View Full Version : Arowana and Bala Sharks
Masa_Rov
06-17-2005, 10:57 AM
Hi.
I have a small arowana with 9 (!) small bala sharks.
I have two questions:
1. Will the balas become food for the arowana or will they grow fast enough not to be eaten? The arowana and the balas are all about 3 "
2. They are in a 125-gallon tank. How soon will I have to put them in a larger tank?
Thank you.
Masa Rov
The TRUST
06-17-2005, 10:59 AM
The arowana will grow much faster than the balas and will definitely make short owrk of them soon.
Masa_Rov
06-17-2005, 12:59 PM
How soon is "soon"? They are all about three inches in length.
Will the pleco also be in danger. The pleco is now about 8". I have had it for 4 years or so (maybe 5). I have no idea what kind of pleco it is, except it was called common when I got it at about 2". The question for me is whether it will keep on growing.
The arowana eats now Hikari sticks and freeze dried shrimp (after I have removed the exoskeleton). The store where I got it was trying to feed it crickets with no luck, but right now it shows a very hearty appetite. I would like its diet to be principally already prepared food.
Masa Rov
DeLgAdO
06-17-2005, 1:21 PM
Yo trust i find that very untrue, my arow and bals get along great recently my balas got too big to eat but when i first got em, my arow and balas they got along great, she never tried to eat them. I suppose it depends on the individual personality of the fish. I guess its cause my arow never ate live food and had no idea what it taste like.
redtailfool
06-19-2005, 10:00 PM
How soon is "soon"? They are all about three inches in length.
Will the pleco also be in danger. The pleco is now about 8". I have had it for 4 years or so (maybe 5). I have no idea what kind of pleco it is, except it was called common when I got it at about 2". The question for me is whether it will keep on growing.
The arowana eats now Hikari sticks and freeze dried shrimp (after I have removed the exoskeleton). The store where I got it was trying to feed it crickets with no luck, but right now it shows a very hearty appetite. I would like its diet to be principally already prepared food.
Masa Rov
Just make sure the size difference is not too great. Anything less than half the size of the aro is suspect.
IoStrisciare
06-19-2005, 10:27 PM
I seriously doubt there will be fatalities in your tank for several reasons.
1) The balas can outrun the aro anytime.
2) The 2 species occupy diff areas of the tank and unlikely to clash over territory.
3) The aro now is eating artificial food which means he will only attempt to eat live
food only unless he is starving which will be highly unlikely.
4) Silver aros are remarkably placid most of the times.
redtailfool
06-19-2005, 10:32 PM
[QUOTE=IoStrisciare]I seriously doubt there will be fatalities in your tank for several reasons.
1) The balas can outrun the aro anytime.
2) The 2 species occupy diff areas of the tank and unlikely to clash over territory.
3) The aro now is eating artificial food which means he will only attempt to eat live
food only unless he is starving which will be highly unlikely.
4) Silver aros are remarkably placid most of the times.
You sure can try. Ive had balas kia by oscars which are smaller and slower than silver aros . Im just trying to be on the cautious side here .
piranha45
06-19-2005, 10:38 PM
I seriously doubt there will be fatalities in your tank for several reasons.
1) The balas can outrun the aro anytime.
Predators are renowned for eating live food at night-- balas have to sleep some time, and while predators do too, predators don't mind staying up a little later than usual for an easy live meal. I'd never consider speed to be an aid against a predator.
IoStrisciare
06-19-2005, 10:47 PM
Predators are renowned for eating live food at night-- balas have to sleep some time, and while predators do too, predators don't mind staying up a little later than usual for an easy live meal. I'd never consider speed to be an aid against a predator.
balas aren't exactly full time herbivores either.
redtailfool
06-19-2005, 10:50 PM
Predators are renowned for eating live food at night-- balas have to sleep some time, and while predators do too, predators don't mind staying up a little later than usual for an easy live meal. I'd never consider speed to be an aid against a predator.
exactly. Just my 2 cents. Like i said, you can try and experiment. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. if you dont mind losing balas then just go for it. :cheers:
IoStrisciare
06-19-2005, 10:50 PM
[QUOTE=IoStrisciare]I seriously doubt there will be fatalities in your tank for several reasons.
