G tank, how much time do you think
I can buy with them in my 40G? 1 month? 6 months? how fast
will they really grow, considering I fed them once/twice
a day?
Again, thanks for any thoughts..
Antony
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mun
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Friday,
February 22, 2002 - 11:11 am
as long as they aren't getting picked on or look stressed
i would say 6 months+..it takes forever for them to
get bigger.. you can keep water temperature a little low
to decrease metabolism which will make them grow very slow
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Lenard Goertz
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Friday,
February 22, 2002 - 11:50 am
Yes, you could probobly buy alot of time, my lps has had
13 bala's in a 10 gal for 7 months and they havent grown
at all! ( of course they havent sold either!) but
if you need to save for the tank you don't have to rush
to much, just make sure that they are in their within 9-10
months. also keep a close eye on those tigers, they can
nip fins! Also don't Turn your heater down, they haet
may make them Grow slower but then they are more prone to
diseases, and you couldrisk losing them, keep the heat 76-78
Hope I helped
Len
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Lenard Goertz
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Friday,
February 22, 2002 - 11:54 am
Oh, if your buying them that small you'll have probobly
a year, to get that big tank in order! just besure to cycle
with a good fish like a few zebra danios, then when you
put the bala's in the big tank, take the danios out
( if you can catch them! ) and put them with your
barbs. those danios are fast enough they can take on those
barbs!
Hope I helped
Len
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Antony
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Friday,
February 22, 2002 - 12:09 pm
Awesome! Thanks for both of your help! I hear you on the
zebra danios... real zippy.. and hogs too (I've
found) during feeding time. But then again the Barbs
are too.
Just outta curiosity, what do you 2 currently have set up?
Thanks! :-)
Antony
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Lenard Goertz
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Friday,
February 22, 2002 - 02:39 pm
I currently have 4 tanks right now. I have one ten gallon
with 4 angels, 1 black skirt tetra, 1 cory, 1 small black
molly and 1 black kuhli loach. (I know, the angels are
only in there until I cycle another tank.) I have a
25 gallon, with 9 guppies, 1 ryukin, 2 very small comets,1
platy and 3 cories. ( no heater) I have a one gallon
with one inch long dalmation molly that seems a little sick.
And I have a four Gallon bare bottom tank for four baby
guppies that came unexpectedly. Oh and I have an indoor
pond With one Koi and 4 large Goldfish.
Len
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Kick
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Saturday,
February 23, 2002 - 08:34 am
Antony, Another post with "do this", "do that"
opinions, and I don't feel you have been answered clearly.
To avoid any more confusion, please email me if you are
still not sure about these balas.
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