Miguel Angel Montanez - 2013-02-03 Why is my bala shark hovering in the corner like if it was guarding something? It has been doing it for two days now and it just seems weird.
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Jeremy Roche - 2013-02-04 Is the area near anything? Filter, heater??
Anonymous - 2012-12-04 How high can Balas jump? I ask because the 7' Balas we've had for a year lives in a tank without a top. The tank is 200 gallons. He shares the tank with lots of plants and half a dozen goldfish. The tank is actually a square water tub, with fiberglass sides, used specifically for aquatic plants, some of them emergent - so a top does not work. The fish mysteriously showed up one day so I wasn't prepared for a jumping fish. If I know how high Balas jump, I can attach plexiglass to the sides so there's more height. Ever since we've had him, our Balas appears healthy, growing fast and seems fine. I've never seen him jump, but that doesn't mean he doesn't. I'd appreciate some advice with this. Thanks
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Jeremy Roche - 2012-12-04 Hard to say. Really depends on the clear area of the tank to build up speed. The more open room at the surface the farther it can jump.
Anonymous - 2012-12-11 Thanks Jeremy for your reply. I was afraid of that. I guess I need to decide if I should try to find a suitable alternative home for this guy. Since he is the only Bala in the tank, that's not ideal either. I'm just concerned that any other home (pet shop) would end up being way too small. So my issues are raising the sides high enough to prevent jumping out and his being solitary. As much as I like him, it's annoying that he was dumped and his present conditions aren't ideal either.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-12-11 Try adding some floating plants. adding plexi glass angles inward will work too
nm123 - 2011-11-07 I just got 1 SILVER SHARK and I was wondering if I can't fit it in a 30 gal wide with one angelfish and a red tailed shark, Cory and a clown pleco oh and 2 silver tip tetras?
PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ASAP I love this fish so much and don't want to see it die.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-11-08 No they won't fit except if very young and that is a stretch. Scroll up in the article and you will see that 70 gallons minimum is recommended for this one fish - preferably 140 gallons. Another problem is if a fish can fit another fish in his mouth - they will consider it food.
nm123 - 2011-11-08 what about just the silver shark nothing else
nm123 - 2011-11-09 What about if just the silver shark lives in the tank its wider horizontally than vertically.
Anonymous - 2012-01-13 When they are stessed in a small tank they will try and jump out of your tank and kill themselves. They also need to be in groups or the same thing will happen
Juliette - 2012-02-18 I have three balas and they are now aged 10 years, beautiful fish very harmonious. Never have any of my balas eaten the fry of any other fish that have bred in my tank (including yellow labs (chiclids) and yes they live together very well). They were in a 180 litre tank until recently. The only time they jumped was during feeding for the floating food so as far as I can see they will thrive in a smaller tank but a larger tank is better for them as they will display a more natural behaviour. Two of them are (I believe) displaying a courtship ritual by rubbing,pecking and swimming together.
nm123 - 2011-11-17 What about if just the silver shark lives in the tank its wider horizontally than vertically.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-11-18 Article above recommends a minimum of a 70 gallon tank and then 150 gallon tank when it is an adult. I don't think the little guy will care much whether the width is greater horizontally or vertically. They just need the swimming room - Enjoy
lekisha kelly - 2010-03-27 I just bought a silver shark today and I have other fish in the tank, it's only about 5 cm now but I'm a bit worried what to do with it when it gets bigger, my tank is about 50 cm wide.
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nm123 - 2011-11-09 As long as you have about a 55 gallon tank you don't need to upgrade it I have mine in a 30 gallon but he's tiny he's probably going to be the only one living in it in about a year.
Jb - 2011-01-23 Why won't my shark eat fish flakes it only eats sinking pellets what should I do?
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nm123 - 2011-11-07 Nothing as long as it's eating it's fine, if you want to feed it something else though cut a pea in half and drop both pieces into the tank depending on the size of your shark (silver shark).
justin - 2011-01-15 I have a 60-gallon tank, and at Petsmart the people say these things get 14 inches! Is this true? Will I need to get more than one?
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nm123 - 2011-11-06 No they aren't schooling fish they get about that size maybe smaller in aquarium though.
Bradley Charles Pastuers - 2011-03-23 Hey everyone, I just bought two of these from the local fish store. They are doing well in their new tank, I'm hoping they don't grow too quickly, my tank isn't that big, about ten litres or so. They're only about an inch long though. One of them has a demented rear fin, I hope he ends up ok...love this site.
