You should avoid filling the tank with big or aggressive fish that might startle your bala sharks. When alone, they are more likely to act a bit more aggressive. Make sure these plants are properly anchored to the substrate, as bala sharks are active swimmers that may uproot them. When buying a bala shark, make sure the fish has been bred in captivity, to protect the species' wild populations. Remember the weight of the water will add up quickly, so make sure the surface is strong enough to support the weight. Bala Sharks are very active fish species that enjoy darting around the fish tank at high speed. It really depends on the size of your Bala shark, but a good rule of thumb is to provide an amount of food that can be consumed in a few minutes. It is crucial to give the fish enough space and room to swim during this process. Making sure that the fish have the right diet suited for their size and breed goes a long way towards ensuring their future health and extending their lifespan. Bala Sharks may show signs of stress in various situations, such as: Keeping a single Bala Shark in the tank for a long time (you should keep at least 4 to 6) If they hit the decorations or the wall too hard, they may get stunned for a few minutes. She loves how it provides a nice break from the hustle and bustle of life. As a result, they may lose a few scales if the tank is too small for them or overcrowded with rough decorations. Today, Bala Sharks are considered an endangered species of fish and are thought to have become rare or extinct in many of their original freshwater habitats. Heres a fun little factoid: Bala sharks are not, in fact, true sharks. . Each bala shark is different in how often they might twitch. Given the depth of the average bala shark tank, youll want to ensure that the light rays reach the floor of your tank, where some plants may be located. Dont get a bala shark if your tank is small or contains large predatory fish. This can stress out smaller fish that tend to move less. It is recommended that aquarium owners place hiding spots for Bala Sharks to rest in when tired of swimming. Bala sharks are fast, active swimmers that dart around the middle of the tank. Although not considered an aggressive fish species, Bala Sharks can eat smaller fish, especially those that are smooth and sleek, as they get bigger. You should notice the females becoming rounder than normal, indicating the development of eggs. For example, the oxygen levels are extremely low in the water due to broken pumps or bubblers. Overcrowding can stress balas greatly, and they might even leap out of the tank to die if their aquarium is too overcrowded. Please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for any animal or pet-related medical advice. Additionally, these fish should be closely watched as they grow to ensure continued compatibility with smaller fish. I'm Praveen Ghoshal, the founder of eFishkeeping.com. Look for nutritious foods that provide the vitamins, minerals, and proteins needed for these fish to grow to their full potential.Diversify feeding by adding live, high-protein foods like bloodworms and shrimp to the tank, and regularly feed the fish plankton, diced fruits, greens, and vegetables to fortify the fishs health.Bala sharks should be fed up to three times per day. Typically, we like to recommend a minimum tank size of 150 gallons. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Resources Freshwater Fish Bala SharkBala Shark (Silver Shark) Size, Tank, Food, Lifespan & MoreFebruary 24, 2022 RobertThe bala shark is a freshwater species of the Cyprinidae family. This should subside as they navigate their surroundings. ), Fish Hiding Behind The Filter? Other than diseases, Bala Sharks can develop white spots across their bodies due to stress. I'm not exactly sure what this could be but I'd tag it as a neurological sign. I see nothing in the video that would cause me to do anything but leave it alone to recover, and hopefully it will. Despite needing a larger tank than most aquarium fish, bala sharks are peaceful and beautiful to look at, making them a fantastic choice for people who have enough tank space to house the species. Perform a water change and treat with an antibiotic or antibacterial medication. Dropsy is a buildup of fluid inside the fish and is usually a symptom of a bacterial or parasitic infection. Afterward, fish owners can expect to see small fry in 3 to 4 more days if the process was successful. This can come in the form of frozen fish, brine shrimp, insect larvae, and worms. ), Bala Shark Has White Spots? Symptoms: White spots on the body, fins, or eyes, Causes: Poor water quality, stress, or overcrowding. These can provide visual interest and places for your bala shark to hide and explore. The last factor when it comes to tank conditions is the lighting. The two often come hand-in-hand, as the increased water flow helps to circulate oxygen throughout the aquarium. Open to fish, plants and reptiles living in freshwater or saltwater environments. Is Twitching A Sign That A Bala Shark Is Nervous? The general procedure to eliminate these parasites is by isolating the fish, administering the right treatment, and disinfecting the fish tank. Bala sharks are some of the most difficult fish to breed, as they take a while to reach sexual maturity. The fish is called a bala shark because of its long, pointed dorsal fin, which resembles a sharks fin. Algae Eaters: How Many To Have In A Fish Tank? If your bala shark is constantly twitching, and it seems to be nonstop, be sure to check for other signs that something might not be right with them. Can i put a bala shark in tank with male beta fish? When kept in an aquarium, they tend to eat just about any type of fish food including both live options and dried flake food selections. Fish Swimming In Circles? Adding some plankton, bloodworms or appropriate vegetable matter can increase their overall health. Remove all fish from the tank, including the parents, to prevent the adults from eating the fry. white spots to appear on the Bala Sharks skin, Introducing contaminated food, fish, or water. Bala sharks hail from the fast-flowing rivers of Southeast Asia. This can happen for several reasons, but its usually nothing to worry about if its only a few scales. It is important to have good water flow during spawning so that the male fertilizing agent gets spread out farther. The fishs ventral fins are small and colored black or gray. This means that the fish should be kept separated in another tank before they reach puberty. Caring for bala sharks is easy as long as you provide stable water conditions and enough space for these active swimmers to explore. Hi William, I wouldnt advise adding Bala Sharks to an existing tank. Because of their immense potential size, it is best to keep bala sharks away from tiny fish. Please avoid nippy fish even if these fish dont hurt your bala sharks in any material way, their presence will serve as a constant source of stress for these gentle giants. 