Bala Sharks and Cichlid

I was wondering if I could get I Cichlid and maybe 2 Bala Sharks. Would they be compatible?? Since Bala's are very peaceful, but yet they can hold their own. Too, while the Cichlid is a Bottom dweller and the Bala's are usually middle to top(but can sometimes search the bottom for leftovers). Does anyone know, or would I have to experiment???


Thanks in advance!!

 

It depends on the size of your tank, balas get really big and the cichlid depending on which one you get can be quite territorial, Ive read on many websites that you can keep oscars with balas but Ive also been advised against it, I think its really all about the temprement of your fish. You shouldnt have a problem if the tank is really big. Google your cichlid - it depends also on which one you want.

 

I've googled both fish and every site said something different. So I guess, I'm probably gonna have to experiment. Its a 20gal, I was gonna have 1 cichlid with 1-3 Bala's and an alge eater. I already have the cave for the cichlid made(made it myself). I just have to wait for the tank to cycle. Then I was gonna add the cichlid first, let him get his cave, then in about a week, I was gonna had a few algae eaters, dunno which ones tho. The Bala's I were gonna add last.

I have also read that Bala's only grow to the size your tank lets them, like a pleco does.

So again, every site condradicts eachother.

 

Bala sharks get to well over a foot long each. And no, its not true that fish only grow to the size of the tank. Not true for balas, plecos or anything else. That's calle STUNTING and is detrimental to their health. When a fish is stunted, its insides continue to grow but its outside doesn't and it kills the fish prematurely. And it will STILL outgrow a 20 gallon tank.

 

Boxermom is very right, I also thought that until I asked on the forum, Gunnie expained that to me, their insides continue to grow while their body stays small, they will not live a long and fulfilled life... I wouldnt consider putting a cichlid and more than one bala in tank that small I had doubts about putting them together in my 300g. Balas really do get very very big and need lots of space to do so. Is there not something else you could put in that tank? have you decided on what Cichlid you want?

 

your best bet is to experiment with your fish, fish have different personalities, I keep 2 cory cats in with an angel fish, shovelnose catfish, large tiretrack eel, two large oscars, and a jack dempsey and no problems what so ever.....the guy at the pet store was amazed to hear this

 

I was wondering if I could get I Cichlid and maybe 2 Bala Sharks. Would they be compatible?? Since Bala's are very peaceful, but yet they can hold their own. Too, while the Cichlid is a Bottom dweller and the Bala's are usually middle to top(but can sometimes search the bottom for leftovers). Does anyone know, or would I have to experiment???


Thanks in advance!!

Well it really depends on what kind of cichlid ur talking about. Because I've seen bala sharks with oscars at Petco and I have a friend that has a jack dempsey with a couple bala sharks. When you are putting cichlids with bala sharks, the cichlid should either be the same size as the bala shark or smaller.