kim6970

I am setting up my 120 tank and have been looking at different fish while I am waiting for it to cycle. My son and husband both like the sharks. I have been researching sharks and it seems that they are large fish and jumpers. I am looking for a one that will stay around 6 inches and will not jump out of the tank. Any suggestions? Thanks!!!

lilsoccakid

red tail sharks get about 6 inches, and are pretty interesting. take a look at bala sharks also!

Barbrella

In a tank that size, a rainbow shark would be a good choice. They aren't generally as aggressive as red tailed sharks, but you can have only one.

With caves set up at one end of the tank for it, you shouldn't have too much a problem with aggression.

MagpieTear

Bala's will def. get over 6", but a 120 long is a good fit for them. (smallest they'd not get stunted in in my limited opinion) If it's a 120 tall I'd still shy away from the Bala's, the extra running room of the long is what they'll crave. And yes, they're champion jumpers. Dwight Phillips has nothing on these fish.


And yes, I'm being a bit of a hypocrite, as I have a pair in my 55. Hoping to get a 125 within the next few months, end of 08 at the latest. Both the sharks and my Pleco need the room

susitna-flower

I posted this in your other thread also, but I love Bala Sharks, they are extremely good in a community tank, flashy but don't bother other tank mates. You should keep 3 so they play with each other, and your tank is good for that number. They are in the BARB family and are not really a shark.

The other fish I would suggest are:
6 Congo Tetras - google to find a picture of these they are one of my favorite.

3 corys
2 Bristlenose Plecos
10-15 cardinal tetras.

If you plant the tank and have drift wood it would not only be colorful, flashy for your husband, but peaceful as well.

My Balas are lively 2 or 3 times a day, then they just hang out also.

We have a hood over the tank, (lights, and all tucked up there), which means they can't jump out. Plan for this, even plecos tend to be escape artists at times.

kim6970

Thanks everyone. The whole jumping out of the tank thing has me a little freaked out. I can imagine walking into a dark living room and stepping on a shark. GROSS!!! LOL!!! So we will have to invest in a better hood, the one we have right now only covers the back half of the tank.

Gozer_1

The one thing I'd recommend is NOT BUYING a Columbian Shark. I noticed this thread was under that section. They need a special situation setup. They begin life as fresh water and eventually need to be brought through brakish into full marine over time. They're one of 2 catfish that live in a marine environment. They get very large though 120 would be good. They also have a poisonous spine.

Anyway, just thought I'd throw that in there.

kim6970

Thanks Gozer. I was reading about the Columbian Shark so I think I added my thread under his name by mistake....still a newbie. hehehe! But I agree with you on the Columbian I could see how you could get in trouble with this guy. I really like the look of the Bala but for our needs I am thinking about the rainbow.

Gozer_1

No problem
Just figured I'd mention it just in case lol. We're all noobies in the grand scheme of things, right? I like Rainbow Sharks too. Had a Red Fin but he was killed. He always started fights with everyone. As a matter of fact I had it at the same time I had Columbian Sharks. My first experience at what kind of predator they really are. Yeah I made the mistake of buying them when I started out. They got so predatory before they died. I ran out of room and experience to keep them alive. Left me with a "mostly" salt aquarium and a ravenous desire to setup a reef aquarium. They are such beautiful fish though. One of my all time favorites. If I ever have the room, I plan to raise some properly. They're one of the most shark like fish of the nonshark "sharks". Yup that sentence made lots of sense. lol Time for bed lol

susitna-flower

I was just reading about another fish, some call a Roseline Shark, they are actually Puntius denisonii Barb (the Bala is also really a barb). Check this site.

www.fishforums.com/forum/profile-article-discussions/15354-puntius-denisonii-progress.html , the site has excellant pictures.

They are smaller than the Bala, only grow to 6", but need to be kept in a "school", I saw them one time in my LFS, and was really struck with their beauty.

Gozer_1

Susitna Those are incredible fish. They would go SO well with my Tin Foil Barbs. If only I had the room. lol Unfortunately I only have room for 3 Tin Foils. (I hardly have room for them, as is. lol) Oh well maybe someday. Those are totally awesome. Maybe I'll restock with those after the Tin Foils go to fishy heaven. WOW. I love em. That's so great.

Sorry, just was excited. They kind of look like and seem to act like HUGE Cherry Barbs. That sounds freakin awesome.

susitna-flower

They have some of the puntius denisonii on aquabid right now, the auction goes through the 6th!!! $16. buys them... I too wish I had a tank right now for oh --- 6 or 10 of em....

kim6970

The Roseline Shark is our winner. It is a beautiful fish. I will probably added after my tank has had fish in it for a few months, they have a big price tag.

Is a Susitna a salmon? I googled it and thats what I found.

susitna-flower

Susitna is the name of the river I live on....it is an indian name. I can look it up for the whole meaning. I know that the na on the end just is 'river', so the first part of the name Susit probably does mean fish- salmon fish run in the river.

Glad you like those, 'Roseline Sharks' , there are some available right now from corys r us. Check them out on aquabid.com, they are asking $16.00 each, which is a really good price. I would get some myself, but just don't have the tank space right now. The thing is you should get a minimum of 6 as they really do best in a school.

susitna-flower

I just looked up susitna in Wikipedia, and they say the word means, 'sand river' in the Dena'ina indian language, which sounds right to me. If you ever saw the river you would know why, it is glacial run off, the water is gray, and it has shifting sand islands. The river is any where from 1/2 mile to over a mile across, but it changes channels every year.

It's been a long time since I even thought about what it means. I have a book by Shem Pete, a Dena'ina indian, who was recorded in his language, telling stories of the area, translated into english, I read this book 15 or so years ago, so forget the details......

Gozer_1

I have to admit. I looked up susitna flower too. I was curious what kind of flower it was. I ended up looking at a bunch of BEAUTIFUL photos of the Susitna area. There's a Susitna mountain too isn't there? Seems like I saw a picture of it anyway. Incredibly gorgeous views. LOL Almost felt like a stalker looking up someones username. lol Curiosity got the best of me. I had to know what kind of crazy Alaskan flower a Susitna was. lol

susitna-flower

It doesn't bother me at all, it is fun to share things like this with you folks. I am so blessed to live where I do. We are on 160 acres right on the Susitna. The little creek, Trapper Creek also runs through our homestead, and Salmon spawn in this creek. We live on a bluff overlooking the river, with a clear view of Mt. McKinley to the north. Like I have told people in the past, it is a playground for snowmachiners, and hunters/fishermen. But a long way to the grocery store, and of course the LFS- 80 miles!

The flower, is just because I have a commercial greenhouse - or did for years. The fuel prices have forced me to take a break, so I'm exploring fish instead!!!

There is a mountain Susitna - "The Sleeping Lady", which you can see across the Cook Inlet from Anchorage. My only sister lives half way up the neck of the sleeping lady. This "mountain" is only about 5000 ft, not a real mountain, but it does look just like a lady laying down......

kim6970

Susitna.....I am so jealous your place sounds so nice and peaceful!!!! Thanks for the heads up on the Roseline sharks but my tank has not cycled yet so I will have to wait.

susitna-flower

There is peaceful, then there is the kind of peace that drives you crazy, and this is why I have fish....though since we aren't on the electric lines and such, it can be a trial. We run a generator, and the three ring circus around switching off tank lights when we plug in the coffee pot!!! It keeps us hopping.