New Baby Bala Shark

[grayshark1956]

But you mention stress in fish would be considered an emergency in your eyes.....what about a fish smacking into the tank glass every few minutes as it tries to exercise and turn around? Do you not think that would cause it stress?

You don't seem to want to address the underlying issue that 15 days before you got the Bala you were given a huge amount of detailed information on the fish (by Wills), all of which you agreed to hearing elsewhere and you stated that you would not get a Bala until you could adequately house it in aforementioned 8 foot tank or similar. What changed in those 15 days? It certainly wasn't the information on the fish but more you attitude to seeing them in your LFS at a very reasonable price and thinking 'I'll get one anyway and hopefully get a bigger tank in the future'.

This whole thread has now turned into a good explanation of why such an attitude within the fishkeeping community isn't healthy for fish and needs to be addressed.

You are not the only one to do this so don't take it so personal, at least you made the right decision in the end. Others don't and choose to ignore the advice but when it comes to a problem with the fish later on they find many people unwilling to help.

Hey, its not my fault about what is found on the internet!!!! At least I looked! Some people don't bother!

Some of them had only "Size when purchased" as 2-3 inches, as I was rushing to go out I only skimmed and saw that as they grow 2-3 inches max >.< And I saw several sites saying that 30 gallon would be fine too.

I'm sure there must be a shark like species that Grayshark could keep in a 30-40 gallon?

Thanks for writing: I won't be getting a larger tank anytime soon but if and when I do, I'll look into possibly smaller sharks, apollo kind? But I am happy with my tanks the way they are and am too busy now to consider getting a larger tank. But thanks for thinking of possible shark fish species I could have, yeah, you'd think there was something in the shark looking family for me. I have not had time to look yet.

Haha, misread the information about Apolo Sharks on google

That's what I get for skimming *slaps wrist*

Guilty as charged

I blame the internet...one site suggested a minimum 30 gallon...

Thanks for writing and having a sense of humor about the internet. The more I found on the internet like brackish water or sharks or crabs, the more it becomes not knowing which answers are correct. I know not to rely on store advice and thought the internet was better until I realized there are just too many answers to choose from.

Haha, misread the information about Apolo Sharks on google

That's what I get for skimming *slaps wrist*

Guilty as charged

I blame the internet...one site suggested a minimum 30 gallon...

yeah, i guess i read that one too.
thing is all the others said 6x2x2, if they stated a tank size.
some didn't even have a fish size listed.

Here again maybe some can see the more I read on the internet the more I find different answers. If I have to I could contact someone at our zoo, this would be if I cannot find answers anywhere else, they might know. In fact, I hope they do have someone there who is an expert. Just occurred to me it would be my golden opportunity to ask if I could feed their sharks, I know better than to get in tank with them, they are housed in a small tank and I would be shark food!

Realised this was a little off topic so I've moved to its own thread.

Ok, I'll look for it when I have time, thanks!

My general rule:

If you Google something and the hits on the first page all say pretty much the same.....stop looking, even if it doesn't give you the answer you were hoping for

Well, I started out that way because I look for common answers to help narrow down what could be the correct answer. But I am the type who really is looking for best answer.

Its not my fault what is on the internet or that stores have no idea what they are selling!!!

 

[grayshark1956]

So when are you getting a 12x3x3 foot tank for this Bla Shark, along with ~9 other conspecifics? In all seriousness, this is what these fish need, they are very active skittish fish that can easily reach 40cm.

Good advice as usual there and you explained it better than I did yet you used fewer words lol

I'll repeat again in case you missed it: I returned the bala today, I could not get a large tank as fast as people expected, this could have waited a week or two but people made it sound urgent. This fish had 6 months to grow even to 6" that I read about thismorning. This was not an emergency, but I returned him. I don't have any balas, didn't buy anymore fish, am so tired I am going to go lay down. I hope I don't see any more posts about balas, he's back at the store in that little tiny aquarium being picked on by many red tails. He would have been happier here in a large tank but I could not get it within 24 hours of buying him, no more bala here. I took advice.

When you think about it, it wouldn't have been that bad to buy him then a week or so later put him into larger tank, he would have gotten away from the red tails that were chasing all the balas. But I took him back even though this was not a true emergency. Now if a fish stops breathing and is having body spasms, that would be worse. I am just pointing out that the bala would have been fine going into a larger tank next week, then I could have had 2 of them. Does anyone understand my intention and that I took advice?

I think I'll start a post on how many ways there are to fix chicken.....hope there is someone with a sense of humor that read my posts and thought that putting a bala in a larger tank was a pretty good idea.

Yep, after reviewing all comments then explaining myself when I did not have to, and not having one person see the pattern of events, I decided I don't owe any more explanations. I'll buy fish and not mention it, not worth the hassle from others!!!!!!!!

Congratulations. I hope you know they grow to about 12-16", not 6". Make sure you tank is big enough.

You might come a lot closer to owning a shark than you were hoping

That's good! Its what I wanted in the first place.

So when are you getting a 12x3x3 foot tank for this Bla Shark, along with ~9 other conspecifics? In all seriousness, this is what these fish need, they are very active skittish fish that can easily reach 40cm.

Now I decided to get this size tank and will get as many balas as I can fit into it!

Ditto.

Congratulations. I hope you know they grow to about 12-16", not 6". Make sure you tank is big enough.

You might come a lot closer to owning a shark than you were hoping

Good, that's what I wanted in the first place!

 

[Electric Warrior]

Honestly quit being so ridiculous. It's a pretty easy thing to grasp. You wouldn't buy a Great Dane and raise it in a bathroom. A bala shark isn't even real shark, so maybe you should just try and get off the idea of having a 'shark?'

 

[snazy]

I always end up taking water out by hand, then carrying empty tank to kitchen to rinse.

Is that serious? Do you mean you take all the fish out, wipe your tank clean, fill it up from the tap after a nice rinse and put them back in?
Before you even attempt to get anything bigger than 10G you need to learn about how to maintain a tank properly. Is it even cycled. What you are doing is absolutely not the right way and will kill your fish.

 

[MBOU]

I honestly think this thread has died a death and I shall lock it as I don't wish to see it cropping up. The OP no longer has the shark and isn't going to get a shark... or if they do.. they wont be telling us so I dont want to leave this topic open to be bumped up again and cause arguements.