1) The balas can outrun the aro anytime.
2) The 2 species occupy diff areas of the tank and unlikely to clash over territory.
3) The aro now is eating artificial food which means he will only attempt to eat live
food only unless he is starving which will be highly unlikely.
4) Silver aros are remarkably placid most of the times.
You sure can try. Ive had balas kia by oscars which are smaller and slower than silver aros . Im just trying to be on the cautious side here .
The diff between an oscar and a silver aro's body design is what enables this to be a possibility. I would be more concerned if the aro was an asian or australian. The oscar is suitable to make a sudden short spurt of speed. A silver needs to wind up to strike and can launch itself forward like an oscar. I have a silver and black and i have observed their behaviour.
IoStrisciare
06-19-2005, 10:54 PM
exactly. Just my 2 cents. Like i said, you can try and experiment. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. if you dont mind losing balas then just go for it. :cheers:
i seriously do not understand why you all are making the south american aros to be big, psychotic tank mate killers.
I have a 16" silver that has a 3" dat as a tankmate. A bite size morsal. But he just ignores it.
S.A aros are freaking pussycats. Only rarely do psychotic individuals show up.
redtailfool
06-19-2005, 10:55 PM
[QUOTE=redtailfool]
The diff between an oscar and a silver aro's body design is what enables this to be a possibility. I would be more concerned if the aro was an asian or australian. The oscar is suitable to make a sudden short spurt of speed. A silver needs to wind up to strike and can launch itself forward like an oscar. I have a silver and black and i have observed their behaviour.
And the striking motion is a deterrent for the silvers to eat the balas ? I seriously doubt that theory.
IoStrisciare
06-19-2005, 10:58 PM
[QUOTE=IoStrisciare]
And the striking motion is a deterrent for the silvers to eat the balas ? I seriously doubt that theory.
silvers aren't designed to hunt fish like balas. Simple as pie. They're surface predators. They weren't made to dive and pursue fish around for prolonged periods.
Kutty
06-19-2005, 11:01 PM
If the silver is well-fed, it probably won't eat the bala sharks even if they're less than half its size. I also once kept tiny datnoids with huge, long, elongated arowanas (silver), and they lived harmoniously. You cannot assume that every fish will eat something that can fit into its mouth.
redtailfool
06-19-2005, 11:03 PM
[QUOTE=redtailfool]
silvers aren't designed to hunt fish like balas. Simple as pie. They're surface predators. They weren't made to dive and pursue fish around for prolonged periods.
What about feeders that silvers arowanas consume en masse? I dont think they swim on the surface either ??
redtailfool
06-19-2005, 11:05 PM
If the silver is well-fed, it probably won't eat the bala sharks even if they're less than half its size. I also once kept tiny datnoids with huge, long, elongated arowanas (silver), and they lived harmoniously. You cannot assume that every fish will eat something that can fit into its mouth.
Who assumed??? I said its a risk but i never said it was a certainty. A fish small enough to be swallowed by a large predator is a risk .
IoStrisciare
06-19-2005, 11:19 PM
[QUOTE=IoStrisciare]
What about feeders that silvers arowanas consume en masse? I dont think they swim on the surface either ??
what feeders?
feeders are of many kinds. Mollies and platies swim at the surface.
frogs and insects are at the surface.
have you ever seen a silver chase feeders before? They give up after awhile due to their inability to cope w prolonged pursuits. You can't argus with nature's design. If they were true fish killers they would be designed like asians with a powerful tail and muscular stout body to provide the speed and stamina necessary to chase down or strike fish prey.
redtailfool
06-19-2005, 11:23 PM
[QUOTE=redtailfool]
what feeders?
feeders are of many kinds. Mollies and platies swim at the surface.
frogs and insects are at the surface.
have you ever seen a silver chase feeders before? They give up after awhile due to their inability to cope w prolonged pursuits. You can't argus with nature's design. If they were true fish killers they would be designed like asians with a powerful tail and muscular stout body to provide the speed and stamina necessary to chase down or strike fish prey.
