Bala sharks are pretty hardy and can live up to 10 years in captivity. To treat dropsy, add teaspoon of Epsom salt to every five gallons of water in the tank, and speak to your veterinarian about antibacterial medication for the disease. As a shoaling fish, the bala shark feels most comfortable when housed with at least four other fish of its kind.Bala sharks are fast, active swimmers that dart around the middle of the tank. Byron. Bala sharks become sexually mature at around six months old, or when the fish have grown to four inches long. Ideally, youd to it the other way around. The bala shark isnt a real freshwater shark. The other one does not have this and I can't recall seeing it before on this one. Do Bala Sharks Twitch As A Defense Mechanism? These include neon tetra, guppies, harlequin rasbora and other smaller fish types. Reduced immunity due to other diseases or poor nutrition. Look for nutritious foods that provide the vitamins, minerals, and proteins needed for these fish to grow to their full potential. 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. Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. Finally, if you want to add a bit of color and texture to your aquarium, consider adding plastic plants, artificial rocks, and other decorations. Your email address will not be published. We understand that a huge tank is daunting, but its also a good way to gauge if youre truly prepared to take on the task of raising these giant fish. They lock their fins to the side and stop moving them. 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. Choosing a small tank for your bala shark can stress them as they grow bigger and compete for food. Bala sharks are native to the clean, freshwater rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia, including around the Malay Peninsula, in the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins, and in the waters surrounding Sumatra and Borneo. This one causes white spots to appear on the Bala Sharks skin. Maybe he got hurt or something, check all your water parameters and turn off the lights for a day. In Bala Sharks, cloudy eyes are not a disease but rather a symptom of many conditions and diseases. You might also have to ask the vet for an antibiotic to make your sick fish feel better. This includes low pH caused by the high concentration of ammonia in the water. Its body is lighter gray at the top than at the bottom. In most cases, Bala Sharks will play dead when they go into shock, which is somewhat similar to humans fainting. She loves how it provides a nice break from the hustle and bustle of life. The bala shark is a peaceful fish that gets along well with other peaceful species in a community tank. For aesthetic purposes, you can go with a full-spectrum LED light that replicates the natural day and night cycle of their natural habitat. The fish is called a bala shark because of its long, pointed dorsal fin, which resembles a sharks fin. Availability. And two upside down swimming cat fish? Tankarium is reader-supported. Most fish experts recommend that about 25 to 35 percent of the tank water be renewed each week to keep them healthy, comfortable and happy in their environment. Although they might seem interesting, poor handling, like squeezing the fishs body or touching the eyes or the gills, can cause stress. By mindyt5, 2 years ago on Tropical Fish. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In this article, well look at everything there is to know about bala sharks. The ideal pH range for Bala Sharks is between 6.5 and 7.8. Fully-grown bala sharks should be housed in a tank of at least 150 gallons, at least 5 feet across. Bala Sharks are a rewarding and unique fish to keep in your aquarium. The most popular viral infection in Bala Sharks is Lymphocystis. Also, the Bala Shark itself can become prone to stress if there are . Like we mentioned above, there are certain water conditions that youll need to provide if you want your Bala Shark to thrive and live a long and healthy life. How to tell if a Bala shark is dying? Its a good idea to check your other fish for signs of sickness, and check that your plants arent rotting in the water. And will they nip your fingers off? Follow the steps below: Test the water to ensure the conditions are ideal and that there's enough open space for the shark to swim around freely. The bala sharks natural habitat is lakes and fast-flowing rivers and streams in Southeast Asia. It can be difficult to tell apart the sexes. Your Bala shark could be under stress and it may lead to color loss. In reality, they belong to a family of fishes known as carps and minnows. Pay close attention to signs of illness, and take steps to correct any water issues. Make sure that every new arrival has been properly quarantined for at least two weeks. Since the fish stops eating, its growth is stunned and its immunity is compromised. When buying a bala shark, make sure the fish has been bred in captivity, to protect the species wild populations.The typical