ABCDemily

Generally speaking, that is what ONE bala could SURVIVE, not THRIVE. For a fish to thrive, for in this instance, a Bala, they need to be in schools, they grow to 14", therefore you'd need at minimum 300 Gallons.

I highly suggest you do re-home these fish, you'll be doing them no favours by keeping a bala in such a small tank unfortunaltly.

kimb

If you know you will have a bigger tank in future, why not return these (like you have done with most of the others) and get something that will thrive in the 55g? Once you have the funds for the 75, look at the sharks then? While it is true, they will not outgrow the tank tomorrow...they are growing each day. By keeping them in a smaller tank, you risk stunting their growth. I would also be concerned for both you and the LFS, that constantly changing the fish could bring about disease or illness (him from you or vice versa). What about the stress of those in the tank...they are constantly being introduced to tank mates, then new tank mates, are all these fish needing the same temp? Food requirements? Take the time to think out what you really want (and what you can have). Good Luck

Swifterz

i haven't returned any of the fish to any stores other than 4 small tetras. the ID sharks went back to my friend who originally had them. i am THINKING about giving the gouramis away.

i considered doing just what you are suggesting. i spoke with the store i got the balas from and they won't even take them back for credit or for nothing. and i paid $11 apiece for them so i don't want to just throw my money away by giving them to someone else who has the same size, or even smaller tank than me. i really love the fish.

kimb

My mistake (in thinking they were returned to LFS and not to a friend) same feeling though, they are in your tank then in someone else's...you have already had ICH to deal with once. I also included in my thinking that you were considering gouramis out for a school of danios....platys that are now gone....and the fact you are still looking for more fish when you know the ones you have are going to get too big. If you MUST keep them, why add anything else? That certainly isn't going to give them any more room. I know you love the Balas (you also loved the ID's that are now gone). Bottom line it is your decision, you have gotten good advice all along. Good luck to the fish and to you.

Swifterz

i was told by a few people around here that the balas might get 8" or so, not too big for my tank and also that they would not "stunt".

what percentage of bala sharks actually reaches a foot in length? isn't that like saying a person could grow to 7'6" because yao ming is that tall? a person also could only reach average height, 5'10" or so. i wonder what the average size of an adult bala shark is. i know it's hard to tell because it depends on so many things but still.

kimb

I have no idea the how many of these fish would reach a foot in length. In your 40 posts, I did not see anyone suggesting that these sharks would not be too big for your tank (perhaps I missed it). Maybe on your new "community" thread, you will get the answer you want to hear. Why not go to as many websites as you can and look up Bala Sharks. Document what the suggested length will be, then add them all up and take the average. Add in the size of your rainbow, your barbs and whatever else you decide upon, then see how the tank size holds up. To comment on your basketball analogy....wonder how many NBA players are over 5'10?LOL Good luck!

gmen4life

i had balas at first but i rehomed them because they get huge!!!!! i didnt know better but now i do i ended up with african cichlids and well now turned inot MTS balas are awesome but you are overstocking!!! the inch per gallon rule is full grown adult fish not as babies

btate617

There are probably a handful of people on this site who can properly house a school of 5-6 balas, me not being one of them. They need a huge tank.
Your idea about they won't grow that big is just wrong, actually in your case they probably won't, chances are in this case they will be dead before they have the chance to grow to their full potential. Your tank just isn't big enough.
It seems people are getting frustrated here as you are asking for opinions then not liking what is given. It is what it is, you can't afford a stand for a 75gal tank, so chances of you getting a proper tank for these fish is pretty slim. Why not take the advise given and get a fish that goes with the tank you NOW have?

Brian

gmen4life

yeah trure or buy a monster tank or try and sleep in a coat closet and see how comfy you are tonight

kimb

You got in in one. Well said.

Swifterz

i am just asking about compatibility. everything turns into "the bala sharks are too big for your tank". i get it.

Chrisson

If you understand then I'm suspecting them being returned soon.

Tony G.

Chrisson. The information you have given has been very helpful. Our goal here in this website is to guide the best possible way. You have made your point as well as others so tt is up to him to decide what to do after all, they are his fish. If he does not return his fish, then it will be his problem, not providing the best for his fish.
Thanks for worrying and making the suggestion.

Tony

Swifterz

i get it. it doesn't make me mad or anything. i'm just ready to move onto something else... i mean how many times does it have to be said? i will make a decision.

Tony G.

good best of luck!

Swifterz

thanks

Swifterz

changed to sand today!

Swifterz

alright guys you've convinced me to at least try. here's what i'm going to do about the balas...

there is one particular guy at the shop i bought them from who is always very friendly and helpful. i'm going to explain the situation to him personally and see if he will let me return the bala sharks for store credit. i have the receipt still.

if he allows it, i would have $36 to purchase new fish with, and i would probably buy some cichlids. i know they are aggressive but i think they would be ok tankmates for my 10 tiger barbs and the rainbow shark.

keyhole cichlids
firemouth cichlids
bolivian rams

those are the ones i might choose. and $36 ought to be able to buy a pair of each species. any objections?

if i am not allowed to return the fish, i might try to put them on craigslist or something. i just want to get at least some of my money back (to help pay for the replacement fish). the 3 sharks are about 4 or 5 inches each so surely they are worth something.

gmen4life

hmm firemouth = dead barbs

ABCDemily

Yeah, Barbs are way too active, fin-nippy and aggressive to be kept with gentle, peaceful Cichlids like the Blue Ram or Bolivian Ram.