Sorry. I meant feeder goldfish. They are mid swimmers or stay at the bottom. Many silver aros are primarily fed feeder goldfish and i dont see the aro having any problems with that. And what do you mean by prolonged pursuit? This is in a fish tank where the chases are all dashes and not long pursuits.
IoStrisciare
06-19-2005, 11:30 PM
[QUOTE=IoStrisciare]
Sorry. I meant feeder goldfish. They are mid swimmers or stay at the bottom. Many silver aros are primarily fed feeder goldfish and i dont see the aro having any problems with that. And what do you mean by prolonged pursuit? This is in a fish tank where the chases are all dashes and not long pursuits.
Do feeder goldfish swim as fast as balas?
You mean its not possible for fish to chase their prey ard the tank? I know oscars do it. Pugnacious fish. Even my former african tiger fish did.
Hell.... you win. You win.
Silvers are great fish predators in the same league with pikes and Doviis.
piranha45
06-20-2005, 12:13 AM
and everyone lived happily ever after
redtailfool
06-20-2005, 12:28 AM
[QUOTE=redtailfool]
Do feeder goldfish swim as fast as balas?
You mean its not possible for fish to chase their prey ard the tank? I know oscars do it. Pugnacious fish. Even my former african tiger fish did.
Hell.... you win. You win.
Silvers are great fish predators in the same league with pikes and Doviis.
No they are not. Doviis are purely piscivores whereas arowanas are surface feeders that eat insects, fish and small mammals at mature sizes. Im merely stating that large carnivorous fish might eat a fish half of its size.
Again, i azm not saying that it will happen just saying that there is a risk involved, as i myself have kept fish as small 1/4 of an arowanas size in a tank with no problems .. Silvers, Blacks Asians and even jardinis. Hell ive even kept feeder fish in a tank with more than a foot long black arowana and the aro never did touch it . Is there a guarantee that there will be no problems? Absoultely not and that was merely what i was saying.
This is not a contest where there is a winner a loser. Just a simple discussion thats all.
piranha45
06-20-2005, 12:41 AM
thats very troubling to hear.. I always thought this was a place to unleash egos in a savage battle for intellectual superiority. Someone in this thread should be sacrificed in a bloody spectacle for all to revel in.
redtailfool
06-20-2005, 12:42 AM
thats very troubling to hear.. I always thought this was a place to unleash egos in a savage battle for intellectual superiority. Someone in this thread should be sacrificed in a bloody spectacle for all to revel in.
Uh , wrong site dude :hitting:
Masa_Rov
06-20-2005, 11:44 PM
Great thread!
The contrast between the top swimming Arowana and the balas schooling is very beautiful. However, I thought I could give you a little update on the Silver arowana's increasingly aggressive behavior toward the balas:
The Aro has attacked the balas in only one area of the aquarium and only shortly after feeding. It started yesterday afternoon with somewhat lazy lunges at the balas swimming in the vicinity. This afternoon it was clearly in earnest.
The balas are very fast, but this evening two of them had a very close encounter with the silver's mouth. Right after feeding, these two balas were swimming the length of the tank, with their bodies very close together, tails almost locked, and at times slightly vibrating. I don't kno what they were doing: Territorial behavior? The slightly larger one was the one initiating these encounters. They are about three or three and a half inches in length.
When the balas were at it in the Aro's corner, she lunged at them and almost, almost got one of the Balas' tail.
I have not observed the Aro's aggressive behavior in any other area in the tank or at any time except shortly after feeding time. I should mention that the Aro does take the trouble to descend half the depth of the tank in her lunges at the balas.
It is too early to tell what will happen, but I am afraid about where this is going. I can only guess that right now it is only territoriality that makes the Aro aggressive, since it is confined to only one area of the aquarium.
When and if the Aro bits the bullet, so to speak, and half a Bala is floating in the tank, I'll post a note.
