bala cat ?

[cenecker]

Don't mean to be a total nerd but incase anyone cares this highly taxanomically debated fish has recently be officially changed to "Hexanematichthys seemanni." Tragically, THOUSANDS of them are imported as tiny juvies every year, I doubt even 1% of them make it to maturity. I would have to say next to pacus this is the MOST MISPURCHASED fish by unsuspecting newbies.

The issues with this fish -

- Grows pretty large (over 1 ft) and more importantly is VERY ACTIVE and schooling and thus needs a big tank for a big active group.
- Adults do live in salt or brackish water. However, I will say IME all the large specimens I've seen were raised entirely in freshwater, despite the constant claims that they will stop eating and die is not switched to salt at 6"

 

[basslover34]

Don't mean to be a total nerd but incase anyone cares this highly taxanomically debated fish has recently be officially changed to "Hexanematichthys seemanni." Tragically, THOUSANDS of them are imported as tiny juvies every year, I doubt even 1% of them make it to maturity. I would have to say next to pacus this is the MOST MISPURCHASED fish by unsuspecting newbies.

The issues with this fish -

- Grows pretty large (over 1 ft) and more importantly is VERY ACTIVE and schooling and thus needs a big tank for a big active group.
- Adults do live in salt or brackish water. However, I will say IME all the large specimens I've seen were raised entirely in freshwater, despite the constant claims that they will stop eating and die is not switched to salt at 6"

I've never heard of them to stop eating and die at 6" if not moved to brackish water... I have heard of sudden deaths with no explination as to why at that size as well as several cases of skin problems and death as well. Personally never owned one past 6" due to not being interested in having a brackish tank so I wouldn't know first have however.

 

[Red tail catking]

with them they arn't called bala cats they have a few names Columbian shark, silver tip shark, and bull sharks (no relation to a REAL bull shark) and as they grow they need more salt in their tank, actully you can get them slowly adjusted to saltwater. Sorry for the bad spelling I'm half asleep. zzZzzZz...

 

[basslover34]

You should get more bala sharks for the reason that they do school for it but that might not be the only case sometimes young balas can easily catch something called flukes its something that you have to specifically treat in a hospital tank with special meds. It causes the victim to have random burst of speed and over consumption of food. It effects the brain and gets worst if not treated. normally its caught normally because of stress of being shiped, bad water quality, or being taken from their school.

Just a guess... but you didn't actually read the thread did you??

 

[Red tail catking]

Sorry your right, then i edited it after reading a bit more But aleast you learned something about bala sharks.

 

[cenecker]

I've never heard of them to stop eating and die at 6" if not moved to brackish water... I have heard of sudden deaths with no explination as to why at that size as well as several cases of skin problems and death as well. Personally never owned one past 6" due to not being interested in having a brackish tank so I wouldn't know first have however.

Exagerating for effect

My point was although people insist they MUST be kept in brackish/salt, all the large specimens I've met have been kept in fresh thier whole lives...not that I'm suggesting folks buy fish they can't keep in ideal situations...so really i don't know what my point is here