Compatability: 4 inch Bala Sharks with 7-8 inch Silver Arowana?

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S

Sidrock

Candiru
MFK Member
Nov 20, 2009
579
3
48
Bombay, India
Hello everybody,

I was wondering if Bala Sharks (AKA Silver Sharks) are compatible with Silver Arowana?

The Bala Sharks (or Silver Sharks) at the local shop are about 4 inches in length and my Silver Arowana is about 7-8 inch.

The Silver Aro is currently housed in a smaller tank (30 gal.) while my 180 gal tank is being set up.

In my opinion there should be no problem because:

  1. The Aro swims almost exclusively at the surface and these "Bala Sharks" are bottom dwellers,
  2. The Silver Sharks I am considering buying are too big to be considered "food"
  3. Silver Aros and Silver Sharks are less aggressive than their other cousins.
My concern is over time the Silver Aro will grow really really fast as compared to the Silver Shark.. So, while the Silver Shark is too big to be considered food now, it may not be the case in about 6 months.

What do you think?

Sid
 
balas don't grow at the same pace as arowana and the bala is already smaller. your bala is starting out at a slight size disadvantage. but, it might work, just keep an eye on their interraction as they grow.
 
I think the erratic movemnet of the balas in that 30g tank will cause alot of stress on your arowana. Any tankmates are a bad idea until the silver aro is in a bigger tank
 
Bderick67;3771921; said:
I think the erratic movemnet of the balas in that 30g tank will cause alot of stress on your arowana. Any tankmates are a bad idea until the silver aro is in a bigger tank
Click to expand...

+1....instead of a bala get a fei feng...perfect combo.
 
peewee;3771966; said:
+1....instead of a bala get a fei feng...perfect combo.
Click to expand...

Not in a 30g tank:eek:


Balas and aros do fine together if given appropriate swimming space.
 
sorry, i didn't notice that he said that the silver is in a 30, my bad.
 
I am not putting any other fish with the Silver Aro till I get the 180 gal tank...

"Balas and aros do fine together if given appropriate swimming space. "

This is also what I found out through researching info about these fish..I guess, I needed to hear from someone else too...

The Bala Sharks are in my 90 gal. community tank for now... If they don't seem happy in the 180 gal. with the Silver Aro.. I will just keep them in the 90 gal and consider moving the Silver Dollars to the 180 gal. (That's a different "compatibility" question.)

I also got one Red Tailed Shark and immediately gave him a VIP section at a corner of the 90 gal. (He doesn't bother the Bala Sharks as he has a rock-bridge formation exclusively to himself.)

Thank you all for your input,

Sid
 
You have a 90g tank but choose to keep the aro in a 30g :screwy:
 
the aro should be in the larger tank...that being said i had my balas at 3" with my silver at 13"...then again at 17" with the balas at 5"...then again with the balas at 6-7" and the aro at 24" never any problems with the bala aro combo....just with the tsns and bala combo as they are in with the aro;)
 
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