6. Due to their large body size, its easy to assume that Bala sharks need lots and lots of food the more, the merrier. All fish are stressed by being netted and moved to a new environment, and many take time to regain their normal behaviours. Bala Shark has a distinctive shape with a . Its definitely possible, but its not known for sure. Its body is lighter gray at the top than at the bottom. Conclusion. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. When it comes to plants and decor, bala sharks arent too fussy. Since the fish stops eating, its growth is stunned and its immunity is compromised. Check that the heater, pump, and filter are all working properly. Twitching due to stress may be one of the only ways they know how to tell you they arent happy. Replace the filter with an internal sponge filter that wont suck up the fry.Perform a 50% water change and add antibacterial solutions to the water. Providing your fish with extra care and keeping . These peaceful shoaling fish are less aggressive and territorial than actual freshwater sharks. Excess lights may cause your Bala shark unnecessary stress and cause them to hide frequently. Please share it with someone who might appreciate it! Your Bala shark could be under stress and it may lead to color loss. You can easily find them in pet stores. If everything is good and white spots are only affecting one Bala Shark, then setup a quarantine tank. These tend to be just 3 to 4 inches when first bought, and fish owners are often surprised to learn that the adult size can be up to 1 foot or 13 inches. I dosed the water and am planning on dosing again tomorrow. Algae wafers are a great way to add plant matter to their diet, but some Bala sharks may also enjoy fresh vegetables like blanched peas or spinach. Lets start by having a brief overview of the most common Bala Shark diseases that your fish may suffer from. Appetite is good, behavior is normal, the other younger bala is now sticking close by to help fend off the loach. Hi! They may be tiny when you first pick them up from the pet store, but will grow rapidly and exponentially with proper care. Did you find this care guide helpful? I enjoyed the information about our daughters new pets. Robert, Would a Bala Shark be okay with platies and tetras in the same tank? Bala fish are some very beautiful fish to have at home in an aquarium, and this is one of the best environments for them given that they are endangered. Bala sharks are pretty hardy and can live up to 10 years in captivity. Bala sharks can be affected by several external parasites, including anchor worms, fish lice, and flukes. Female bala sharks stop growing before the males, so male bala sharks are longer than females. You should also be sure your aquarium is big enough for your bala shark to swim around without feeling too cramped. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Fishkeeping World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and any other affiliated sites. They tend not to eat many of the fry, but if you are concerned, make sure you have a lot of plants, both at the surface and the bottom for fry to hide in until they are larger. And will they nip your fingers off? The water hardness is the last key piece of the puzzle when it comes to water levels. A member of the Cyprinidae family of fish species, they (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) prefer fast-flowing rivers and streams in the Southeastern Asia countries of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand. They make an excellent addition to an aquarium due in part to their mild-temperament as well as their beauty and grace. An unclean environment is a frequent stressor of all fish, so proper testing of nutrients within the water as well as any potential build up is needed often. Just be sure to provide enough space, feed them a good, nutritious diet, and take good care of their tanks! Bala sharks become sexually mature at around six months old, or when the fish have grown to four inches long.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-119{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}To breed bala sharks, follow these steps:Place a group of five bala sharks in a separate 65-gallon breeding tank with a temperature of 77F and a strong filter. These include neon tetra, guppies, harlequin rasbora and other smaller fish types. We hope this care guide gave you some insight on how to care for bala sharks! 1)One of my bala sharks has already died. Remove the affected fish from the main tank. Within 24 hours, larvae should appear. Although bala sharks are big fish, theyre docile and peaceful. If you have other fish in the aquarium that may potentially pose a threat to them, they might exhibit behaviors such as twitching in an effort to keep those fish away. JavaScript is disabled. These fish are sensitive to changing water parameters, so maintaining consistent water parameters and carrying out regular 2030% water changes are essential to prevent disease and stress. Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Christ Renews His Parish Criticism, Hispanic Wedding Traditions, The View At Croppers Landing Ocean City, Md, Furniture Consignment Shops Portland Maine, Arguments In Favor Of A Renaissance Education, Articles B