Masa
Masa_Rov
06-20-2005, 11:50 PM
Great thread!
The contrast between the top swimming Arowana and the balas schooling is very beautiful. However, I thought I could give you a little update on the Silver arowana's increasingly aggressive behavior toward the balas:
The Aro has attacked the balas in only one area of the aquarium and only shortly after feeding. It started yesterday afternoon with somewhat lazy lunges at the balas swimming in the vicinity. This afternoon it was clearly in earnest.
The balas are very fast, but this evening two of them had a very close encounter with the silver's mouth. Right after feeding, these two balas were swimming the length of the tank, with their bodies very close together, tails almost locked, and at times slightly vibrating. I don't kno what they were doing: Territorial behavior? The slightly larger one was the one initiating these encounters. They are about three or three and a half inches in length.
When the balas were at it in the Aro's corner, she lunged at them and almost, almost got one of the Balas' tail.
I have not observed the Aro's aggressive behavior in any other area in the tank or at any time except shortly after feeding time. I should mention that the Aro does take the trouble to descend half the depth of the tank in her lunges at the balas.
It is too early to tell what will happen, but I am afraid about where this is going. I can only guess that right now it is only territoriality that makes the Aro aggressive, since it is confined to only one area of the aquarium.
When and if the Aro bits the bullet, so to speak, and half a Bala is floating in the tank, I'll post a note.
Masa
redtailfool
06-21-2005, 12:05 AM
Great thread!
The contrast between the top swimming Arowana and the balas schooling is very beautiful. However, I thought I could give you a little update on the Silver arowana's increasingly aggressive behavior toward the balas:
The Aro has attacked the balas in only one area of the aquarium and only shortly after feeding. It started yesterday afternoon with somewhat lazy lunges at the balas swimming in the vicinity. This afternoon it was clearly in earnest.
The balas are very fast, but this evening two of them had a very close encounter with the silver's mouth. Right after feeding, these two balas were swimming the length of the tank, with their bodies very close together, tails almost locked, and at times slightly vibrating. I don't kno what they were doing: Territorial behavior? The slightly larger one was the one initiating these encounters. They are about three or three and a half inches in length.
When the balas were at it in the Aro's corner, she lunged at them and almost, almost got one of the Balas' tail.
I have not observed the Aro's aggressive behavior in any other area in the tank or at any time except shortly after feeding time. I should mention that the Aro does take the trouble to descend half the depth of the tank in her lunges at the balas.
It is too early to tell what will happen, but I am afraid about where this is going. I can only guess that right now it is only territoriality that makes the Aro aggressive, since it is confined to only one area of the aquarium.
When and if the Aro bits the bullet, so to speak, and half a Bala is floating in the tank, I'll post a note.
Masa
Great observations Masa.
I should mention that the Aro does take the trouble to descend half the depth of the tank in her lunges at the balas.
Exactly what ive observed and learned throughout. Even though an aro is a surface hunter, it can and will learn to strike downwards to chase any available prey. Bottom dwelling catfish and stingrays have learned how to take food from the surface in the aquarium.
Its practicing right now.. when the aro gets bigger, the balas might become chow. Or they might be buddies. Who knows... just keep a close eye on the aro when it outgrows the balas further.
buddah101
06-21-2005, 11:08 AM
I keep two 10" bala Sharks with my 18" Silver aro and never had a problem!
Big bala
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/buddah101/IM001595.jpg
arowana
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/buddah101/IM001581.jpg
Masa_Rov
06-21-2005, 12:32 PM
I keep two 10" bala Sharks with my 18" Silver aro and never had a problem!
Big bala
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/buddah101/IM001595.jpg
arowana
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/buddah101/IM001581.jpg
That's good to know. How old are your balas?
Masa
redtailfool
06-21-2005, 1:31 PM
I keep two 10" bala Sharks with my 18" Silver aro and never had a problem!