Keyholes also, wouldn't appreciate them.

Firemouths = Dead Barbs, and a lot of aggression issues.

*EDIT*

If you return the Balas, then I'd go for getting an even larger school of Tiger Barbs, they'd be twice as happy with more of them being friends together.

Swifterz

my tank, now with sand!

Tony G.

it looks amazing!! im subscribing!!

Swifterz

thanks! the water is still far from as clear as it will get.

i saw a piece of driftwood today that i'm now wishing i bought. i could have put it down into the sand to where it made an arch underneath and on top it pointed in about 3 directions. it would go awesome on the right side of my tank, and i could go heavier in fewer areas with the slate rock. i might go back and get it tomorrow.

and i think i've decided to try to grow some "beginner" plants.

Tony G.

lol i havent dared to get any live plants yet, sometime in the near future i hope

aquarist48

Swiftzer your tank looks "great".

Blub

Hello

I just read through the whole thread... Yikes! It looks like y our in a pretty sticky situation. I will agree the Balas will get too big, and need to be returned, but I will also agree they are YOUR fish and it is ultimately YOUR decsicion. Big cichlids aren't my area (I'm more of a planted tank full of small schooling fish/a few bigger fish person), but I think if you really love Balas, then get something similar. I see you have already gone for a Rainbow shark - a good choice IMO. If you are into larger, shiny fish then look at Silver dollars. They will eat plants, but you could just not get plants in that case. They are however lovely big fish (about 6") that will do well in a 55gal tank. Also, I bet you would love Angelfish. They are a largeish cichlid (6") that properly deserve their reputation as 'Queen of the Aquarium'. Also, have you looked into kribensis cichlids? They are hardy, well mannered cichlids (until they start breeding!) that do well in communitys, and should get on with barbs. Check out those fish online, and maybe a few others you find on the way that you like and we'll see what can happen.

Swifterz

yeah i have looked into the kribs. however i kind of decided that i like the rams and keyholes little more. and i have heard that the kribs are a little more aggressive than the the others.

i absolutely love my bala sharks. i mean they are just my favorites. i love watching them! as you can probably gather from this thread, i have a hard time making a decision and being happy with it. no matter what i always think about other possibilities, and what i could have, or should have bought instead, even if i am 100% happy with what i have.

this isn't just with fish either. there's a million possibilities with how to set up a tank... sand or gravel? rocks, driftwood, plants (fake or live)... even right down to where to place each individual piece of slate. i know it's crazy. there is just so much to choose from.

what i really want is to have species that are different. they don't neccessarily have to be very colorful or anything. i just want each type of fish to look different from the others. obviously i have this going on between the bala sharks, rainbow shark, tiger barbs and gouramis.

but i'm always thinking about adding more. i have really good filtration so i think i can keep a lot of fish. but then at the same time i sometimes wish i just had fewer fish but some that were larger. then i'll turn right around and cherry barbs will catch my eye and i'll be thinking about a school of them. they are beautiful, peaceful fish that would look great in a school.

i don't really like angelfish. they have just never really caught my attention. right now i'm thinking about maybe putting the cichlid idea to rest. i mean what for? why risk event he possibility of creating issues in my now peaceful tank. if i get rams or keyholes the barbs might terrorize them. if i get firemouths they might kill the barbs (or other fish). but i might change my mind 5 minutes from now when i see a picture of a beautiful cichlid.

i guess if i had it to do 100% over again with my stocking i might would just do a cichlid tank with the tiger barbs. yesterday i saw some african cichlids that were just beautiful. i had no idea how awesome they looked. one in particular caught my eye. it was a victorian hap.



(looked like that) but of course that is not even a remote possiblity in my tank right now unless i got rid of everything.

someone mentioned earlier that you should just do one cichlid species only in a tank unless you are doing africans. if i were stocking today i might would go with some of those guys and some other africans they had. they had some large haps, almost full grown, like the ones pictured about for only $5.

Swifterz

i just have to choose something, be happy with it, enjoy it and stop thinking about other fish, because there are literally thousands to choose from and i can't have everything. regardless, i'm going to have a pretty nice setup with a lot of very cool fish.

i think i will give away the kissing gouramis, as they will eventually get very large and could become bullies. this would also free up some space for other fish.

if i stick with my current stocking (minis the kissers), and want to add another species, i think the best idea would be to go with a relatively small, schooling fish like cherry barbs. they will add a lot of color to my tank and not bother anything, and my other fish won't bother them.

and i feel like i should get a bottom lurker, something like yoyo loaches. this might make it seem a bit overstocked, but like i said i have really good filtration. if i do that i would have a wide variety of fish that are colorful, active, and all get along great. and none of them will ever outgrow the tank.

abc123d30

Lol, looks like you could have a possible case of MTS.

gmen4life

yeah i still wouldnt put barbs with cichlids imo i have mbuna as juvies you may get away with it but as breeding adults the barbs would get hammerd on cichlids are awesome thats my living room tank so i can keep them close lol