Bala Fish Fighting

[Adellefrost]

Hi. I recently took on a tank my neighbor gave up. It came with 2 Bala sharks that are each about 8 inches. They didn’t seem to have problems at first, but now one is consistently chasing the other and nipping at it. I read up on this and most people suggest getting more bala sharks and/or rehoming. I don’t have room for more balas and I don’t want to rehome them. Is there anything else I can do to stop the bullying?
Btw the tank parameters are all good, no ammonia/nitrates/nitrites and this tank is a few years old so I’m pretty sure it’s fully cycled. All fish appear to be healthy.

 

[Guyb93]

Hi there, what are your tank dimensions and volume ?

 

[Adellefrost]

Don’t know the dimensions but it’s 60 gallons. I know that’s a little small for full grown Balas but there’s not much I can do unless I rehome them again. My neighbor didn’t want the tank so they were already rehomed with me and I can’t afford a bigger tank.

 

[Guyb93]

Don’t know the dimensions but it’s 60 gallons. I know that’s a little small for full grown Balas but there’s not much I can do unless I rehome them again. My neighbor didn’t want the tank so they were already rehomed with me and I can’t afford a bigger tank.

Hmmm there going to be a foot long each maybe even bigger , imagine a size 12 shoe that’s probably the size each fish will be , I’d rehome them both to be honest

 

[Ichthys]

This is very common when shoaling fish are kept in twos and threes. Their “need for interaction” leads to bullying. The only way to stop it is to add more, of similar age/size, or separate them, which wouldn’t solve the problem of them not having the security of a group.

To do right by the fish you need to rehome them into a group, in a bigger tank obviously. That isn’t always possible so you may have to give them to a shop and hope they’ll sell them responsibly.

 

[Byron]

I concur completely with @Ichthys

Shoaling fish have various reasons for being "shoaling" by nature. Some species use this as a means of establishing an hierarchy, and this can occur quite soon if a group of "x" fish are put together in what is to them a very small space regardless of the tank size. Adding more of the species even weeks later is often trouble, as the intruders are seen as that...intruders. Only having two fish to form the social structure was a serious mistake of the original owner, and one that can rarely be rectified. Once the individual fish's natural instincts are engaged, we are not going to have much success altering them.

I would myself not want to add new fish in with these two, as the existing fish might well kill the new fish. Separating them, or adding them to a really huge tank somewhere...not much choice.

 

[Adellefrost]

I listened to the responses on this thread and read up more...I ultimately rehomed them to a large fish shop who seemed delighted to have them. Hopefully they will do well there.

 

[Adellefrost]

Update: doubt anyone cares but I checked up on the balas and the fish store created an entire community tank setup for them! They got new young balas to keep them company and many other fish. They seem calm and happy, and I am so glad they went somewhere they are well cared for.

 

[Wills]

Update: doubt anyone cares but I checked up on the balas and the fish store created an entire community tank setup for them! They got new young balas to keep them company and many other fish. They seem calm and happy, and I am so glad they went somewhere they are well cared for.

Of course we care Well done for rehoming them responsibly thats fantastic news! You've done something really incredible for these fish, Bala Sharks and big common fish like them often end up doomed to tiny tanks so hearing news like this is really fantastic

Wills