Bala sharks

[Deadeye]

Bigger is always better, if you can get the tub I’d go for that.
I suppose you could attach a pond filter, and unless it’s hot where you are you will still need a heater.
90 gallon would let them grow to at least 8-10 inches before they start to feel cramped I would think.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

We’ll my plan was to upgrade to a 125-150 and keep them there for about a year or two than when me and my wife move into a house I was going to buy a 300 gallon tractor tub and make a outdoor pond for them Right now I have my ball is in a 90 gallon they are about 6 inches I’m going to be upgrading my tank within a year to a 125 or 150 then I’m going to be moving into a new home and setting up a pond out front of my house or out back and then when they get really big move them out to the pond how long do you think I can keep a Bala and a 90 gallon and in a 150 what size should I be moving them to the pond

What can I do to keep them I have grown so attached to them their about 6 inches in my 90 gallon I’m going to be upgrading to a 125-150 in the next year but would I be able to buy like a kiddie pool fill that up and keep them in their permanently??? Or a 300 gallon horse tub like this one ??? If that tub will be good enough what exactly do I need I’m guessing a sponge filter or two with an air pump, would I need a heater??? And I would have to get some kind of cover for it right?? I just really need to know I love my balas and I wanna keep them I feel bad that their in a 90 gallon and I wanna move them to something bigger but I can’t really put a 180 on my second floor so please any advice would be greatly appreciated

This is for Deadeye as well. A 20-25 cm bala shark would be very cramped in a 341 liter, in fact their current size is the largest size I would be comfortable having them in that size of tank.

Largest bala you can keep in a 473-568 liter (if it is 1.83 meters in length) is probably about 18 cm. Both those recommendations may sound overly low, but remember that they are very fast and/or skittish fish, so they need a lot of space for their size.

Really sorry to tell you this, but the Rubbermaid stock tank will not be large enough lengthwise as it is only 1.75 meters long.
Meanwhile DMD123 (page 1) has his bala sharks in a tank of equal volume to that tub but longer, at 2.44 meters. And there are times he thinks they need a larger tank.

As per my recommendation on page 1, I recommend a tank or pond a minimum of 4 to 4.8 meters in length.

Concerning the rest, yes, you'd need large filters (sponge, pond, canister, hang on back, etc) along with an air pump for oxygenation, a lid to stop them jumping, and a heater (unless you live in a warm climate) regardless of the size of the tank/pond.

 

[celebrist]

Size matters for sure a 240 would be okay I think I had my group in a 150 and they were skittish at 8 inches, now in the 450 they are very chill and always up front

 

[Kylethefishguy]

Anyone interested in buying a 90 gallon fish tank with stand and glass canopy tank is basically new only running for about 5 months I’m upgrading to a 150 next week

 

[jjohnwm]

Is there another Philadelphia that I don't know about, maybe in the Caribbean or something? If not, good luck keeping Balas outdoors in a pond; that thing will probably cost more to heat than your house will. And, yes, you are absolutely going to need to heat it for those fish.

Aside from size (I agree with M MultipleTankSyndrome that a 300-gallon tub is still way too small for these super-active fish), Balas really won't show up very well when viewed from above. And, like any skittish species of fish, they tend to go crazy when something suddenly looms over top of them without warning.

Regarding their skittishness...many years ago I had three small balas in a 125-gallon 6-foot all-glass tank, kept in my living room. The tank was positioned such that the fish were never caught by surprise; anyone entering the room was immediately visible to the fish at a distance, and they were calm and relaxed except those occasions when I was rearranging the scape or otherwise working in the tank. However, once they hit 8 inches I made the mistake of transferring them into a home-made 360-gallon plywood tank, which had only the one viewing window on the front...and was situated against a wall in such a way that people entering the room were not visible to the fish until the moment that they suddenly appeared right at the front of the tank at either end. Those poor fish lived in constant stress for several weeks, flying into a panic every time someone walked by, which happened all day long. Within a month I had lost one who I believe crashed into a wall at high speed during one of those terrified dashes, and I rehomed the other two before they followed suit.

Balas are gorgeous fish, hardy and easy to keep, but their size, their speed and their potential nervousness make them a challenge in many situations. In yours, I'd have to suggest that you consider rehoming them and replacing with something smaller and more easily accommodated.

You know the old T-shirt saying: If you love something, set it free; if you don't, it'll smash its brains out in too small of an aquarium.

I think that's the way that went...?

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

If you love something, set it free; if you don't, it'll smash its brains out in too small of an aquarium.

Couldn't have put it any better myself, considering it not only aligns with the original but is literally what will happen if those balas are not either rehomed or upgraded to at least a 4-4.8 meter tank.

K Kylethefishguy What are the dimensions of your 568 liter? With them, I can help advise you on which of the bala alternatives (roseline, Borneo redfin, red tail/rainbow) is best.

 

[celebrist]

I think my balas are so calm because of the tank is 36 inches wide so they know they can retreat which reduces the need to do so also they can see everything coming their way

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

K Kylethefishguy What are the dimensions of your 568 liter? With them, I can help advise you on which of the bala alternatives (roseline, Borneo redfin, red tail/rainbow) is best.

Nvm that, I see you have roselines and a rainbow shark already. These are much more suitable for a 568 liter, and I advise to get more roselines once you get the 568 liter.

 

[Kylethefishguy]

I am buying a 150 this weekend I’m keeping them in a 150 for about four more years then I’m upgrading to a 300 when we buy our new house