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nm123 - 2011-11-06 Don't worry my pet store (petland) said they grow very slow but might need a bigger tank as they age.
The very popular Bala Shark has a perfectly sweet disposition and peacefully goes about minding its own business!
Why is my bala shark hovering in the corner like if it was guarding something? It has been doing it for two days now and it just seems weird.
Is the area near anything? Filter, heater??
How high can Balas jump? I ask because the 7' Balas we've had for a year lives in a tank without a top. The tank is 200 gallons. He shares the tank with lots of plants and half a dozen goldfish. The tank is actually a square water tub, with fiberglass sides, used specifically for aquatic plants, some of them emergent - so a top does not work. The fish mysteriously showed up one day so I wasn't prepared for a jumping fish. If I know how high Balas jump, I can attach plexiglass to the sides so there's more height. Ever since we've had him, our Balas appears healthy, growing fast and seems fine. I've never seen him jump, but that doesn't mean he doesn't. I'd appreciate some advice with this. Thanks
Hard to say. Really depends on the clear area of the tank to build up speed. The more open room at the surface the farther it can jump.
Thanks Jeremy for your reply. I was afraid of that. I guess I need to decide if I should try to find a suitable alternative home for this guy. Since he is the only Bala in the tank, that's not ideal either. I'm just concerned that any other home (pet shop) would end up being way too small. So my issues are raising the sides high enough to prevent jumping out and his being solitary. As much as I like him, it's annoying that he was dumped and his present conditions aren't ideal either.
Try adding some floating plants. adding plexi glass angles inward will work too
I just got 1 SILVER SHARK and I was wondering if I can't fit it in a 30 gal wide with one angelfish and a red tailed shark, Cory and a clown pleco oh and 2 silver tip tetras?
PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ASAP I love this fish so much and don't want to see it die.
No they won't fit except if very young and that is a stretch. Scroll up in the article and you will see that 70 gallons minimum is recommended for this one fish - preferably 140 gallons. Another problem is if a fish can fit another fish in his mouth - they will consider it food.
what about just the silver shark nothing else
What about if just the silver shark lives in the tank its wider horizontally than vertically.
When they are stessed in a small tank they will try and jump out of your tank and kill themselves. They also need to be in groups or the same thing will happen
I have three balas and they are now aged 10 years, beautiful fish very harmonious. Never have any of my balas eaten the fry of any other fish that have bred in my tank (including yellow labs (chiclids) and yes they live together very well). They were in a 180 litre tank until recently. The only time they jumped was during feeding for the floating food so as far as I can see they will thrive in a smaller tank but a larger tank is better for them as they will display a more natural behaviour. Two of them are (I believe) displaying a courtship ritual by rubbing,pecking and swimming together.
Has anybody ever cared for three spot gouramis?
What about if just the silver shark lives in the tank its wider horizontally than vertically.
Article above recommends a minimum of a 70 gallon tank and then 150 gallon tank when it is an adult. I don't think the little guy will care much whether the width is greater horizontally or vertically. They just need the swimming room - Enjoy
thanks
please have you ever cared for 3 spot gourames
I just bought a silver shark today and I have other fish in the tank, it's only about 5 cm now but I'm a bit worried what to do with it when it gets bigger, my tank is about 50 cm wide.
As long as you have about a 55 gallon tank you don't need to upgrade it I have mine in a 30 gallon but he's tiny he's probably going to be the only one living in it in about a year.
I had 3 silver shark and one albino rainbow. . .the rainbow killed them all except one D:
Why won't my shark eat fish flakes it only eats sinking pellets what should I do?
Nothing as long as it's eating it's fine, if you want to feed it something else though cut a pea in half and drop both pieces into the tank depending on the size of your shark (silver shark).
I have a 60-gallon tank, and at Petsmart the people say these things get 14 inches! Is this true? Will I need to get more than one?
No they aren't schooling fish they get about that size maybe smaller in aquarium though.
Hey everyone, I just bought two of these from the local fish store. They are doing well in their new tank, I'm hoping they don't grow too quickly, my tank isn't that big, about ten litres or so. They're only about an inch long though. One of them has a demented rear fin, I hope he ends up ok...love this site.
Don't worry my pet store (petland) said they grow very slow but might need a bigger tank as they age.
ps - they should be full grown in about a year.