Big bala
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/buddah101/IM001595.jpg
arowana
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/buddah101/IM001581.jpg
I like the silver !
piranha45
06-21-2005, 3:58 PM
It always stuns me how fat grown balas get
bluedempsey
06-21-2005, 4:31 PM
my black aro is 20" it's never been remotely aggressive to any of the occupants
ashdavid
06-21-2005, 7:24 PM
balas aren't exactly full time herbivores either.
My bala eats fish strips.
redtailfool
06-21-2005, 8:07 PM
My bala eats fish strips.
Balas are omnis. They eat just about everything. I had a old one about 9" that eats fish poo. :swear:
ashdavid
06-21-2005, 10:35 PM
Balas are omnis. They eat just about everything. I had a old one about 9" that eats fish poo. :swear:
With my bala I would be more worried about the arow getting eaten.LOL :hitting:
buddah101
06-22-2005, 8:47 AM
My bala's are a little over a year old and at 10" ! Its with a 14" Silver aro thats about 7 months old. just guessing at the silvers age, but thats my best guess anyhow! Contrary to popular belief, Balas do indeed breed in captivity! I cant tell you how many times mine have mated and laid eggs. I let them get eaten though, I have no tank suitable for such little fishies!
redtailfool
06-22-2005, 8:49 AM
With my bala I would be more worried about the arow getting eaten.LOL :hitting:
David - you must have some monster balas then :)
Buddha - balas are cool but i wouldnt want to breed them either.
Masa_Rov
06-22-2005, 9:00 AM
My bala's are a little over a year old and at 10" ! Its with a 14" Silver aro thats about 7 months old.
Time to start looking for a bigger tank!
Masa_Rov
06-22-2005, 9:04 AM
Time to start looking for a bigger tank!
I mean "time *for me* to start looking for a bigger tank"--I have 9 balas. I knew that was going to be way too many eventually, but I was hoping to wait until next summer.
buddah101
06-22-2005, 10:49 AM
I mean "time *for me* to start looking for a bigger tank"--I have 9 balas. I knew that was going to be way too many eventually, but I was hoping to wait until next summer.
Holy crap! Nine Bala sharks??? I once knew a fellow that had a pond in his yard and had his balas in there over the summer each year well, they ended up getting at least 14" (no **** either" and everytime he had to wade into the pond to fix or adjust something they would suck on his feet...toes,ankles,leg hair!! hahaha..He said he dreaded going in there because it felt so weird. He said that they would probably knock him down if he wasn't expecting it..LOL! :screwy:
Masa_Rov
06-22-2005, 12:21 PM
Holy crap! Nine Bala sharks??? I once knew a fellow that had a pond in his yard and had his balas in there over the summer each year well, they ended up getting at least 14" (no **** either" and everytime he had to wade into the pond to fix or adjust something they would suck on his feet...toes,ankles,leg hair!! hahaha..He said he dreaded going in there because it felt so weird. He said that they would probably knock him down if he wasn't expecting it..LOL! :screwy:
When I saw them schooling, I felt compelled (against my better judgment http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/newreply.php#) to get all of them. I thought they would grow more slowly. A pond is not an option for me. Oh, well, my basement has several empty rooms...
My bala's are a little over a year old and at 10" ! Its with a 14" Silver aro thats about 7 months old. just guessing at the silvers age, but thats my best guess anyhow! Contrary to popular belief, Balas do indeed breed in captivity! I cant tell you how many times mine have mated and laid eggs. I let them get eaten though, I have no tank suitable for such little fishies!
Can you tell the male from the female?
buddah101
06-25-2005, 8:17 AM
Can you tell the male from the female?
Yes I can. The female is always more plump during their spawning season.
Usually the biggest one out of a pair is usually the female. Males are more "streamline" in appearence. HTH
Yes I can. The female is always more plump during their spawning season.
Usually the biggest one out of a pair is usually the female. Males are more "streamline" in appearence. HTH
Thanks. I hope I can breed them also :)
Balas are omnis. They eat just about everything. I had a old one about 9" that eats fish poo. :swear:
so does p45
Fishman8
06-27-2005, 10:48 AM
Bro, sooner or later your bala sharks will be feeder sharks!