cost of a bala shark is $7 to $10. Although their name indicates a similarity to sharks, considered to be aggressive predators, these peaceful freshwater sharks get their name due to the similar body shape and higher, triangular-shaped dorsal fin. When Bala Fish suffer from dropsy, you must quarantine the sick fish in separate tanks and bathe them in Epsom salt to reduce the swelling. Copyright 2022 - Fishkeeping World - All Rights Reserved, Robert Woods is the creator of FishKeeping World, a third-generation fish keeper, and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior. These fish tend to remain healthy, but fish owners should be sure to keep their aquariums clean and the water level and temperature stable for best results. As a result, they may lose a few scales if the tank is too small for them or overcrowded with rough decorations. Once the tank is cycled and water parameters have stabilized, you can add your bala sharks to the tank. Clown loaches, bala sharks need 90 gallon tanks. Bala sharks also arent the only types of fish that twitch. So, before you get a bala shark, please take these factors into consideration otherwise, you may be in for a nasty awakening. A vet may also prescribe antibiotics if its caused by bacteria, but in many cases, saving the fish is quite hard. They are peaceful fish with laid-back personalities.Colors, Patterns, Fins, and Sex DifferencesThe bala shark isnt a real freshwater shark. Monitor your bala sharks and water parameters regularly. The following reasons may be the answer to why your stressed Bala shark is losing color: . Smart Bala Shark care should include monitoring them for signs of common fish ailments like dropsy that causes them to swell, and ich which results in white spots on their scales. Some stress-inducing conditions include: Suddenly changing the water temperature or pH Transfering your Bala shark to a new tank with different water conditions Adding aggressive fish species to the tank In todays guide, well take a closer look at Bala Shark diseases, their causes, and how to manage them. If your bala shark is unwell, it could also cause them to stress out which may activate their twitching tendencies. These white spots irritate the fish skin, so itll swim erratically and rub itself against objects and tank walls. It is crucial to give the fish enough space and room to swim during this process. Caring for bala sharks is easy as long as you provide stable water conditions and enough space for these active swimmers to explore. It is important to have good water flow during spawning so that the male fertilizing agent gets spread out farther. Place a group of five bala sharks in a separate 65-gallon breeding tank with a temperature of 77F and a strong filter. Some bacterial infections and reduced immunity may also display cloudy eyes as a symptom, but its usually rare when compared to other reasons. Keep Reading: Why Do Bala Sharks Have White Spots? Although bala sharks are prone to stress, you can do several things to make them feel better. This is true especially if kept with smaller fish who cant hold their own. from getting diseases is to keep the water as clean as possible and provide an environment where they do not experience stress, anxiety, or distress. In addition to a good filter, aquarists can add air pumps, air stones, and/or powerheads to create the desired water motion. Maybe he's just stressed from all the bagging, was he acting normal in the petstore tanks? When in captivity, the Bala Sharks only becomes able to reproduce when they are at least 3 years of age and at least 5 inches, or 13 cm, long. All rights reserved. Make sure these are working properly. The fry should hatch within three days. A larger predator could nip or become aggressive towards them. Hi I have a Bala shark thats around 12 inches I started of with 4 but I gave away 2 of them after about 3 months as they were getting picked on and eventually another so Im only left with the one but a friend has asked if I can re home his mollies in my tank Im not sure with the Bala and a fully grown pleco any advice please? Hi! VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. The typical cost of a bala shark is $7 . 2023 Tankarium, a Found First Marketing company. Moreover, they dont usually attack other fish, but they will display a lot of movement, racing inside the tank from one side to another. The longer the tank, the more space this middle-dwelling fish has to explore.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',156,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-156{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}Bala sharks dont swim along the bottom of the tank or dig in the substrate, so theres no need to use a specific type of substrate. It is necessary to prep a Bala Shark before they are of age to breed. To treat ich, you must isolate the infected fish in a separate tank. All fish are stressed by being netted and moved to a new environment, and many take time to regain their normal behaviours. (Reasons, Treatment, Prevention). Within 24 hours, larvae should appear.The fry should hatch within three days. Dropsy is a buildup of fluid inside the fish and is usually a symptom of a bacterial or parasitic infection. Many fish owners also like to add a bit of finely diced spinach and/or fruits as well. 