Hey I'm setting up a 75 gallon tank and I was wondering if it'd be okay to put 4 or 5 Bala sharks and 2 silver dollars in it. Would it be too small for them?
Thanks
Thanks
Would it be okay if I put 4 Bala sharks and 2 silver dollars in a 75 gallon tank?
- Thread starter Freddy Newandyke
- Start date
No, Bala's get over a foot long, and are really active fish.
I wouldn't feel comfortable keeping them in anything less than a 240, and even that is too small, a 500+ is better.
I wouldn't feel comfortable keeping them in anything less than a 240, and even that is too small, a 500+ is better.
Balas are a stunning fish imo. In LFS's in the uk i tend to see them being sold at between 2-4". They are in tanks with other small community fish and joe public, unless they've researched them beforehand, just think that it's ok to have them in a small community tank, with other smaller fish, just like they saw in their LFS. And then they start growing, and as mentioned, in the right size tank they will hit 14".
If you want to enjoy these beautiful fish in your 75 i say go ahead, but buy them small, and within 12-18 months be prepared to move them on.
If you want to enjoy these beautiful fish in your 75 i say go ahead, but buy them small, and within 12-18 months be prepared to move them on.
Wow okay that just gave me more confidence about this whole situation. So here's the game plan: I'll buy 5 Bala sharks and 2 silver dollars and slowly begin to take some out as they grow larger, pretty much to the point where they grow to 8-9 inches. When that happens ill give them to a pet store or, even better, someone that can properly take care of them. Does that sound okay in your perspective?
I wouldn't do the Bala sharks at all, they just get too big and they will outgrow that tank at 6-7 inches. Silver dollars like to be in groups of 6+ or they will just become really skittish and in a 4ft tank you want the silver dollars to be comfortable as they could just end up running into the glass constantly. I would do a group of six spotted silver dollars as they only get to 4-5" and will be fine In a tank that size, you could also have some catfish with them or small cichlids like firemouths or Cupid cichlids
You may have to move them on before they get anywhere near 8-9". Five balas that big in a 75 is a bit much, bearing in mind your silver dollars too. I was thinking along the lines of getting them at 2-4" and start thinking about rehoming them around the 6" mark. Given the growth rate i've experienced with them (though other peoples experiences may differ) they may take 12-18 months to reach 6". If you try and keep them any longer than that their growth can become stunted. That's why i say get them small, enjoy them for 12-18 months and move them on.
I agree that spotted silver dollars (metynnis lipincottianus) would be a good option as far as silver dollars go. They stay around 5" and the males can actually have really nice color. Even they would be pushing it for a 75 gallon due to their activity, though. I had a group in a 4x2x2 and that seemed just adequate imo. Just my opinion, but I believe growing out fish just to knowingly have to rehome them is more hassle than it's worth.
What if I were to get 5 Bala sharks when they're around 3 inches and then give them to someone that can take care of them when they become 6 inches. It would probably take around a year or so for them to grow double their size like that
Have you considered not getting any balas at all and simply getting a nice sized group of silver dollars? That way you won't have to go through the hassle of trying to find a new home for some fish that have outgrown your tank.