Bala Sharks

[James_loveless]

Hi All,

we have got ourself a pair of 6" Bala sharks for our 4' tank. but they seem to bully all our other fish (molly's, Plattys, barbs) and I've seen then attack my Kuhli Loaches and shrimp.

Is this natural for them, as everywhere I have read say they are tame friendly community fish.

Advice please?

 

[Sean W.]

my mom has 2 bala sharks in her community tank and they never bother any other fish.. do you have a lot of fish? maybe they are stressed...

ive never heard of bala sharks being aggresive

 

[James_loveless]

Certainly not over stocked;

6 x Kuhli
3 x Cherry barbs
2 x Red Plattys
1 x black Molly
1 x small common plec
2 x small Clown Loach
2 x Bala Sharks


so, IMO not over stocked, but they are very aggressive, especially to my Kuhli Loach

 

[Sean W.]

when did you get them?

 

[mwood2]

Bala are a fish that should be kept in groups to spread aggression amongst them. But for a group of them a fairly large tank of 75 Gallon minimum. As for aggression I dont know but I would guess these arnt the best community fish in general and considering that these are still small I am guessing when they reach a max of 16in they will terrorize everything much worse then now.

 

[vincentclive]

afaik they need to be kept with larger numbers of balas so they take the aggression out on each other rather than the other tank mates, having said that mine's a timid as a kitten

 

[england]

I have four large bala shark's in my tank and they can now and then what i call "play" around, it happens around feeding time, they seem to slam into each other sideways then waggle there tails at each other, the slammings nothing quick or hard by the way, just could look aggressive to some folk, seriously i don't consider that any way shape or form agressive, however i will say that i feel sometime's the tank could be abit small for them 5ft/2ft/2ft....when they decide to have a race around the tank you have all four wizzing round the whole tank at lightning speed great to see but i think i could do with a bigger tank to keep them happier, what fish you have for example 6 x Kuhli i would not wan't to risk keeping these together as i think they would see these as a nice tasty worm,maybe iam wrong but where mine eat whole prawns without battering a eyelid it make's me say nothing bite size as they are greedy fish

 

[Forestpisces]

IMO you are overstocked, generally they shouldn't be an overly agressive fish but that is when they are in groups,

Personally i don't think they are the best suited fish for your tank especially with it's current stocking as they are smaller peaceful fish (bar the common plec which can easily reach 18inches)

Maybe a shuffle round with the tank stocking is in order?