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. As a shoaling fish, the bala shark feels most comfortable when housed with at least four other fish of its kind. The new Bala Sharks can grow at different speeds. #1 I have two Bala sharks. Providing your fish with extra care and keeping . This is measured in dGH (degrees of general hardness) and the window youre aiming for is somewhere between 10 and 13. It can be assumed that since other fish do it, its just one of those many quirks that make fish such fascinating animals. 3. Provide a similarly varied diet in captivity with a combination of live and dried foods. How should you size the filter? Some great tank mates for Bala Sharks are: However, there is the chance that the Bala Shark will eat smaller fish when they become larger, so the tank should always be roomy enough for all. We hope that after reading this post youll have a better understanding of the fish in general, and the kind of care that youll need to provide. Is it possible it is an injured area or is there some disease that may cause this? Twitching can also help deter any predators from coming near them. These fish are large enough to deter your bala sharks from chowing down on them, while remaining relatively peaceful. After several rounds of dancing, the female fish scatters her eggs around the floor of the tank. Because bala sharks hail from the tropical climate of Southeast Asia, they require warm temperatures between 72-82F. The best way to adjust and monitor the water pH is by using a store-bought pH kit and gauge. I enjoyed the information about our daughters new pets. Also, the Bala Shark itself can become prone to stress if there are no places in the tank where they can hide when desired. It is generally a good idea to purchase five or six Bala sharks from the pet store and to observe them for signs of mating behavior. Check that the heater, pump, and filter are all working properly. 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. 2. There isnt necessarily a scientific consensus for exactly why bala sharks twitch, however, one theory is that bala sharks twitch as part of their navigation through the water. 4. Despite how big these fish are and how fast they can swim, they arent faster than some of their potential hunters. Immediate water change and increase aeration. My rainbow shark and bala shark are swimming at the top of the tank gasping. Sexing the fish is difficult, and attempting breeding with a large group of fish increases the likelihood that there are males and females in the group.Initiate spawning by gradually increasing the water temperature to 82F over the time span of a week. Plants and roots work fine. Bala sharks are interesting freshwater fish as they grow to a big size in a tank, making them the gentle giants of your aquarium. Pay attention to any changes in the balas environment, like a changed diet. Can Twitching Be A Negative Bala Shark Behavior? In this guide, we explore the ins and outs of Bala Shark care and everything you should know if youre thinking about adding them to your aquarium setup. JavaScript is disabled. In their native habitats, Bala Sharks are also known by other names that include Tricolor Shark, Silver Bala, Silver Shark and Tri Color Minnows due to their unique colors and markings. 1)One of my bala sharks has already died. Within 24 hours, larvae should appear. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. These fish do not need special foods or supplements, and fish owners should simply strive to feed them a balanced diet for continued good health. Bala Sharks are an excellent freshwater aquarium fish. Alternatively, something might be wrong with the tank water. Bala Shark Breeding Guide (Everything You Need to Know), The Best Bala Shark Tank Size for Optimal Health. Theres also no need to fill bala sharks tanks with rocks or plants. If your bala shark is unwell, it could also cause them to stress out which may activate their twitching tendencies. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. Of course, there are also fish species you should steer clear of. Make sure to remove any dead parasites and clean the tank to prevent re-infection. He may get better or get worse and show signs of a disease we can diagnose. ), Fish Hiding Behind The Filter? To spur spawning, some fish breeders slowly increase the tank water temperature from 77 degrees up to 82 degrees. And it will eat smaller fish. Fortunately for aquarists, Bala Sharks are very low maintenance in this regard. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. This is usually caused by ich, but it can result from any other parasitic infection.
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