Friends For My Bala's

[nath1]

I HAVE THREE BALA'S, SIZE WISE FROM 5 INCHES TO ABOUT 8 INCHES, IN WITH THREE CLOWN LOACH, FOUR GUORAMI'S AND A FEW BOTTOM DWELLERS AND AM LOOKING TO PUT A FEW NEW FISH BUT AM UNSURE WHAT TO ADD.
I RECENTLY LOST A 14 INCH COMMON PLEC AND WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE HIM WITH SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT!!
I LIKE QUITE BIG FISH AND WOULD LIKE TO INJECT SOME COLOUR INTO THE TANK!
MY TANK IS 5X2X2 AT ABOUT 480 LTRS.
ANY ONE WITH A SIMULAR SET UP OR JUST IDEAS PLEASE HELP, I NEED INSPIRATION
THANKS,
Nath1
sorry if this is in the wrong section!!

 

[three-fingers]

What species are the 'bottom dwellers' and how many is a 'few'? What species of gouramis as well? Fairly important to know as tonnes of completely different fish come to mind, and this impacts on fish recommendations greatly .

Also, please turn off the caps lock, it gives the impression that you are shouting at the reader .

 

[nath1]

thanks for the reply,
my other fish are 2 gold and 2 cobalt guoramis and the bottom dwellers are 1 b.n.catfish, 1 rusty plec, 2 pictus and an c.a.e.
They all seem to get along fine, only the pictus scapping occasionally for the best spot!! oh yer, i have a synodontis occelifer but you wouldn't know it as he is hidden most of the time in his tree stump
Nath1

 

[three-fingers]

Cool cool, assuming you've sorted out why the plec died, I'd recommend a small shoal of rainbowfish. There's loads of different species out there, something common like boesemani rainbow fish are a good bet. Nice and active, hardy, colourful, don't get very big but are big enough to compete that tank .

Though as you said it was to replace the plec, were you looking for a colourful bottom dweller? Maybe some kribensis?

You could always go for more gouramis too (provided the ones you have are competing for food OK in the tank), though tbh I would avoid the 'cobalt' gouramis if what your referring to is dwarf gouramis, as they seldomly last long in most tanks.

I'd also watch for aggression coming from your CAE, any slow moving fish like gouramis are at potential risk.

 

[groupiekilla06]

I thought I should mention that full grown Bala Sharks do best in a group of six. This means that at 12 inches a pop and VERY fast, they do best in tank with a lot of swimming room. Some experts suggest a tank 8, even 10 feet long for just the group of six. I wanted to let you know because I've heard stories about Bala Sharks slamming into another fish or the wall of smaller tanks and seriously injuring themselves.

 

[groupiekilla06]

*EDITED TO REMOVE DOUBLE POST* Sorry!

 

[nath1]

thanks for the reply's,
For now i will stick with just the three bala's as they seem fine in their small group and as you say my tank could do with being bigger especially if i were to get more!!
i dont really want any more bottom dwellers and these 'boesemani rainbow fish' are beautiful fish but am looking for something a little bigger, that does well as a trio. mid tank fish would be favourite!!
nath1

 

[groovylime]

I agree with three-fingers. Rainbowfish would be an excellent addition. Boesmani's and others can grow up to 4-5" with thick bodies, and they will bring good color to the tank. I wouldn't put any other shoal of fish that are larger than that in a 5 foot tank with balas and clown loaches. Another suggestion would be getting a single flagtail prochilodus. They get big and are very peaceful and beautiful fish, although, you'll be looking for a larger tank in a year or two.