BALA SHARKS

[panther1505]

I've got 3 Bala Sharks in my aquarium. 2 of them are approximately 4 inches in length. The 3rd one is about 2 to 3 inches in length.
The 2 larger ones rub up against each other, and they seem to nibble on each other too. They aren't causing any damage.
I haven't really paid strict attention to them, but it seems as though it happens at feeding time.

Does anyone know what these 2 sharks are doing? Could this be some type of a mating ritual? They've been doing it for quite some time now.

 

[Ben]

i dont know if its a mating ritual or not but they probably wont in a tank that small!!! ballas need tanksof 180 gallons or more and are not suitabloe for the 42 gal

 

[Discomafia]

you have a baby whale in your 42 gal? You've got to be joking, right...

 

[panther1505]

For those of you who think that a 42 gallon tank is too small for a baby whale, here is some information that you might want to read before you start ripping into people.

Baby Whale
Petrocephalus bovei bovei (Valenciennes, 1847)


Temperment Sociability Min. Tank Availability Area
Beware Groups 25 gallons Common Bottom-Middle


Baby Whales are from the family Mormyridae, and are obviously not related to true Whales. They like to school in "pods", but the tank must be large or they will be bothered by each other's electrical impulses. The body fish is similar to the closely-related Elephantnose, but lacks the long snout. The body is dark, glossy and elongated, with far set back dorsal and anal fins. The head is blunt and rounded.

Baby Whales are nocturnal and like to hide out during the day. PVC pipes or a similar cave-like structure is appreciated by the fish as a hiding place. A sandy substrate with rocks and wood are helpful to keep the Baby Whale calm in the aquarium.

Baby Whales are carnivorous fish and need a supply of live foods. Earthworms are a favorite, and chopped beef heart is usually accepted. Sinking foods are appreciated.

Baby Whales need a very efficient filtration system in order to keep the water clean enough for them to thrive. A pH value between 6.5-7.5 and a temperature between 75-82 degrees F will suffice.

Breeding is close to impossible in captivity. With a large enough aquarium and a whole lot of luck, a pair will form and make a nest in a dark corner of the tank. Provide plants and vegetation, as this is what the parents construct the nest out of.

 

[modernhamlet]

There's no reason to get defensive. One person, who obviously didn't know what a baby whale was, expressed confusion. Besides, it's not the baby whale that's the problem. It's the balas. They need at least 3x the tank they're currently in, preferrably much more.

To answer your question, if you're not seeing any damage or stress, I wouldn't worry too much. Balas are incredibly peaceful. I could just be "play" (which balas are known for) or they might just be jockying for best food position. I can't think of any other reason they'd hassle each other (or anyone else for that matter). Just keep an eye on them to be sure.

HTH!

 

[evilbunny]

my bala sharks do that all the time, and i was told they were just playing, it's really very normal for them, mine do that the whole length of my tank and they're still just babies

but is a baby whale like a ghost knife ??

 

[sylvia]

As has already been said, this is normal behaviour but you shouldn't be keeping any bala sharks in a 42 gallon tank... Also, neons are shoaling fish. Same with hatchets and some of your other fish. Plecos should be kept alone in small tanks and, depending on the species, are most likely way too large for your tank. The article posted about baby whales also says they like to be in groups, though I have absolutely no experience with them myself.

 

[panther1505]

The article says that Baby Whales like to swim in pods, but the tank has to be large so that they don't bother each other with their electrical impulses.
So, as I've read in other articles, and from what I have been told by a couple of Vets that I know, the Baby Whale is fine by itself, in a 42 gallon tank.
As for the Bala Sharks, even though I have read some articles that their max growth is approximately 12 inches, I haven't seen any grow larger than about 6 inches.
I've got 4 friends who have larger tanks than I do. Each of them have Bala Sharks. One tank is a 65 gallon, another is 80 gallons, another is 90 gallons, and another is 120 gallons. In all 4 cases their sharks are no bigger than 6 inches.

 

[sylvia]

It is fact that bala sharks can get to 12 inches. Smaller fish may be due to stunting. Either way, they are active and require a large tank. Just as zebra danios shouldn't be kept in anything under 20 gallons. These fish also take up space which could be used to make your shoaling fish happy by giving them some new friends. The plecos still get large and should be kept alone as they are territorial.

The article says baby whales like to be kept in pods but cannot be kept this way in small tanks. I do not take this as meaning that they should be kept alone. Rather, I think it means many should be kept together in very large tanks. However, I will not insist on this as I know nothing about baby whales other than what I have read in the posted article.

I am just saying what I think would be best for the fish.

 

[Sanj]

Bala Sharks are caught in two main areas, Sumatra, Indonesia and Thailand.

It is thought that the Thai strain grows to a smaller size, however it is not exactly easy to know the origin of your fish and I cannot verify this is an absolute fact.

 

[CFC]

As for the Bala Sharks, even though I have read some articles that their max growth is approximately 12 inches, I haven't seen any grow larger than about 6 inches.

Well take a look at this picture with not one but 4 bala sharks all between 8 and 10 inches and just over a year old, before they all died a couple of years ago due to a accident with the tank the largest one was over 12 inches.